Living Legacies

Living Legacies not only brings together two groundbreaking choreographers in George Balanchine and Frederick Ashton whose works remain “state of the art” for any ballet company and who had a decisive influence on the development of classical dance, but also leads us into the present with Christopher Wheeldon, making continuities and discontinuities evident. The legacy of classical ballet lives on, not just by continuing choreographic traditions, but also by rethinking and reinterpreting them and through the dancers who perform them in the here and now.

About the choreography:
An homage to the great composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is what George Balanchine wanted to create with his Divertimento Nr. 15. Inspired by the clarity, multiplicity and elegance that distinguishes the Austrian’s oeuvre, the result is one of the choreographer’s most gossamer-like works: “This particular divertimento is probably the greatest of its kind. It presents Mozart from his best side, by infusing the familiar form of court music with warm dignity, playfulness and tender, lyric beauty”, Balanchine says, and lets the movement in his choreography entirely follow the composition in keeping with his principle: “see the music, hear the dance”. “In Balanchine’s setting of Mozart’s music, we can feel that these two great minds were genuine ‘soulmates’,” the ballet critic Richard Buckle wrote about this work which premiered in 1956 with New York City Ballet. 

Christopher Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour, first premiered in 2008 with San Francisco Ballet, was originally inspired by the light and golden colours in the paintings of Gustav Klimt. Wheeldon also saw the sensual shimmering qualities that were the hallmarks of Klimt’s art in the music of Ezio Bosso, which was complemented for this creation with the andante from Vivaldi’s Violin Concerto in B major, and thus embarked on a choreographic journey that focussed above all on moments of fleeting beauty. As a result, the seven movements of the ballet are “to be regarded as a series of small paintings or sketches that have been inspired by the music,” Wheeldon describes his creation, which extends its classical movement material with other forms of dance, as evoking “a new and interesting view of a ballet step.”

Rhapsody is one of Frederick Ashton’s last works and was premiered in 1980 to mark the 80th birthday of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Ashton created it for the legendary dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, who performed it as a guest dancer with the Royal Ballet London. Rhapsody combines the brilliance of Russian technique with the lyricism of the English style – entirely in Ashton’s sprit. A non-narrative but powerfully expressive ballet unfolds to Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini. The dancer’s explosive jumps and spinning turns meet the feather-light precision and graceful lines of the ballerina. This ballet is a glowing tribute to Ashton’s incomparable and influential style and to his extraordinary career: “a timeless masterpiece of classicism and sparkling artistic virtuosity.”

About the music:
The musical range of the evening extends from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to Sergei Rachmaninoff. Mozart’s Divertimento No. 15 captivates with its clarity, structure, and dance-like elegance. In contrast, the music for Christopher Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour unfolds a distinctive sonic world, combining contemporary compositions by Ezio Bosso with additions based on works by Antonio Vivaldi. Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, in turn, blends virtuosic brilliance with emotional depth.

Place

Vienna State Opera – World-Renowned Stage for Opera and Ballet in the Heart of Vienna

The Vienna State Opera is one of the world's leading opera houses and a cultural landmark of Austria. Located prominently in the heart of Vienna, along the famous Ringstrasse, it offers outstanding opera productions featuring international stars and a renowned ballet ensemble.

Since its grand opening in 1869, the Vienna State Opera has been synonymous with musical excellence, artistic perfection, and an extensive repertoire ranging from operatic classics to contemporary works. Each season, it stages more than 300 performances, including world-famous operas such as Mozart’s "The Magic Flute", Verdi’s "La Traviata", and Puccini’s "Tosca".

Alongside its acclaimed opera productions, the Vienna State Opera is also home to the celebrated Vienna State Ballet, renowned for both classical and contemporary dance performances. The annual Vienna Opera Ball is a prestigious social event with international prominence.

Getting There by Public Transport

Subway:

• Lines U1, U2, U4 – Karlsplatz station, direct access

Tram:

• Lines 1, 2, D, 62, 71 – Oper/Karlsplatz stop

Bus:

• Line 59A – Oper stop

Its central location on Vienna’s Ringstrasse ensures convenient and easy access.

Vienna State Opera – A Symbol of Viennese Culture and Musical Excellence

As one of the world's premier opera houses, the Vienna State Opera is an essential destination for opera enthusiasts, music lovers, and visitors seeking to experience the cultural heart of Vienna.