The presentation of next years season once more showcased Nikolaj Hübbe's ability to chose the best from what is available, a strong character trait in trying times.
When Opera Director Sven Müller should make a case for a production of "Porgy & Bess" with an ensemble brought in from outside (a strange decision for a theatre which had suffered severe cuts), he mused about how much the opera (in a Danish sung version) had meant to the Danish audience during the German occupation in 1940 -1945.
This was not the only time that the presentation catapulted me to that period where Danes survived on thriftiness, economizing and getting something out out everything. The Opera will celebrate Verdi and Shakespeare by doing Falstaff, Othello and Macbeth in the same decoration. The drama department will honour Shakespeare by productions so small scale that they could be performed in a telephone booth.
Compared to the other arts departments, Hübbe has managed five big scale ballets, but save Twyla Tharp's Sinatra themed "Come Fly Away", the rest also represents the war virtues of reusing, remodeling and hand me downs. For the rest of the repertoire homemade will do nicely.
Redone and rewamped
"La Bayadére" will be the only transfer from this season, thereby give the dancers the opportunity to develop even more in the Russian style, which we will also get a healthy dose of by a guest appearance by "The Marinsky Ballet" who bring "Swan Lake" and a Fokine programme.
Nikolaj Hübbe's own version of "Napoli" will appear in a remodelled version where the thrid act will be redressed and rethought to matched the 1950ties Fellini theme and thereby curing one of the major issues with the production, the mismatched periods.
Kenneth Macmillian's "Manon" will be handed down from the older generation who danced it 10 years ago to the present generation, and hopefully give the younger talent a meaty dramatic challenge. The production will keep the costumes and decor by Danish designer Mia Steensgaard that worked so well for the ballet when produced in Copenhagen.
Finally the Balanchine "Nutcracker" will appear for the Christmas season and tour to Aarhus in Jutland for three performances.
The only way is reach out
For the ongoing reach out, up and down productions; Balanchine's "Symphony in 3 Movements" is paired with "Grand Pas de Classicque" and Ohad Naharin's "Minus 7" which was performed a few seoson's back.
The rest of the repertoire is home made. Hübbe will do a "Twelfth Night" for the youngest dancers and aspirants aiming at a youth-full market and cover the Shakespearean theme. Esther Lee Wilkinson will create a children's ballet " The Fabel Maker" with Danish children's television guru Shane Brox. The inhouse company "Corpus" will present three productions, "Interegnum" about democracy, a production focusing on the character dancers and finally a rehash of this years "We are not Waving - We are Drowning" yet to be seen on the stage.
The company will also make a return visit to St. Peterburg with "Napoli" and "La Sylphide". Unfortunately I have still too few stamps in my ration book to get "La Sylphide" on home ground and we must also wait another year before getting the rented "the Lady of the Camellias" back on stage.
Finally Dansk Danseteater will guest with Tim Rushton's "Black Diamonds".
Hopefully this repertoire is strong enough and as the company will do well over 100 performances there is a basic for good development for the very talented ensemble. It is easy to wish for more and I could list at least 20 ballet I would love to see as well with the company. But there is a comfort in the quality level of the works and then I really hope that Corpus will deliver the goods and create a vibrant and interesting contribution to new choreography on home ground.
Photo copyright: The Royal Danish Ballet
1, Julien Romain in "The Nutcracker"
2. Lis Jeppesen and Alban Lendorf in "Napoli"
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