John Cranko

John Cranko
John Cranko was born on August 15, 1927 in Rustenburg, South Africa. He received his dance education mainly at the University of Cape Town, where he also choreographed his first ballet to Stravinsky’s Suite from The Soldier’s Tale. In 1946, he continued his studies at the Sadler’s Wells School in London and shortly afterwards became a member of the Sadler’s Wells Ballet (subsequently The Royal Ballet).
In 1947, Cranko made a sensational choreography to Debussy’s Children’s Corner for the Sadler’s Wells Ballet; from 1949 on he devoted himself exclusively to choreography, producing extremely successful ballets - mostly for the Sadler’s Wells Ballet. In 1955, he choreographed La Belle Hélène for the Paris Opera Ballet and in 1957 he created his first full-length ballett, The Prince of the Pagodas, for The Royal Ballet. In 1961, John Cranko was appointed ballet director in Stuttgart by Walter Erich Schaefer, the General Director of the Wuerttemberg State Theatre (today’s Stuttgart State Theater). At the beginning of his time in Stuttgart, Cranko created short ballets and gathered together a group of dancers, among whom were Egon Madsen, Richard Cragun, Birgit Keil and, most importantly, a young Brazilian dancer named Marcia Haydée who was to become his prime muse and inspiration.
The breakthrough for Cranko came in December 1962 with the world premiere of Romeo and Juliet, which was highly praised by critics and audience alike. In Stuttgart, Cranko created many small choreographic jewels such as Jeu de cartes and Opus I as well as his symphonic ballet Initials R.B.M.E. but it was with his dramatic story ballets such as Onegin, The Taming of the Shrew, Carmen, Poème de l’Extase and Traces that Cranko secured his place in the pantheon of great choreographers. In addition, he encouraged young dancers in his company - including Jiří Kylián and John Neumeier - to try their hand at choreography.
Cranko’s gift for nuanced story-telling, clear dramatic structure and his exquisite mastery of the art of the pas de deux conquered New York audiences during a triumphant season at the Metropolitan Opera in 1969. World-wide acclaim soon followed, as Cranko and his young company toured the globe.
John Cranko died unexpectedly at age 45 on June 26, 1973, on a return flight from a successful USA tour.
John Cranko was director of the Bavarian State Opera's ballet company between 1968 and 1970. In these years, he created "Begegnung in drei Farben", "Gesang der Nachtigall", "Triplum", "Französische Suite", "Une Fete Galante", "Orpheus" and "Ebony Concerto". Also, the company performed the masterly "Romeo and Juliet", "Onegin", and "The Taming of the Shrew" which are still part of the repertoire.
Events with John Cranko
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May 2021
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Saturday 29
07:30 PM · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
John Cranko
Family Performance · Children's Introductory Event: 06:45 PM
Prices H , € 88 / 77 / 63 / 50 / 35 / 23 / 11 / 8 -
Monday 31
07:30 PM · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
John Cranko Prices H , € 88 / 77 / 63 / 50 / 35 / 23 / 11 / 8
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June 2021
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Wednesday 02
07:30 PM · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
John Cranko Prices H , € 88 / 77 / 63 / 50 / 35 / 23 / 11 / 8
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Saturday 05
07:30 PM · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
John Cranko
U30
Prices H , € 88 / 77 / 63 / 50 / 35 / 23 / 11 / 8
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July 2021
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Tuesday 06
07:30 PM · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
John Cranko Munich Opera Festival Prices H , € 88 / 77 / 63 / 50 / 35 / 23 / 11 / 8
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Past events with John Cranko
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June 2019
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April 2019
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March 2019
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Monday 18
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ONEGIN
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Friday 15
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
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Tuesday 12
08:00 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
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Saturday 09
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ONEGIN
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Saturday 02
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ONEGIN
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Friday 01
08:00 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ONEGIN
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April 2018
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February 2018
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Friday 23
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
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Thursday 22
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
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Saturday 17
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Monday 12
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Friday 09
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Wednesday 07
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ONEGIN
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Sunday 04
06:00 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ONEGIN
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Friday 02
08:00 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ONEGIN
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October 2017
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September 2017
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April 2017
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February 2017
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January 2017
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December 2016
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November 2016
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Monday 21
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Saturday 12
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Friday 11
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Saturday 05
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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April 2016
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December 2015
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October 2015
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July 2015
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June 2015
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May 2015
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April 2015
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March 2015
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January 2015
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Wednesday 28
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Saturday 24
06:00 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Thursday 22
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Saturday 17
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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April 2014
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November 2013
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October 2013
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September 2013
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June 2012
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May 2012
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November 2011
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Saturday 19
07:00 PM Uhr · Shanghai
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
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Friday 18
07:00 PM Uhr · Shanghai
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
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Thursday 17
07:00 PM Uhr · Shanghai
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
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Saturday 12
07:30 PM Uhr · Beijing
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
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Friday 11
07:30 PM Uhr · Beijing
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
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Thursday 10
07:30 PM Uhr · Beijing
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW
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July 2011
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May 2011
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April 2011
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March 2011
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February 2011
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December 2010
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October 2010
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February 2010
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January 2010
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August 2009
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July 2009
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November 2008
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Friday 21
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Friday 14
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Wednesday 12
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Sunday 09
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Sunday 09
03:00 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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April 2008
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February 2008
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December 2007
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November 2007
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October 2007
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September 2007
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February 2007
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January 2007
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Sunday 14
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Sunday 14
02:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Sunday 07
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Thursday 04
07:30 PM Uhr · Nationaltheater
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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September 2006
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Thursday 28
07:30 PM Uhr · --
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Wednesday 27
07:30 PM Uhr · --
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Tuesday 26
07:30 PM Uhr · --
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Sunday 24
07:30 PM Uhr · --
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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Saturday 23
07:30 PM Uhr · --
ROMEO UND JULIA (ROMEO AND JULIET)
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April 2006
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March 2006