Karinska
Varvara Zhmoudsky (1886–1983), better known under her stage name Karinska, was born in in Kharkov in the Russian Empire. As the child of parents in the textile trade she was early acquainted with the Ukrainian artistically embroidered fabrics. She finally opened her own fashion and hat boutique in Moscow, passed on the embroidery craft in a school, started exhibiting her own works in galleries and studied law.
When the new government after Lenin’s death in 1924 expropriated Karinska’s school and converted it into a manufactory for the production of Soviet flags, the artist decided to emigrate. She came to Paris via Berlin and Brussels, where she quickly found her way into the avant-garde circles. The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo commissioned her with the realisation of Christian Bérard’s costume design for George Balanchine’s »Cotillon« – a work which marked the beginning of a lifelong collaboration with the choreographer. In Paris she worked with artists such as André Derain, Joan Miró and Balthus, but also designed the costumes for six other Balanchine ballets. In 1936 Karinska moved to London, in 1938 she followed Balanchine to New York.
Her improved version of the tutu, the so-called powder-puff tutu, constituted a milestone in the history of ballet costume: stitched in layers, the powder-puff tutu proved an ideal successor for the stiff pancake tutu and provided perfect scope for the elegantly contoured forms of Balanchine’s choreographic style. The knee-length chiffon skirts which Karinska created for Balanchine’s »Allegro Brillante« also have become a standard model for ballet costumes until today. In addition, Karinska also worked with Mikhail Fokine, Bronislava Nijinska, Léonide Massine, Frederick Ashton and Jerome Robbins, and designed a number of film and musical productions. Her costumes for Victor Fleming’s film »Joan of Arc« won her an Oscar in 1949, and she was subsequently nominated in 1952 for another Oscar for her costumes to Samuel Goldwyn’s musical »Hans Christian Andersen«. In 1962 Karinska received the Capezio Award, and has been the only costume designer ever to win this prestigious award.
Performances with Karinska
Living Legacies
Cast on Friday 22. January 2027
Abo 8
Ticket information
Einen Wochentag und Lieblingsplätze wählen und fünf Vorstellungen in einer Saison genießen.
In diesem Abo sind folgende Vorstellungen enthalten:
| 03. Oktober 2025 | Fin de partie |
| 23. Jänner 2026 | Idomeneo |
| 20. Februar 2026 | Luisa Miller |
| 17. April 2026 | Visionary Dances (Ballett) |
| 22. Mai 2026 | Eugen Onegin |
| 02. Oktober 2026 | Tosca |
| 13. November 2026 | La Fille du régiment |
| 22. Jänner 2027 | Living Legacies |
| 19. Februar 2027 | Der Rosenkavalier |
| 16. April 2027 | Così fan tutte |
Living Legacies
Cast on Friday 29. January 2027
Living Legacies
Cast on Monday 1. February 2027
Living Legacies
Cast on Saturday 6. February 2027
Ballettzyklus »Ballett³ zum Verschenken«
Ticket information
Quer durchs Repertoire des Wiener Staatsballetts mit drei vielseitigen Produktionen – das ideale Geschenk für alle, die das Ballett als Kunstform kennen lernen möchten.
Living Legacies
Cast on Sunday 7. February 2027
Abo 22
Ticket information
Einen Wochentag und Lieblingsplätze wählen und fünf Vorstellungen in einer Saison genießen.
In diesem Abo sind folgende Vorstellungen enthalten:
| 30. November 2025 | Věc Makropulos |
| 08. Februar 2026 | Jewels (Ballett) |
| 08. März 2026 | Nabucco |
| 03. Mai 2026 | Der fliegende Holländer |
| 28. Juni 2026 | Die Zauberflöte |
| 18. Oktober 2026 | Die Entführung aus dem Serail |
| 15. November 2026 | Madama Butterfly |
| 07. Februar 2027 | Living Legacies |
| 07. März 2027 | Un ballo in maschera |
| 18. April 2027 | Manon Lescaut |
Living Legacies
Cast on Thursday 11. February 2027
Abo 18
Ticket information
Einen Wochentag und Lieblingsplätze wählen und fünf Vorstellungen in einer Saison genießen.
In diesem Abo sind folgende Vorstellungen enthalten:
| 04. September 2025 | Otello |
| 16. Oktober 2025 | Così fan tutte |
| 05. Februar 2026 | Jewels (Ballett) |
| 28. Mai 2026 | Eugen Onegin |
| 25. Juni 2026 | Il trittico |
| 17. September 2026 | Le nozze di Figaro |
| 15. Oktober 2026 | Die Entführung aus dem Serail |
| 07. Jänner 2027 | Werther |
| 11. Februar 2027 | Living Legacies |
| 01. April 2027 | Parsifal |