Alexandre Riabko

Nijinsky is the title of this choreographic approach to a dance phenomenon that has been part of Neumeiers life ever since the beginning of his career. During his approximately ten years as a dancer, Vaslav Nijinsky (1889-1950) set a new standard both technically and expressively, while in his choreographic work he pointed the way towards modern dance. All three aspects - the dancer, the choreographer and the person Nijinsky - form the starting point for John Neumeiers latest creation. Neumeier, who as early as 1979 presented a short ballet Vaslav, is regarded as one of the leading Nijinsky experts worldwide.

In this narrative ballet, John Neumeier links the myth of the swan prince Siegfried with the tragic life story of Ludwig II, King of Bavaria, who fell into madness, and contrasts his own creations with the old original choreography by Ivanov and Petipa from 1895. Recorded at the Hamburg State Opera in May 2001.