Gala Nureyev June 25th, 2019 — Vienna
Those who were not fortunate enough — and, indeed, those who were — to witness Rudolf Nureyev’s genius in his lifetime should not miss the gala created in his memory by the Vienna State Ballet (Wiener Staatsballett).
Manuel Legris produced the first Nureyev Gala in 2011 for the Vienna State Opera to celebrate the dancer’s artistry and impact on the worlds of both classical and contemporary ballet. Now an annual event that caps the end of each season of performances by the Vienna State Ballet, 2019 marks the ninth Nureyev Gala at the Staatsoper Wien.
It is unsurprising that Legris should pay his own, very personal, tribute to Nureyev in this way. Nureyev named Legris as star dancer with the Paris Opera Ballet when he took the role of Jean de Brienne in Nureyev’s New York production of Raymonda in 1986.
Copyright: Vienna State Ballet/Ashley Taylor