New Bal­lets Russes

Only a few companies have shaped 20th-century European ballet as much as Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. Despite its relatively short existence of just two decades, this company left an indelible mark in its field. Les Ballets Russes are celebrated not just for their virtuosic dances and vibrant narration, but also for their pioneering interdisciplinary approach. By working with luminaries like Matisse, Picasso, Stravinsky, Satie, Nijinska and Fokine, the company had a bold mission: To push the boundaries of ballet and promote respect for the traditions and knowledge of other disciplines. This ethos is the core of the Staatstheater Nürnberg Ballet of Difference's creative vision.

New Ballets Russes is a reinterpretation of the works of Les Ballets Russes, but it also poses a provocative question: What does the spirit of Diaghilev mean today when examined under radically different cultural and social conditions? In Petrushka (choreography from 2022), Richard Siegal brings to life Stravinsky's classic with a meticulous evaluation of its musical and narrative structure, expressed by Flora Miranda's vividly colourful costumes, Matthias Singer's strong light design and Jean-Marc Puissant's reinterpretation of the original set design.

With Pulcinella (premiere), a reinterpretation of Stravinsky's groundbreaking composition, Siegal deepens his examination of the legacy of the Ballets Russes—an epiphany, Stravinsky said, that opened the door to his later creative period. With its entertaining and thought-provoking narrative, Pulcinella invites the audience to reflect on deceit, love and transformation. It also compels us to question the value of tradition as a basis for contemporary ballet. From Siegal's perspective, Diaghilev's revolutionary spirit is not a relic of the past, but rather a dynamic force that continues to shape the future of the art form.