Evans moves to Staatstheater Karlsruhe – What does that mean for Hamburg?

Evans moves to Staatstheater Karlsruhe – What does that mean for Hamburg?

The Hamburg Ballet is facing a huge upheaval. The popular US dancer Christopher Evans is leaving the ensemble and will appear at the Staatstheater Karlsruhe from autumn. This change is not only a drastic decision for Evans, but also raises questions about the stability and future of large dance companies. Evans was seen in a dramatic performance of the Neumeier ballet “The Glass Menagerie” alongside Alina Cojocaru in October 2024, and he is now leaving big shoes for the Hamburg Ballet.

The state of the troops has become particularly clear recently. Evans won't be the only dancer leaving Hamburg. Alexandr Trusch, a major star dancer in the ensemble, also announced his departure after almost 20 years. Alessandro Frola has also announced his departure, and other dancers such as Madoka Sugai and Jacopo Bellussi are on the departure list. Edvin Revazov and Anna Laudere are also planning to pack their bags a year later. The departures are a result of the discrepancy between the artistic ambitions and the current leadership under Demis Volpi.

The challenges of leadership

The cultural authority, represented by Senator for Culture Carsten Brosda, sees the situation relatively calmly. Such personnel changes are not unusual when there is a change in director. But behind the scenes there is a feeling of uncertainty that the departures could affect the artistic quality of the Hamburg Ballet. After all, the dancers in question are still in the middle of their creative phase, and their performances are essential to the identity of the ensemble.

Another highlight of the Hamburg Ballet was the premiere of “Death in Venice” on February 12, 2025. In this production, Christopher Evans showed a high level of acting maturity as Gustav von Aschenbach, impressively accompanied by the music of great masters such as Johann Sebastian Bach and Richard Wagner. The choreography was written by John Neumeier, who is also responsible for the production. His artistic vision is impressively supported by the talented dancers Lennard Giesenberg, Alessandro Frola and Madoka Sugai. Giesenberg and Frola were particularly highlighted for their outstanding performances, which shows that despite the departures there is still great potential in the ensemble.

A look into the future

Hamburg's ballet scene is at a crossroads. Critics warn that the departures represent a unique situation in ballet history and emphasize the need for qualified professionals at the top of the Hamburg Ballet. Demis Volpi may feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of retaining so much talent while maintaining the ensemble's identity and high standards. The current developments raise the question of what artistic integrity is like during such a change and whether politics should intervene to keep the departing stars.

With big changes come big challenges. The Hamburg Ballet in particular is now faced with the task of compensating for the gradual loss of its stars while maintaining high artistic standards. We can only hope that those responsible will show a good hand in not only securing the cultural significance of the ensemble, but also continuing to enrich and promote it.