• The interrelation of literature and choreography in the ballets of John Neumeier “Death in Venice” and “Anna Karenina”

УДК: 792.8+793.3:82

DOI: 10.35852/2588-0144-2023-2-135-149

EDN: THHGYW

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Kseniia V. Popova

Assistant of Choreography Department
Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS)
Moscow, Russia
E-mail: ballet@gitis.net

The interrelation of literature and choreography in the ballets of John Neumeier “Death in Venice” and “Anna Karenina”

Abstract

Interpretation of literary works of various genres is an important direction in the work of choreographer John Neumeier. His staging strategy is based on careful work with the literary text. The performances created by Neumeier are not just an illustration of the original plot, but show new angles of adapting classical literature into the form of a ballet performance. Thе article studies two of his productions: “Death in Venice” (2003) based on the novella by Thomas Mann and “Anna Karenina” (2017) based on the novel by Leo Tolstoy. The choice of these ballets was determined by the interest in researching the methods of choreographer’s adaptation of the literary texts that were not written to be staged. Neumeier brought “Death in Venice” closer to the world of ballet by the method of transferring the main character’s sphere of activity from literary to choreographic, which made it possible to visualize similar internal processes of creative activity. The ballet “Anna Karenina” was interpreted by the choreographer according to the current socio-cultural situation, which increased the emphasis on eternal themes in Tolstoy’s text. The analysis of the interrelation between the literary, musical and choreographic foundations of Neumeier’s performances makes it possible to reveal the main methods of his work with the literary source, to determine the features of the artistic thinking of the choreographer.

Keywords

Ballet theatre, choreography, choreographic interpretation, Neumeier, “Death in Venice”, “Anna Karenina”.

For citation

Popova K. V. The interrelation of literature and choreography in the ballets of John Neumeier “Death in Venice” and “Anna Karenina”. Theatre. Fine Arts. Cinema. Music. 2023, no. 2, pp. 135–149.

DOI: 10.35852/2588-0144-2023-2-135-149

EDN THHGYW

References

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Received: 03.06.2022

Revised: 30.04.2023

Accepted: 10.05.2023