Friedemann Vogel by Kosmas Pavlos
At the beginning of each year, TV channel 3sat invites esteemed artists to share their outlook for the year ahead. With the need for peace on everyone’s mind now more than ever, Friedemann who celebrates his 25th anniversary as a dancer in 2024, talks about the significance of dance: how it is not just about beauty and gracefulness, but far more crucially, about instilling empathy and nudging people towards more tolerance and freedom.
Friedemann Vogel by Baki Photographer
Friedemann's first performances in 2024 will be in Beijing, for the 6th International China Ballet Season, organised by the National Ballet of China, and in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Tianqiao Theater on 5th and 6th January.
Johan Inger in rehearsal with Elisa Badenes and Friedemann Vogel (c) Roman Novitzky
Friedemann has always relished being involved in the creative process, and his first collaboration with the Swedish choreographer Johan Inger is extra invigorating, as Friedemann will be revisiting the familiar role of “Prince Désiré”, but with a comedic twist in Johan’s fresh, funny, and contemporary take on the classic fairy tale “The Sleeping Beauty”. Friedemann will be dancing in the world premiere of “Aurora’s Nap” at the Stuttgart Ballet on 25 February, with more performance dates to be announced.
Friedemann is delighted to announce that the documentary "FRIEDEMANN VOGEL - Verkörperung des Tanzes" will premiere on 10th April 2020 on German TV channel SWR and on the ARD Media Channel. With the "Dancer of the Year" constantly on the move, the 60-minute portrait by Katja Trautwein provides a dynamic insight into Friedemann's daily life, which revolves around rehearsals, performances, fashion shoots, and of course, travelling across the globe to dance on some of the world's most prestigious stages, in Stuttgart, Berlin, Stockholm, Moscow and Tokyo.
Link to ARD Mediathek (only available in Germany,Austria,Switzerland)
For over two weeks now, dancers of the Stuttgart Ballet have been allowed back in the dance studios to train in small numbers. Well aware of this being a rare privilege at a time when social distancing has made it very challenging for dancers to stay in shape or rehearse, Friedemann has been wondering how he can give back to the dance world, which has given him so much.
This beautiful “Dior & Dance” initiative has presented a wonderful opportunity, providing a virtual platform for ballet stars to teach voluntary classes, to encourage dancers to continue training even in confinement, while offering the wider public a glimpse of the daily life of a professional dancer.
Together with French choreographer Sébastien Bertaud, Friedemann is pleased to share this simple class and improvisation exercise, in the hope that his small contribution will send a message of positivity to his fellow dancers that they too, will one day return to their dance studios, and subsequently to the stage, to share their beloved art form with their audiences again.
"Dancer of the Year 2019 according to TANZ, the bible for contemporary dance, and one of the most important contemporary German dancers", Friedemann kicks off the new year with a fabulous feature in THE FASHION ISSUE of GQ Italia. Dressed by Dior for this exhilarating fashion shoot, Friedemann also gives an in-depth interview on the heightened intimacy between dancers, the ephemeral nature of the art form, the concept of masculinity in relation to dance.
Friedemann Vogel for GQ Magazine January 2020
Friedemann Vogel by Youn Sik Kim
Friedemann is delighted to be named "Dancer of the Year" by Tanz - the industry dance magazine - in recognition of his recent outstanding interpretations of Kenneth MacMillan's Mayerling and Akram Khan's Kaash. This is the second time he has received this prestigious accolade; he was named "Dancer of the Year" for the first time by Tanz in 2010.
Following Onegin with Stuttgart Ballet in November, Friedemann will be back in Beijing again on 1st December, on this occasion as guest artist of the National Ballet of China, to reprise the role of Albrecht in Giselle with Qimin Wang as the tragic heroine. It will be the first time Friedemann performs this beloved ballet classic with the National Ballet of China.
Polina Semionova and Friedemann Vogel during rehearsal in Zurich Photo © Richard Egli
Albrecht was Friedemann’s first ever lead role, and will therefore always hold a special place in his heart. As such, Friedemann is excited to reprise this role in Patrice Bart’s version of Giselle, based on the original choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, with the sublime Polina Semionova and Ballett Zürich on 30 May for one performance only.
Agnes Su and Friedemann in “One of a Kind” Photo (c) Stuttgart Ballet
Friedemann has always enjoyed performing widely contrasting work across the dance spectrum, from romantic hero roles like Armand Duval in John Neumeier’s The Lady of the Camellias to more contemporary productions such as the upcoming Stuttgart Ballet premiere of Jiří Kylián’s One of A Kind. Having performed Bella Figura and Forgotten Land- two other critically acclaimed pieces by the world-renowned choreographer - Friedemann is looking forward to dancing One of A Kind for the opening night on 22 February, with more shows to follow.
Alicia Amatriain and Friedemann Vogel in The Lady of the Camellias (c) Hidemi Seto
For Stuttgart Ballet’s imminent revival of The Lady of the Camellias to celebrate the 40th anniversary of this ballet masterpiece that was created for the company, Friedemann is relishing his reprisal of the role of Armand Duval, as well as the precious opportunity to work with esteemed choreographer John Neumeier again. Friedemann will be performing on 16th January for the opening night, with subsequent dates to be announced.
Nadja Sellrup and Friedemann Vogel (c) Royal Swedish Ballet
For the first time in several years, Friedemann will reprise his romantic role as Prince Désiré to awaken the sleeping Princess Aurora with a kiss, in one of the greatest classical ballets. As guest artist of the Royal Swedish Ballet, Friedemann will give two performances of Marcia Haydée's Sleeping Beauty, on 15th and 29th September.
Friedemann Vogel by Baki Photographer
Following his performance with Tokyo Ballet as guest artist in spring, Friedemann is thrilled to go back to Japan for the second time this year, for the World Ballet Festival in summer. This will be his sixth participation in the much anticipated triennial event, and Friedemann is looking forward to dancing with fellow ballet stars from around the world again from 1st to 15th August in Tokyo. DETAILS & TICKETS
Friedemann Vogel in Swan Lake at Caracalla © Yasuko Kageyama
On an open air stage, inside the archaeological complex of the Baths of Caracalla the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma will perform a Nureyev evening. A tribute to the great dancer and choreographer Rudolf Nureyev. The evening opens with the third act of Raymonda, the Black Swan pas de trois and the Polonaise from Swan Lake and closes with La Bayadere. It is Friedemann Vogel's first Nureyev Production in which he will dance Jean de Brienne (Raymonda) and Prince Siegfried (Swan Lake). Friedemann will dance in all performances with four different partners from Teatro dell'Opera di Roma. "Serata Nureyev" opens on June 22. More performances on 24,26 June.
Raymonda © Yasuko Kageyama
Friedemann Vogel in Giselle Photo (c) Roman Novitzky
Friedemann Vogel returns to the Zurich Opera House for two performances of «Giselle». See Friedemann in the role of Albrecht on 17.December 2015 and 02.January 2017 with the Zurich Ballet.
Friedemann Vogel (c) Youn Sik Kim
The Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg honored Friedemann Vogel with the national title “Kammertänzer”, the highest honour that can be bestowed on a dancer in Germany.
Friedemann Vogel as Onegin Photo (c) Roman Novitzky
During the Stuttgart Ballet Tour Friedemann will perform on 21. November the title role in John Cranko's Masterpiece ''Onegin'' for the first time in Japan. The tour starts in Tokyo on 13. November with Romeo and Juliet followed by a Gala performance on 18. November at Bunka Kaikan Theatre.
Further performances and venues click here
Friedemann Vogel as Onegin (c) Roman Novitzky
