Anna Karenina by the prestigious Eifman Ballet Theatre will be performed in Vietnam later this year. (Image source of the organisers)
The organisers of the renowned Russian ballet Anna Karenina have decided to add two extra performances in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City after all 4,000 tickets for the original five shows in the two cities sold out in just over two weeks.
Anna Karenina, performed by the prestigious Eifman Ballet Theatre and described as a “symphony of the body,” has drawn exceptional interest from Vietnamese audiences in this year-end performance season. Initially, five shows were planned, with three in Ho Chi Minh City on November 27, 28, and 29 at the Saigon Opera House, and two in Hanoi on December 4 and 5 at the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Cultural Palace.
However, due to overwhelming demand, the organisers have decided to add an extra show on November 30 in Ho Chi Minh City and another on December 3 in Hanoi. Notably, the ballet will now be performed in its entirety in both cities, rather than presenting only excerpts in Ho Chi Minh City as originally planned.
Bringing this production to Vietnam involves significant logistical and financial effort, with 108 ballet dancers from Russia, dozens of technical staff, and tonnes of equipment transported from China. According to Nguyen Bao Anh, artistic director of the Saigon Philharmonic Orchestra, a co-organiser of the event, this is a large-scale production designed to deliver a world-class ballet experience to Vietnamese audiences.
Recently, following the sold-out success of several ballet performances by Vietnamese artists, some organisers have begun inviting Russian ballet companies to perform in Vietnam. Initially, these were only excerpts, but in April, artists from the Moscow State Ballet Theater staged a full performance of Swan Lake at the Ho Guom Theater in Hanoi. That production brought 45 dancers from Russia to Vietnam.
Anna Karenina is based on the classic literary masterpiece by Lev Tolstoy and was choreographed by Boris Eifman, one of the most prominent figures in contemporary ballet. Eifman founded the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg in 1977. His company is recognised as a leading force in modern ballet, known for its bold blend of classical ballet techniques and contemporary movement language.
The ballet was first premiered on March 31, 2005, and has since been acclaimed worldwide. The story explores the tragic fate of Anna, a noblewoman in 19th-century Russian society, who longs for love and personal freedom but is confined by harsh social norms. Eifman’s choreography is often referred to as “psychoanalysis in motion,” using the human body, lighting, movement, and silence to delve deep into the psychological and emotional struggles of his characters.
Through its powerful storytelling and philosophical depth, Anna Karenina is expected to offer Vietnamese audiences an unforgettable and emotionally charged artistic experience.
