Munich, April 28, 2026

100% CAPACITY UTILISATION DURING THE BALLET FESTIVAL WEEK 2026

The 2026 Ballet Festival Week came to a close on Saturday, April 4, 2026, with a performance of Waves and Circles and another record-breaking 100 percent attendance rate. Three ensemble members have been promoted. In May, John Neumeier’s The Lady of the Camellias will return to the repertoire after a six-year hiatus.

BALLET FESTIVALE WEEK DELIGHTS WITH A FULL HOUSE 

Ballet Director Laurent Hilaire concludes the 2026 Ballet Festival Week with another 100 percent capacity. The festival kicked Saturday, March 28, 2026, with the premiere of the new three-part work Common Ground, in which choreographers Alexander Ekman and Johan Inger made their debut before the Munich audience.

The evening was complemented by Jiri Kylián’s Bella Figura. The program also featured works by Pierre Lacotte, John Neumeier, and John Cranko, as well as the triple bill Waves and Circles, showcasing the dance styles of William Forsythe, Emma Portner, and Maurice Béjart.

“When it comes to programming, my main focus is on diversity. The Ballet Festival Week is like a fireworks display where everything is set off, from very classical to modern dance. This benefits both the audience and our dancers, and it’s wonderful to see how well our offerings are received,” sais Ballet Dircetor Laurent Hilaire.

CAREER ADVANCEMENTS AT THE BAYERISCHES STAATSBALLETT: THREE PROMOTIONS

Following the premiere of Common Ground on Saturday, March 28, Laurent Hilaire promoted three members of the ensemble. Corps de ballet dancers Phoebe Schembri and Ana Gonçalves will now dance as demi-solists. Demi-solist Clark Eselgroth is delighted with his promotion to solist. Congratulations!

GRAND EMOTIONS RETURN: "THE LADY OF THE CAMELLIAS" RETURNS TO THE STAGE

After a few days off following the Ballet Festival Week, the company will resume work on the narrative ballet The Lady of the Camellias. John Neumeier’s classic returns to the Munich stage after a six-year hiatus. Guest ballet masters Marijn Rademaker and Alexandre Riabko, along with veteran choreographer John Neumeier, will rehearse the work with the ensemble. Elisabeth Tonev, Laurretta Summerscales, and Ksenia Shevtsova are preparing for the title role of Marguerite Gautier. At their side, Osiel Gouneo, Jakob Feyferlik, and Julian MacKay are rehearsing the role of Armand Duval. The supporting roles have also been recast, including Violetta Keller and Carollina Bastos as Olympia, and Severin Brunhuber and Jinhao Zhang as Des Grieux. The revival will take place on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at the National Theater.

DATES OF "THE LADY OF THE CAMELLIAS"

Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 7.30 pm
Nationaltheater

Wednesday,  May 13, 2026, 7.30 pm
Nationaltheater

Friday,  May 15, 2026, 7.30 pm
Nationaltheater

Saturday,  May 23, 2026, 7.30 pm
Nationaltheater

Monday, May 25, 2026, 6 pm
Nationaltheater