Vienna State Ballet Dedicates Season Finale Gala to Choreographer Frederick Ashton

Tribute to a British Classic

The series of high-caliber dances opened with the Vienna premiere of "Rhapsody" to Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini." The late work was commissioned in 1980 by the exceptional dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov and is regarded as one of Ashton's last great abstract pieces. It provided a programmatic opening that spanned the arc between tradition and the British choreographer's late oeuvre.

A special Viennese connection was established by the pas de deux "Voices of Spring," which Ashton had choreographed to Johann Strauss II's "Frühlingsstimmen" waltz. The piece linked British ballet tradition directly with the Viennese musical repertoire and underscored the international radiance of the program. Alongside Ashton works, additional choreographic highlights were featured: Ketevan Papava performed "The Dying Swan" in the choreography by Michel Fokine, accompanied by solo cellist Peter Somodari.

Viennese Connection and International Guests

A spectacular guest appearance was provided by the "Le Corsaire" pas de deux with Liudmila Konovalova and Paul Marque, who came to the Vienna State Opera as an étoile of the Paris Opera Ballet. The piece, originally by Marius Petipa, is regarded as a classic of the virtuosic repertoire and offered the audience a contrast to the lyrical line of the Ashton tribute. The combination of home ensemble members and an international guest lent the gala its festive character for the end of the season.

In the second part of the evening, Christopher Wheeldon's 2008 ballet "Within the Golden Hour" was on the program, also seen in Vienna for the first time. Wheeldon drew inspiration from Gustav Klimt's "golden paintings" and translated their shimmering quality into flowing movement. The original music is by Ezio Bosso, supplemented by a Vivaldi solo performed on violin by Volkhard Steude. With this, Wheeldon continued the line of visual artistic inspiration that Ashton had already pursued in some of his works.

Golden Klimt: Wheeldon as Bridge-Builder

A brilliant finale was provided by the excerpt from "Diamonds" of George Balanchine's "Jewels," danced by Olga Esina and Victor Caixeta. Balanchine, like Ashton a central figure of neoclassical ballet, rounded off the program with sparkling elegance. In the "Ribbon Dance" – another piece of the evening – the audience also got to know the company as a preserver of choreographic traditions.

Ferri, who herself was an internationally celebrated dancer before taking over the directorship of the Vienna State Ballet in 2025, combined with the gala both a survey of Ashton's works and a glimpse of contemporary choreography. The selection showcased the ensemble across a broad repertoire spectrum – from Fokine through Petipa and Balanchine to Wheeldon – while Ashton formed the thematic focal point.

Outlook on the Coming Season

With the decision to dedicate the evening to Ashton, the Vienna State Ballet also sent a signal for the coming seasons. Ashton's works, which combine elegance, musicality, and a pronounced humanistic line, are regarded by many as a core component of the classical repertoire. The premieres of "Rhapsody" and "Within the Golden Hour" expand the Vienna repertoire by two essential pieces and give the house new impulses for season planning.

Overall, the gala offered an evening that celebrated the diversity of classical and neoclassical ballet and made visible the bridge between British choreographic tradition and Viennese musical history. The mix of Vienna premieres, a guest appearance, and repertoire classics met with clear approval from the audience and set the final point under a dense season at the house on the Vienna State Opera.