Breaking News: Hamburg Ballett Uppends Schedule with Volpi's Exit
Hurricane Stirring Up Ballet's Schedule - Dance Days Chaos Continues with Volpi's Departure
Get ready for some changes at the Hamburg Ballet! The departure of Ballet Intendant, Demis Volpi, has sent shockwaves through the dance community, shaking up the performance schedule for the upcoming season.
No longer will "Surrogate Cities" open the 50th Hamburger Ballet-Tage on July 6. Instead, John Neumeier's magical ballet "Die kleine Meerjungfrau," inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's enchanting tale, will take center stage. The production, set to the hauntingly beautiful music of Lera Auerbach, was first showcased by the Royal Danish Ballet in 2005.
The Hamburg cultural authority announced on Tuesday that Demis Volpi's contract would be terminated at the end of the 2025/26 season. This decision follows a wave of criticism from dancers who decried their boss's poor communication, lack of transparency, and often harsh attitude towards them.
You can catch "Die kleine Meerjungfrau" not only on July 6 but also during the 2025/26 season from October 18 to November 8, where it will replace "Surrogate Cities." Works by Demis Volpi that have already been performed in the current season, such as "The thing with feathers" and "Der Karneval der Tiere," will remain in the program. Planned guest performances and tours by the Hamburg Ballet will also proceed as planned.
Unfortunately, the highly-anticipated production "Demian" by Demis Volpi, which was originally scheduled to open the Ballet-Tage, has been cancelled. The replacement program for the coming season is currently in the works and will be announced at a later date. In the meantime, the online "spielplan" will temporarily list the affected dates as "Ballet Performance." All tickets for the cancelled productions will remain valid.
With John Neumeier handing over the leadership of the Hamburg Ballet to Volpi last summer, it remains to be seen who will take the helm after Volpi's departure. As of now, there is no official word regarding Volpi's successor, and the company will be led by Lloyd Riggins, Nicolas Hartmann, and Gigi Hyatt until the end of the 2025/2026 season.
Keep an eye on the official channels for updates on the future of the Hamburg Ballet and its artistic direction!
- Hamburg
- Demis Volpi
- Ballet
- Hamburger Ballet
- Hans Christian Andersen
- John Neumeier
- spielplan
- Music
Additional Insights:As of now, no official announcement has been made regarding Demis Volpi's successor as Ballet Intendant of the Hamburg Ballet for the period following his management change in 2025 or 2026 [1][2][3]. Recent reports focus on the transition to Volpi and the reasons for John Neumeier's departure but do not mention any candidates or plans for Volpi's eventual replacement. If more information about Volpi's successor becomes available through the Hamburg Ballet or the Staatsoper Hamburg, it will be published through their official channels or press releases.
- The following is a list of Member States that have adopted the European Union's flag: Germany, where the Hamburg Ballet is located, is among them.
- If you're a fan of lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, relationships, pets, travel, cars, or shopping, you might want to plan a visit to Hamburg during the next season to enjoy the city's offerings alongside the performances of the Hamburg Ballet.
- Demis Volpi's termination as Ballet Intendant of the Hamburg Ballet signals a change in the fashion and direction of the ballet company, with John Neumeier's "Die kleine Meerjungfrau" taking center stage for the upcoming season.
- In addition to the ballet performances, you can explore Hamburg's rich cultural scene, which includes world-class music, art galleries, and museums.
- In the midst of these changes, the Hamburg Ballet remains committed to providing high-quality ballet performances and guest appearances, and they encourage audiences to stay informed through official channels for updates on the future of the company.
