Albert Kriemler, Creative Director of Akris, has designed costumes for John Neumeier’s final piece with the Hamburg Ballet, Epilogue, marking Neumeier’s farewell after 51 years. Inspired by the music of Richard Strauss, Franz Schubert, and Simon and Garfunkel, informing its subtle tones and movements, crafted by Neumeier and his ensemble.

Kriemler translated the musical colors into the dancers’ costumes. For Richard Strauss’s song ‘Frühling’ (Spring) from the vocal song cycle ‘Die Vier letzten Lieder’ (Four Last Songs, 1948), Lithuanian soprano Asmik Grigorian takes the stage in an asymmetrical red techno-mesh dress. The dancers’ flowing lemon and butter-yellow crepe georgette pants reflect the exhilarating experience of light. For ‘September,’ a piece where high summer’s abundance and the onset of darkness dominate simultaneously, Kriemler designed a shirt and silk georgette skirt in a soft stone-blue.

For ‘The Sound of Silence’ (1964) by American folk rock duo Simon and Garfunkel, which deals with the loneliness of modern society, the designer chose greige men’s suits in the style of 1940s Film Noir. Franz Schubert’s piano sonatas inspired a light, structured net dress in chai for the first soloist Ida Praetorius.

The stage set, referencing the works of Italian Renaissance painter Piero della Francesca, also influenced Kriemler. He translated della Francesca’s sensitivity to colour and sublime pastels into tourmaline-green-blue organza dresses for the dancers. A dusky beige-grey painting by the artist inspired an ensemble consisting of a rusted cotton stretch top and charcoal jeans with beige-grey, rather than white, base threads.

Epilogue signifies the last collaboration between these creative companions for the Hamburg Ballet. Kriemler has designed costumes for Neumeier’s choreographies for almost 20 years, including ‘Beethoven Project II’ (2021), ‘Turangalîla’ (2016), and ‘Vienna’ (2015), among others.

Albert Kriemler’s work for Epilogue beautifully encapsulates the emotional and artistic journey of John Neumeier’s final chapter with the Hamburg Ballet, highlighting a long-standing and fruitful partnership.

Epilogue Ballet by John Neumeier at Hamburg State Opera, opening night June 30^th.