ROMEO AND GIULIETTA
by John Cranko from William Shakespeare
Choreography and staging: John Cranko
Music: Sergej Prokof’ev
Set design and costumes: Jürgen Rose
World premiere: 2 December 1962, Stuttgart Ballet
It’s love at first sight, and at the same time a love that can never be. Together for a single night, the lovers – probably the most famous of all time – are separated forever by the mutual hatred of their respective families.
William Shakespeare’s tragedy about the feud between the Montagues and Capulets, whose children meet and overcome their deep hatred, has inspired countless artists. John Cranko also revisited this timeless story in 1962, creating one of his most popular ballets. With poignant pas de deux, heated fencing matches, lavish balls and lively carnival scenes, Cranko brings Verona’s hustle and bustle to the stage. He portrays his dreamy Romeo, his impetuous Juliet, the reckless and clownish Mercutio and the icy and scintillating villain Tybalt so clearly that the audience is drawn deep into the breathtaking flow of events from the very first moment. From the giddiness of rediscovered love, he rushes with the protagonists into an unstoppable and senseless violence, until a tragic death.
Sergei Prokofiev’s descriptive music, combined with the sumptuous sets and costumes by Jürgen Rose, form the perfect backdrop that allows the scenes to unfold as if they had come straight out of an Italian Renaissance painting.
‘It will be a great pleasure for me to be a guest in Nervi in July with Romeo and Giulietta by John Cranko. It’s a very special moment for me and for the company, as we haven’t performed in this beautiful city since 1986, when I was still dancing. Romeo and Giulietta by Cranko is a timeless masterpiece that tells the story of the two protagonists‘ passionate and tragic love in an impressive way. I’m thrilled to be able to present this moving story in the unique setting of Nervi.’ (Tamas Detrich)
DAS STUTTGARTER BALLETT
The Stuttgart Ballet has been one of the world’s leading dance companies for over 50 years. With more than 70 dancers from more than 20 countries and invitations to perform all over the world, it is impossible to imagine the international ballet scene without the company. The wide repertoire delights both lovers of classical ballet and fans of contemporary dance. The number of world premieres and renowned choreographers who have created new pieces in Stuttgart is unrivalled anywhere in the world. The company’s versatile dancers are sought-after guests on the world’s most important stages.
Ballet in Stuttgart has a rich history dating back to the 18th century. In 1961 a new era began with the appointment of the choreographer John Cranko as Director of the ballet. With three new legendary creations – Romeo and Giulietta, Onegin and La bisbetica domata – Cranko became a brilliant innovator of the narrative ballet genre. In addition to his own creations, Cranko also left space in the programme for works by other artists, especially his dancers, whom he encouraged to choreograph their own pieces. All the other directors of the company followed John Cranko’s lead and concentrated on new creative impulses. Tamas Detrich has been the Artistic Director of the Stuttgart Ballet since 2018. To date, he has commissioned over 35 world premieres and has led the company on international tours to Japan, China and Holland.
JOHN CRANKO
John Cranko was born on 15 August 1927 in Rustenburg, South Africa. He trained as a dancer mainly at the University of Cape Town, where in 1942 he also choreographed his first ballet to Stravinsky’s Suite from L’histoire du soldat. In 1946 he continued his studies at Sadler’s Wells School in London and shortly afterwards became a member of the Sadler’s Wells Ballet, later the Royal Ballet. In 1947 Cranko created a sensational choreography for the Sadler’s Wells Ballet to Debussy’s Children’s Corner. From 1949 onwards he pursued an exclusively choreographic career with highly successful pieces, mostly for the Sadler’s Wells Ballet. In 1955 he choreographed La bella Elena for the Paris Opera. His first ever English ballet for the Royal Ballet, The Prince of the Pagoda, was performed in 1957. In 1961 John Cranko was appointed Director of the Stuttgart Ballet and a period of great splendour began for the company. At the beginning, Cranko created short choreographies and gathered a group of dancers around him, including Márcia Haydée, Egon Madsen, Richard Cragun, Birgit Keil and Susanne Hanke. The turning point towards worldwide fame for Cranko and the entire company came in December 1962 with the premiere of Romeo e Giulietta. Acclaimed by critics and the public, this production marked the beginning of the great era of the Stuttgart Ballet. With growing fame, Cranko began to take the Stuttgart Ballet on tour all over the world, with stops in the United States, Israel, Paris and the Soviet Union, stages that ensured worldwide fame for the young company and the ‘miracle of the Stuttgart Ballet’. On 26th June 1973 John Cranko died unexpectedly during a flight back from a successful tour of the United States.
