diary | The Stuttgart Ballet blog

On June 10, 2016 the Stuttgart Ballet will present Demis Volpi’s new full length ballet SALOME in the Opera House. Everybody in the theatre is now busy with the preparations for this world premiere: Demis Volpi is creating with the dancers in the studio, the workshops of the theatre are producing the costumes and sets and soon we will start with the stage calls …

In our SALOME diary you can join us for the last exciting weeks until the world premiere and take a look “behind the veil …” to see how step by step a new ballet is brought to life!

Today we take you into the studio, where Demis Volpi is rehearsing with our Principal Dancers Elisa Badenes and David Moore. Also on his side during this rehearsal are his assistant Jessica Dietz, the ballet masters Yseult Lendvai and Thierry Michel and the assistant for the set design Marlene Beer.

Rehearsals in the studio: Demis Volpi, Elisa Badenes, David Moore

Our resident choreographer in action :)

Every detail has to fit: Salome rehearsal with Demis Volpi, Elisa Badenes, David Moore

Elisa Badenes, David Moore

A little rest in between: Demis Volpi, Elisa Badenes, David Moore

February 22nd, 2013 – Just 28 more days until the world premiere of Krabat!

Until the world premiere of Krabat, there is still lots to be done! The costumes are being made and decorated, the sets are being built and painted, rehearsals are now taking place everyday and almost all day, interviews and other press matters are rolling along…. in other words, everyone in the whole theater is very busy indeed. Join us during these last exciting weeks and check out our diary to see what happens day to day!

Our photographer for this diary and for glimpses into every corner of our theater is Roman Novitzky, Demi-Soloist with the Stuttgart Ballet. Thank you Roman!

Choreographer Demis Volpi and his team are working every day on Krabat. At the forefront are the two ballet masters Damiano Pettenella and Thierry Michel. The team also inlcudes Katharina Schlipf, set and costume designer and her assistant Andreas Hartmann, Vivien Arnold, responsible for the libretto and dramaturgy, conductor and music adviser James Tuggle, lighting designer Bonnie Beecher, the pianists George Bailey and Alistair Bannerman as well as many departments in the state theater including the carpentry workshop, scenic paint workshop, costume shop, makeup, and many more.

Demis Volpi in a rehearsal

rehearsals

part of the team: Vivien Arnold, Demis Volpi, Katharina Schlipf, James Tuggle

February 25th, 2013 – Just 25 more days until the world premiere!

James Tuggle is the Stuttgart Ballet’s Director of Music and leading conductor. He has also been musical advisor for the world premiere of Krabat and made several musical suggestions to Choreographer Demis Volpi. After hours and hours of searching for and listening to music which best fit the libretto, Volpi chose three contemporary composers: Pēteris Vasks, Philip Glass und Krzysztof Penderecki.

James Tuggle will conduct the Orchestra of the State Theater for the world premiere of Krabat.

the music …

James Tuggle with Demis Volpi in the studio, in the background pianist George Bailey

James Tuggle and Demis Volpi in the studio

February 27th, 2013 – Just 23 more days to go until the world premiere!

Our colleagues in the scenic paint workshop are busy putting the finishing touches on one of the backdrops for Krabat, based on the sketches by set and costume designer Katharina Schlipf. The scenic paint workshop of the State Theatre Stuttgart is the largest of its kind in all of Europe. Very impressive, as is what the painters and calligraphers are doing at the moment! For a sneak peek, visit the photo gallery.

Christoph Maier at work in the scenic paint workshop

Impressions from the scenic paint workshop

Barbara Vogel at work in the scenic paint workshop

March 1st, 2013 – Just 21 more days to go until the world premiere!

The costumes for Krabat – based on the designs by Katharina Schlipf – are being completed and now it is time for costume fittings. The dancers have many appointments with the staff of the wardrobe department – headed by Nicole Krahl and Diana Eckmann – where every last inch is checked to ensure a proper fit. The costume department has the measurements for every dancer right down to the circumference of their pinky fingers.

With only very few exceptions, all costumes for the Stuttgart Ballet, Stuttgart Opera and the Schauspiel Stuttgart are made in house, including the costumes for Krabat of course!

Our photographer Roman Novitzy accompanied Angelina Zuccarini to her fitting.

Costume designer Katharina Schlipf with Angelina Zuccarini at a fitting

Alexandra Michel, Nicole Schüler, Diana Eckmann, Katharina Schlipf and Kathrin Vollmer with Angelina Zuccarini at a fitting

Kathrin Vollmer with Angelina Zuccarini at a fitting

March 3rd, 2013 – Just 19 more days to go until the world premiere!

Let’s sneak in rehearsals with the journeymen of the mill…

Krabat-rehearsals: Demis Volpi (middle) with David Moore, Robert Robinson, Arman Zazyan, Constantine Allen, Brent Parolin, Jesse Fraser, Edoardo Boriani, Matteo Crockard-Villa, Ludovico Pace, Petros Terteryan, Özkan Ayik (f.l.t.r.)

Krabat-rehearsals: Edoardo Boriani, Jesse Fraser, Ludovico Pace, Louis Stiens, Robert Robinson, Brent Parolin, Constantine Allen, Pablo von Sternenfels

Krabat-rehearsals: Arman Zazyan a.o.

March 5th, 2013 – Just 17 more days to go until the world premiere!

Every mill must have lots of sacks! For Krabat, over 1000 sacks were sewed in the scenic workshops of the State Theatre Stuttgart. Then they were “aged” in the scenic paint workshops so that they don’t look too new.

In our photo gallery, you can see how the sacks were made.

Simeon Wieler works on a sack

Thi-Thanh Gyuyen sews a sack

The empty sacks

Even more sacks

A small amount of the sacks

The sacks are “aging” in the scenic paint workshop.

March 7th, 2013 – Just 15 more days to go until the world premiere!

Care to join us in rehearsals???
Then please come along this way…..
Today we are seeing Krabat-rehearsals with Elisa Badenes and David Moore.

Krabat-rehearsals

Krabat-rehearsals: David Moore, Demis Volpi, Elisa Badenes

Krabat-rehearsals: Elisa Badenes, David Moore

Krabat-rehearsals: Arman Zazyan, David Moore, Elisa Badenes, Marijn Rademaker

Krabat-rehearsals: Elisa Badenes, David Moore

Krabat-rehearsals: Elisa Badenes, David Moore, Demis Volpi, Damiano Pettenella

March 8th, 2013 – Just 14 more days to go until the world premiere!

More Krabat-rehearsals today!
This time we are joining Marijn Rademaker in the studio.

Elisa Badenes and Marijn Rademaker rehearsing for Krabat

Ludovico Pace and Marijn Rademaker rehearsing for Krabat

March 11th, 2013 – Just 11 more days to got until the world premiere!

Krabat-Rehearsals can be fun too, you know!
Here Elisa Badenes, Demis Volpi and Damiano Pettenella share a moment.

Elisa Badenes, Demis Volpi and Damiano Pettenella

March 12th, 2013 – Just 10 more days to go until the world premiere!

Today, let’s have another look in the studios – this time with David Moore as Krabat.

Have fun!

Krabat-rehearsals: David Moore and Marijn Rademaker

Krabat-rehearsals: David Moore and Demis Volpi

Krabat-rehearsal: David Moore

Krabat-rehearsal: David Moore and Demis Volpi

Krabat-rehearsal: David Moore, George Bailey, Demis Volpi and Damiano Pettenella

Krabat-rehearsal: David Moore and George Bailey

Krabat-rehearsals: Elisa Badenes and David Moore

Krabat-rehearsal: Demis Volpi and David Moore

March 15th, 2013 – Just 7 more days to go until the world premiere!

James Tuggle, Music Director and Conductor of the Stuttgart Ballett, has begun rehearsals for Krabat with the orchestra. For the orchestra of the State Theatre Stuttgart, there are several new pieces of music to learn, among others Pēteris Vasks’ Message and Krzysztof Penderecki’s Polymorphia. At first the orchestra rehearses alone; then they will join the dancers, which is always very exciting.

Our Krabat-Diary photographer Roman Novitzky recently snuck into the orchestra rehearsal so that we can see what they are up to! We all can’t wait for the next rehearsals on stage with the musicians.

The orchestra of the State Theatre Stuttgart rehearsing under James Tuggle.

March 19th, 2013 – Just 3 more days to go until the world premiere.

Although we are still rehearsing a bit in the studio, mostly we are on stage now. Sometimes with costumes, sometimes without, sometimes the second cast, sometimes the first and – as of now – always with the orchestra – hooray!

Come with us and have a peek!

Demis Volpi on the stage of the Opera House

At a stage rehearsal: stage manager Ekkehard Kleine, ballet master Damiano Pettenella and Demis Volpi

Demis Volpi and Ekkehard Kleine (stage manager) on the stage of the Opera House

March 20th, 2013 – Just 2 more days to go until the world premiere!

Krabat falls in love with the voice of the Kantorka, who comes to the forest with her friends. Today we want to share a photo of the ladies!

Krabat-rehearsals: Elisa Badenes, Daisy Long, Miriam Kacerova, Daniel Lanzetti a.o.

March 21st, 2013 – Tomorrow is the big day! Just 1 more day to go!

It’s getting more and more exciting…

Today some more photos of Krabat-rehearsals in the studio.

Krabat-rehearsal: Alexander Jones and Demis Volpi

Krabat-rehearsal: Elisa Badenes and Marijn Rademaker

Krabat-rehearsal: Demis Volpi and the journeymen

Krabat-rehearsal: Alexander Jones, Alicia Amatriain, Thierry Michel, Demis Volpi

Krabat-rehearsal: Marijn Rademaker and David Moore

March 22nd, 2013 – The big day is here: the world premiere of Demis Volpi’s Krabat!

We are all very excited about tonight and can’t wait to see how our audience will react. All the dancers, the choreographer Demis Volpi, the orchestra as well as all the people who have worked so hard on this production, we are wishing a huge Toi Toi Toi!!!

The journeymen

The Orchestra of the State Theatre

March 23rd, 2013 – The day after the premiere.

Phew, we made it. Thank you, thank you to everybody who made this ballet such a success.
Congratulations to Demis Volpi, our new Resident Choreographer, and to David Moore who was promoted to Soloist!
Now we are all taking a well earned weekend off!

Applause after the world premiere: Demis Volpi and Ensemble

Applause after the world premiere: Demis Volpi, David Moore and Marijn Rademaker

Applause after the world premiere: Demis Volpi and Reid Anderson

Demis Volpi

Sue Jin Kang

Alexander Jones

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SALOME DIARY: Behind the veil …