Nijinsky
A story of power, talent, and the depths of human emotion
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Melbourne / Naarm
21 February – 1 March 2025
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Sydney / Warrang
4 – 22 April 2025
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Duration
2 hours and 30 minutes / 1 Interval
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★★★★½
"Neumeier’s endlessly absorbing dance-drama worships the god of dance."
- Limelight
★★★★½
"Passion meets frailty in triumphant performance."
- Sydney Morning Herald
Vaslav Nijinsky was at the height of his career during the early 20th century. His unparalleled performances brought him adoring fans while his evocative and sensual choreography caused riots in theatres in Paris.
In a tragic turn of events, Nijinsky succumbed to the effects of schizophrenia, spending the remainder of his life in and out of treatment centres. He gave his last public performance in 1919 in a Swiss hotel in a dance that reflected the gamut of emotions.
Acclaimed narrative ballet choreographer John Neumeier examines Nijinsky’s final performance, charting the rise and fall of a creative genius in vivid detail. He recalls his troubled family, his ill-fated romances and the transcendent performances that brought him fame.
In a production that defies categorisation, Nijinsky offers an opportunity for The Australian Ballet’s male artists to take on the dancer’s distinctive style. Set within the glamour of early 20th century Paris, rich sets and costumes create a world-within-a-world, brimming with visionary opulence.
A spectacular piece of theatre, Nijinsky is a tribute to the visionary dancer and choreographer who changed the ballet world forever.
David Hallberg's insight
“John Neumeier has successfully interwoven so many facets of Vaslav Nijinsky’s personal and professional trajectory into this work. John’s masterful storytelling incorporates characters from Nijinsky’s most iconic roles to create a layered narrative of the artist’s troubled life.
You can feel the very essence of Nijinsky through John’s work. The temperamental, the volatile and the engaging energy of a brilliant but unpredictable artist. John’s musical choices show the pivotal role music plays in bringing characters to life in dance and bridges the gap between sight and sound in this uniquely collaborative piece.”
Nijinsky contains mature themes including sexual content and depictions of self-harm that some audiences may find confronting.
Please be aware that this production of Nijinsky contains Light Haze and one strobe flash (camera effect)
Production credits
A ballet by John Neumeier
Choreography, set, costumes and lighting concept John Neumeier
Music Frédéric Chopin, Robert Schumann, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Dmitri Shostakovich
Music
Melbourne
With Orchestra Victoria
Sydney
With Opera Australia Orchestra