Liliom

About

John Neumeier, the legendary American choreographer who for half a century helmed the Hamburg Ballett, based his Liliom on Ferenc Molnár’s 1909 eponymous play. He was the first to have created a dance adaptation of the work, depicting a tragic love story, set in the milieu of US fairs in the 1930s.

The historical background for the ballet is provided by the music of the French film score composer Michel Legrand, winner of a number of coveted accolades, including Oscars. Blending classical and jazz, it evokes America during the Great Depression.

Czech premiere performances: 23 and 24 October 2025 at the State Opera

Creatives

Choreography and Costumes design: John Neumeier

Music: Michel Legrand

Conductor: Nathan Brock, Václav Zahradník

Sets: Ferdinand Wögerbauer

Light design: James French, John Neumeier

Staged by: Marijn Rademaker, Niurka Moredo, Sonja Tinnes, Konstantin Tselikov

Photographer: Serghei Gherciu

Cast

Liliom
Giovanni Rotolo, Paul Irmatov, Danilo Lo Monaco

Julie
Alina Nanu, Aya Okumura, Haruka Iguchi

Louis
Javier Wong, Jakub Rašek

The Balloon Man

John Powers, Ole Johannes Slåttebrekk

Mrs. Muscat

Kristina Kornová, Kristýna Němečková, Nana Nakagawa

Marie
Elena Dombrowski, Nina Fernandes, Alexandra Pera

Wolf
Robert Jerjen, Federico Ievoli, Patrik Holeček

Ficsur
Matěj Šust, Francesco Scarpato, Mathias Deneux

The Czech National Ballet soloists and corps de ballet
Dance Conservatory of the Capital City of Prague students
Ballet Preparatory School of the National Theatre pupil
extras

State Opera Orchestra
Top Big Band