17 A bold ballet

Anna Karenina Nov. 10 to 18, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

Legendary choreographer John Neumeier—famous for his ability to boldly translate classic literature into contemporary dance—opens the National Ballet of Canada’s new season with a modern take on Leo Tolstoy’s 1877 epochal novel. His adaptation, performed over two acts, is set in the present day: the costumes include suits and plaid, and the music combines Tchaikovsky with works from German-Soviet composer Alfred Schnittke and Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens). The show was co-produced by the Hamburg Ballet and Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet—a first for the National Ballet.