John Cranko dedicated this ballet to Prof. Dr. Walter Erich Schäfer

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1 THE TAMING OF THE SHREW A ballet in two acts by John Cranko Based on the play by William Shakespeare Choreography by John Cranko Music by Kurt-Heinz Stolze after Domenico Scarlatti Scenery and Costumes by Elisabeth Dalton World Premiere: 16, March 1965, Stuttgart Ballet John Cranko dedicated this ballet to Prof. Dr. Walter Erich Schäfer The comedy The Taming of the Shrew is the last of Cranko's triad of full-length works in which he redefined the genre of the narrative ballet in the 20 th century. The music was arranged by Kurt-Heinz Stolze, based on works by the Italian Baroque composer Domenico Scarlatti. The set and costumes were created by designer Elisabeth Dalton, who died in her native England in March The world premiere in 1969 with Márcia Haydée and Richard Cragun in the title roles was an overwhelming success and was received by the public and the press with tempestuous acclaim. Today, the enthusiasm for this masterpiece remains unbroken, as the magnificent reception to its return to the Stuttgart stage amply shows. Cranko translated Shakespeare's comedy into the movements of classical ballet with wit and a firm feel for comic potential. With skilful artistry and subtle gestures he unleashes the irony found in Shakespeare s text, revealing the romantic nuances in the stormy, ever-changeable relationship between Katharina and Petrucchio. He preserves the ambiguous character and the multi-faceted comedy of Shakespeare's original text, despite trimming the plot considerably. Cranko was short and to-the-point in describing his choreographic structure, based on three central pas de deux: "The entire plot revolves around a man and a woman and their relationship with each other. Three pas de deux. First she is the stronger, he the suitor; in the second he is the stronger, she is his wife. In the end they find a balance and are truly in love."

2 GALA PROGRAMME BEIJING + SUZHOU BROUILLARDS Choreography John Cranko Music Claude Debussy World Premiere 8 March 1970, Stuttgart Ballet From 1909 to 1913 Claude Debussy wrote his two famous series of Préludes, comprising 12 piano compositions each. Debussy, the most significant representative of Impressionism in music, gave each prelude a suggestive title. Cranko was inspired by nine of these gems to create his ballet Brouillards, with the eponymous prelude being played at the beginning and end of the ballet, which unfolds in ten scenes. By giving titles to his compositions ( Mists, Fairies are exquisite dancers, Footsteps in the snow ), Debussy sketched poetic, surreal and romantic scenes. Cranko took up and elaborated on these sketches, creating ten pieces in which glimpses of natural phenomena and the description of human life, thought and emotion are all expressed in dance. Brouillards came to be an internationally distinguished piece, which has maintained its timeless appeal through its emphasis on pure dance and the simplicity of its decor. JEU DE CARTES A poker game in three rounds Choreography John Cranko Set and costumes Dorothee Zippel Music Igor Stravinsky World Premiere 22 January 1965, Stuttgart Ballet Jeu de Cartes is a ballet score by Igor Stravinsky, who also worked on the libretto of the eponymous ballet choreographed by George Balanchine in This version is considered to be one of the main oeuvres of neo-classical dance. John Cranko did not follow Balanchine, but took his starting point directly from Stravinsky, whose musical wit he drew out in his new version, regarded as the most successful rendition of the material since its premiere in The piece was performed by countless other ballet companies. Cranko responds to Stravinsky s musical parodies with persiflages of classical ballets, executed by the figure of the Joker, a role that brought its first performer Egon Madsen worldwide renown. Cranko s choreographic philosophy of making the spirit of a score (not the notes) visible in dance, proved to be the key to success in this piece too.

3 Beijing only Mobile Choreography: Tomm Ruud Music: Aram Khachaturian, Gayne Ballet Suite, Adagio Costume design: Tomm Ruud Lighting design: Sara Linnie Slocum Staging: Christopher Ruud World Premiere: 1969, Ballet West, San Francisco European Premiere: September 30, 2009, Stuttgart Ballet Choreographed by Ruud in 1969 and set to Khachaturian's Adagio from Gayne Suite, Mobile takes its title from the initial letters of the concept which inspired it: Moving Objects Behaving In Linear Equipoise. A work for three dancers who move in slow parallelograms, literally mobiles that evolve into other mobiles; fascinating, striking, exquisitely conceived," (San Francisco Chronicle), the "sheer engineering feat of it is reason to see it time and time again." (Blake A. Samson, Fine Arts News Service). Mobile was a highlight of San Franciso Ballet's Fiftieth Anniversary Gala in January, 1983 and is the subject of the film Balances, released in Mobile continues to stand the test of time most recently delighting the audiences of Kansas City Ballet, Aspen/Santa Fe Ballet, Joffrey Ballet Co., San Francisco Ballet and The Stuttgart Ballet. Sirs Choreography: Bridget Breiner Music: Joseph Hathaway, Charles Kingsley "The Young Knight"; performed by Nina Simone World Premiere: 29 June 2007, Noverre Society: Young Choreographers Bridget Breiner is a Principal Dancer with the Stuttgart Ballet. She started to choreograph in 2005 for the talent platform "Young Choreographers of the Noverre Society" and her third choreography "Sirs" became such a success with the audience and critics alike, that it was taken into Stuttgart Ballet's repertoire. Bridget Breiner has meanwhile presented major works created for Kunstmuseum Stuttgart with dancers of the John Cranko School and for the National Theater Mannheim with the Kevin O'Day Ballet. Legende Choreography: John Cranko Music: Henri Wieniawski, Legend for Violin and Orchestra World Premiere: March 11, 1972, Stuttgart Ballet, Munich Stuttgart Premiere: 29 June 1972 John Cranko created this Pas de deux for Márcia Haydée and Richard Cragun. Though the title obviously refers to the music, legend has it, that the choreography was inspired by a dress, Galina Ulanowa had given to Márcia Haydée.

4 Le Grand pas de deux Choreography und Staging: Christian Spuck Music: Gioachino Rossini, Overture for La gazza ladra World Premiere: 31 December 1999, Stuttgart Ballett Christian Spuck has created choreography for the Stuttgart Ballet since 1998 and in 2001 was appointed Choreographer in Residence to the company for which he has choreographed numerous ballets, including two full length productions. Le Grand pas de deux originated as a "piece d'occassion" for the Christmas Gala in 2000 and has meanwhile become a world wide success. Les Bourgeois Choreography: Ben van Cauwenbergh Music: Jacques Brel World Premiere: 1993, State Theatre Wiesbaden Stuttgart Premiere: 10 November 2001, Stuttgart Ballett "Les bourgeois" is an ironic chanson by Jacques Brel, that describes the rebellious attitude of three young men. In their twenties, especially when drinking in their local, they criticise the attitude of the established members of society, but when they get older, they become just as bourgeois themselves. The ballet is a virtuoso solo piece for a male dancer, who takes on the character of the singer and performs breathtaking jumps and tours. The power and precision of the dancing catches the audience by surprise, as the dancer comes on stage acting along the lines of the chanson like someone on his way home from a late night at the bar.

5 Suzhou only Pas de deux from Romeo and Juliet Ballet in three acts after William Shakespeare Choreography: John Cranko Music: Serge Prokofiev Sets and Costumes: Jürgen Rose World Premiere: December 2, 1962, Stuttgart Ballet John Cranko s production of Romeo and Juliet is considered one of the definitive versions being performed in the world today. Based on Shakespeare s world famous tale of two lovers in Renaissance Italy who find themselves caught between their feuding families, Cranko s vividly etched characters and breathtaking choreography bring this tragedy to splendid life. The ballet, set to Serge Prokofiev s lush score, contains dramatic roles for the young Juliet and her impetuous lover Romeo, for Romeo s hot-headed friend Mercutio and for Juliet s bullying relative Tybalt. An abundance of soloist roles further enrich the plot and provide the entire company with ample opportunity to display their acting and dancing abilities. Jürgen Rose s magnificent sets and costumes enhance the action of the ballet while never obscuring the choreography. Cranko first choreographed Romeo and Juliet in 1958 for the La Scala Ballet in Milan, Italy with Carla Fracci in the leading role. In 1962 he reworked and refined it for his own Stuttgart company, which presented the world premiere in Stuttgart with Marcia Haydée and Ray Barra in the title roles. Since then, Cranko s production has entered the repertory of numerous companies worldwide, including the National Ballet of Canada, the Australian Ballet, the Finnish National Ballet, the National Ballet of China and the Ballet of the La Scala Opera House in Milan.