Peer Gynt

Ballet by John Neumeier free after Henrik Ibsen

"Peer Gynt certainly must rank musically as the most substantial full length ballet d’action commissioned since Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet of 1938. The ailing fifty-year-old composer was considered by many to be the most important composer of our time. This is by far the most ambitious undertaking of Neumeier’s career and I find that on the whole he has magnificently succeeded."
Horst Koegler

Music: Alfred Schnittke
Commission Score for the Hamburg State Opera
Choreography and Staging: John Neumeier
Set and Costumes: Jürgen Rose

2 hours 50 minutes | 1 intermission
Part I: 90 minutes, Part II: 50 minutes

PREMIERE:
Hamburg Ballet, State Opera, Hamburg, January 22, 1989
PRODUCTION 2015 – PREMIERE:
Hamburg Ballet, State Opera, Hamburg, June 28, 2015

ORIGINAL CAST:
Peer Gynt: Ivan Liska
Solveig: Gigi Hyatt
Aase: Anna Grabka
The Other – Ingrid, The green One, Anitra: Chantal Lefèvre
Peer's Aspects:
Anima: Gigi Hyatt
Childhood: Patrick Becker
Flying: Jeffrey Kirk
Erotic: Jean Laban
Daredevil: Eric Miot
Aggression: Gamal Gouda
Doubt: Stephen Pier

IN THE REPERTORY:
Hamburg Ballet
Royal Swedish Ballet

SYNOPSIS

Prologue – Into the world

Peer has many aspects

First Act – Norway

The young Peer and his mother Aase

Peer’s fantasy – the ride through the air

Dance on the Haegstadhof – Ingrid’s wedding

Peer sees Solveig
he cannot have her, and kidnaps the bride

Flight into the mountains
Peer has Ingrid, and wants Solveig
Solveig searches for Peer, Aase calls for him

Phantoms or reality – the troll world
Peer meets The Green One
he allows himself to be seduced, but does not conform

Solveig rings the bells
Roundabout or through the middle to her
Peer stands in his own way

Alone, high up in the mountains
Peer builds his house

Solveig comes to him
Disruption – the past catches up with Peer
he cannot stay

Aase is destitute
Peer comes to her, she dies
Peer leaves

Second Act – Out in the World – Illusions

Auditions for a show
the beginner Peer is noticed
and is hired

Revue theatre – “Rainbow Sextet”
Peer draws attention to himself
he is successful

Music Hall – “The Slave Handler”
Peer builds his career
Premiere party with the film star Anitra
Peer is the centre of attention
and courts Anitra

At the cinema
Peer’s star rises – Anitra’s sinks

Premiere party with Peer Gynt the famous film actor
he is the new star

At the film studio
Peer films “Caeser of the World”
he is a megalomaniac, and loses control

Asylum nightmare
Peer has lost himself

Third Act – Return

Homecoming

Memories
Ingrid’s funeral

Solveig waits

Peer searches for himself
and finds Peer everyman

Epilogue – Out of the World

Solveig recognises Peer – Peer recognises Solveig

Photo @ Kiran West