Cast

Hamburg Ballett

Hamburg is and has always been a city of dance, with the first ballet performances dating back as early as 1765. In 1963, the leading ensembles of the world, including the New York City Ballet and the London Royal Ballet, performed at the Hamburg State Opera. Just ten years later, a unique ballet history ­ began in 1973 when the then 34-year-old John Neumeier was appointed as Ballet Director. For 51 years, Neumeier would lead the Hamburg company, ­ later also as its Artistic Director, bringing it to worldwide acclaim and making it what it is today: the internationally renowned Hamburg Ballet. Beginning in ­ August 2024, Demis Volpi will be taking over as the new Artistic Director of the 61-member ensemble.

The Hamburg Ballet is inseparably linked to the rich repertory of choreographies by John Neumeier, which often address literary, historical, or religious themes. The ensemble has gained fame far beyond the borders of the Hanseatic city through numerous guest performances, making it Germany’s flagship ballet company. In his first year as the Artistic Director, Demis Volpi will expand the repertoire by presenting works of Pina Bausch, Aszure Barton, William Forsythe and Justin Peck that have never yet been seen in Hamburg. Three of Volpi's own works will also be featured.

In the 2024/25 season, the Hamburg Ballet will present more than 80 performances on the stage of the Hamburg State Opera, in addition to guest appearances in Baden-Baden, Germany, and other European cities. The tradition of lecture demonstrations (Ballett-Werkstatt), providing the audience with fascinating insights into the creative and rehearsal work of a ballet ensemble, will continue under Demis Volpi. The current season marks the 50th anniversary of the dance festival "Hamburg Ballet Days" and, consequently, the 50th edition of the Nijinsky Gala, featuring celebrated stars from around the world alongside the Hamburg ensemble.

The School of the Hamburg Ballet, founded by John Neumeier in 1978, has become an integral part of the company and is housed in the Ballet Center in Hamburg­ Hamm, including its affiliated boarding school. A significant number of today's ensemble received their training at the ballet school.

Stücke

• Die Möwe
• Nijinsky
• Die kleine Meerjungfrau
• Die Kameliendame
• N.N.
• Der Nussknacker
• Tod in Venedig
• THE TIMES ARE RACING
• SLOW BURN
• Wunderland
• Nijinsky-Gala LI

Conductor

Nathan Brock

Birthplace:
Canada

Studies:
Hochschule der Künste in Zürich with Johannes Schlaefli, Aspen Conducting Academy, degree in History and International Relations from the University of Toronto

Master class:
with David Zinman, Bernard Haitink, Jorma Panula, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Michael Tilson Thomas

Prizes:
Recipient of the Ontario Arts Council’s Heinz Unger Award, recipient of the Jean-Marie Beaudet Award from the Canada Council for the Arts, Prix Opus of the “Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec” for the creation of a new series of concerts for young adults in Montreal, winner of Quebec’s Prix Opus for best disc of the year (2015)

Relation to the Hamburg State Opera:
Musical Assistant of the General Music Director (2015/16-2016/17)
Kapellmeister since 2017/18

Repertoire:
“L’Elisir d’Amore“, “Der kleine Schornsteinfeger”, “Il Barbieri di Siviglia”, “Duse”, “Die Zauberflöte”, “Hänsel und Gretel”, “Der Nussknacker”, “Romeo und Julia”, “Alice im Wunderland”, “La Belle Hélène”, “Le Nozze di Figaro”, “Eugen Onegin”, “Don Quixote”, “Anna Karenina”, “Chopin Dances”, et al.

Career stages:
Assistant Conductor of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (2009-2011), Resident Conductor of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (2011-2014), foundation of the Aaron Brock Foundation (2007)

Stages / Cooperation with orchestras:
Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre National D’Ile de France, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Komische Oper Berlin, Royal Swedish Operan, Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, et al.

Stücke

• Die Möwe
• Nijinsky

Orchestra

Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen

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Stücke

• Nijinsky