December 4, 2011
“Liliom” (John Neumeier)
Hamburg Ballet
Hamburg State Opera
Hamburg, Germany
December 4
by Horst Koegler
copyright 2011 by Horst Koegler
Originally billed a ´suburban legend´ when it was first performed in Budapest in 1909, Ferenc Molnar´s “Liliom” became a world hit when it was taken up by many theatres around the globe. In 1945 its stage version was adapted by Richard Rodgers and Oskar Hammerstein as a musical under the title “Carousel”, contiuing its success story in various stage and film versions. As a ballet it materialized when Christopher Wheeldon choreographed it as “Carousel (A Dance)” for a New York City Ballet gala in 20002, scoring an instant hit which was taken into the company´s regular repertory, with stellar performances by Alexandra Ansanelli and Benjamin Millepied.