42 YEARS AGO TODAY, John Neumeier's The Lady of the Camellias premiered with the Stuttgart Ballet. In the title role of the tragic courtesan Marguerite Gautier, Marcia Haydée elicited a storm of enthusiasm in the deeply moved public. At the time, the prima ballerina was not only a dancer, but also the director of the Stuttgart Ballet. After the sudden death of John Cranko, John Neumeier had promised her that he would support the company. With the creation of The Lady of the Camellias after Alexandre Dumas the Younger John Neumeier more than kept his word. As in Alexandre Dumas‘ novel from 1848, the terminally ill Marguerite Gautier finds the love of her life in the young Armand Duval. But their class differences make the relationship impossible. In the end, she dies alone. Her rejected lover discovers only later how much she actually loved him. With its large number of profound roles, this literary ballet has been a favourite of dancers for over 40 years – and with its emotional force it has deeply moved audiences worlwide.

Photo: Marcia Haydée and Egon Madsen, © Leslie E. Spatt