As ballet director of the Hanover State Opera, Marco Goecke has since taken his hat off after his dog excrement attack on journalist Wiebke Hüster. By mutual agreement and with immediate effect, said Hanover’s director Laura Berman on Thursday. When it comes to the question of whether he will be hired again as a choreographer, the house does not want to commit itself. However, his pieces will continue to be shown.
The Bavarian State Ballet also wants to keep Goecke’s work in its programme. In the most recent statement by the management from the rehearsal house on Munich Platzl, it is said that Goecke’s physical attack on the critic is “expressly” condemned. “This action is unacceptable in every respect. Freedom of the press is a valuable asset. It must be respected and defended without restrictions and by everyone.”
Apparently it is very difficult to reconcile the image that Goecke has had in Munich with what happened on February 11 in the foyer of the Hanover State Opera. “During the course of the new creation “Sweet Bones’ Melody” in spring 2022, we got to know Marco Goecke as an extremely responsible and respectful artist. The daily cooperation with him was greatly appreciated by the entire ensemble,” explains Annette Baumann, spokeswoman for the Bavarian State Ballet. After discussions with those involved in the production, the theater management has now decided to show the two works “Sweet Bones’ Melody” from the production “Passagen” and “All Long Dem Day”, which will be shown in the summer of 2023 as part of “Spheres.01”. , to leave in the program.
According to Baumann, “All Long Dem Day” is a choreography created by Marco Goecke in 2015 especially for young dancers, rehearsed by a ballet master and presented by the Bavarian Junior Ballet Munich. The piece is part of the new concept of the “Spheres” program. Among other things, this aims not only to promote young choreographers, but also to involve the Munich Junior Compagnie in the current edition. The other pieces of the “Spheres” evening will be created by the choreographers Franz Diaz, Nicolas Paul and Ondřej Vinklát, selected in advance by Marco Goecke together with State Ballet Director Laurent Hilaire. According to Baumann, rehearsals have already begun. “Spheres.01” premieres on Friday, June 23 at the Prinzregententheater.