Vienna State Ballet season opening
Ballet |
The Vienna State Ballet is entering a new era. With Alessandra Ferri an exceptional artist, who has reached everything in her active career as a dancer, is taking over the company as ballet director. Right at the start of the official season, Alessandra Ferri surprised everyone with three promotions.
The former solo dancer Timoor Afshar was appointed first soloist. The two demi-soloists Sinthia Liz and Giorgio Fourés were promoted to soloist.
We look forward to the challenges ahead and warmly welcome all new ensemble members.
On September 18, you can experience the first performance of Elena Tchernichova's classic Giselle to music by Adolphe Adam at the Vienna State Opera.
The choreography created by Elena Tchernichova for Vienna to the legend handed down by Heinrich Heine is still one of the major works of Romanticism and is considered one of the most important "calling cards" of the Vienna State Ballet. Alessandra Ferri, who rehearsed the title role herself with Elena Tchernichova during her time as a dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, will pass on her experiences to the dancers of the Vienna State Ballet for this performance series together with her former dance partner Julio Bocca, thus also closing an artistic circle for her personally, as she herself emphasizes:
"Elena Tchernichova first coached me in the role of Giselle when I danced it at the age of 21 alongside Mikhail Baryshnikov at the American Ballet Theatre. I still vividly remember her comments, her corrections and the wonderful images she gave me to help me understand every moment of the role. She coached me for many years, and even today I can still hear her voice - not only when I interpreted this role myself, but also when I coach other dancers. It is very special to be able to pass on my own experience and Elena's vision of this ballet to the beautiful dancers of the Vienna State Ballet. I really value this experience."
In addition to the cast with Elena Bottaro (Giselle) and Masayu Kimoto (Duke Albrecht) on September 18, this upcoming performance series will also feature numerous promising house and role debuts. On September 19 and 22, you can experience the house debut of Cassandra Trenary (Giselle) alongside Davide Dato (Duke Albrecht). On September 23, Laura Fernandez Gromova (Giselle) and António Casalinho (Duke Albrecht) will make their house debut together.
Other roles include: Giorgio Fourés/Rinaldo Venuti1/Alessandro Cavallo1 (Hilarion), Margarita Fernandes1, Sinthia Liz2, Arne Vandervelde2, Rinaldo Venuti1, Natalia Butchko2, Gaia Fredianelli2, Vladyslav Bosenko1, Duccio Tariello2 (Peasant Pas de quatre), Ioanna Avraam2/Rosa Pierro2 (Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis). Luciano Di Martino, who will also be making his house debut with the Vienna State Opera Orchestra, will conduct for the first time.
1 House debut / 2 Role debut
Dates: 18, 19, 22 & 23 September 2025