The law of loving others could not be discovered by reason. Because it is unreasonable.

Directed and choreographed by Angelica Cholina, this Vakhtangov Theatre production of Anna Karenina is a modern dance interpretation of Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel, originally published in serial installments from 1875 to 1877 in the periodical The Russian Messenger.

Telling the life story of the titular Anna, a St. Petersburg aristocrat trapped in a loveless marriage, against the backdrop of late 19th century Russian society, Tolstoy’s novel is widely considered a pinnacle in realist fiction.

Cholina strives to find the equivalent of Tolstoy’s words in harmony and movement, as every gesture holds as much meaning as a word. The music of Alfred Schnittke helps to reveal the characters of the drama and their depth, together with elegance and mood corresponding to the amplitude of the novel.

Presented in Russian with English subtitles.