For John Neumeier, Shakespeare’s drama describes the impossibility of ever really knowing another person. “In ‘Othello’ I see how a very intense relationship is systematically destroyed, due to the fact that there is always a boundary between two people’s complete understanding of each other”. John Neumeier’s synonymous ballet was premiered at Kampnagel in 1985 and quickly attained cult status within the dance community. Since the 2012/2013 season it has been part of the company repertoire on the stage of the Hamburg State Opera.
Music: Arvo Pärt, Alfred Schnittke, Nana Vasconcelos a.o.
Choreography, Staging, Set and Costumes: John Neumeier
2 hours 35 minutes | 1 intermission
Part 1: 55 minutes, Part 2: 75 minutes
PREMIERE:
Hamburg Ballet, Kampnagelfabrik, Hamburg, January 27, 1985
ORIGINAL CAST:
Othello: Gamal Gouda
Desdemona: Gigi Hyatt
Jago: Max Midinet
Emilia: Anne Brossier
Cassio: Jeffrey Kirk
Brabantio: Eduardo Bertini
Bianca: Rena Robinson
The Wild Warrior: Ralf Dörnen
La Primavera: Stefanie Arndt
Five Soldiers (Dancers of the Moresca): Jean-Jacques Defago, Johannes Kritzinger, Frank Logeais, Éric Miot, Stephen Pier
ON TOUR:
1987 Brussels, Paris 1988 Milwaukee, Salzburg 1990 Copenhagen 1994 Kobe, Kitakyushu, Tokyo, Kyoto, Ichikawa 2008 Baden-Baden 2016 Chicago
IN THE REPERTORY:
The Stuttgart Ballet
Supported by the Foundation for the Support of the Hamburg State Opera
