Beginning September 2025, prima ballerina assoluta Alessandra Ferri will take over the helm at Vienna State Ballet, succeeding Martin Schläpfer.
Upon deciding not to renew his contract beyond August 2025, an international search narrowed down to 40 candidates resulted in Ferri earning the position currently held by Schläpfer.
Bogdan Roščić, director general of the Vienna State Opera, and Lotte de Beer, director general of the Volksoper Vienna, made the announcement earlier today indicating that Ferri will also serve as artistic director of the Vienna State Opera Ballet Academy.
“There are few superlatives which haven’t been used yet to describe Alessandra Ferri’s stellar career as a dancer. Now she is about to write a new chapter in her unique story, and I couldn’t be happier that this will happen in Vienna.
In all our discussions, she has shown a deep understanding of what a repertoire house like the Staatsoper needs – firmly rooted in the classical tradition as the Vienna State Opera is, but always open towards contemporary languages and the best dance creations of the present moment.
Alessandra is an inspired and inspiring person, at the same time analytical in her thinking and gifted with a quiet authority with which she will pass on her knowledge and her vast experience to our dancers. I look forward to our collaboration with curiosity and much anticipation.”
– Bogdan Roščić, Director of the Vienna State Opera
“I am overjoyed that we could win Alessandra Ferri as the new artistic director of the Vienna State Ballet. Her extensive experience, natural leadership qualities as well as her outstanding career as one of the great prima ballerinas of our time make her the ideal personality to lead our Vienna Ballet.
With her clear and at the same time empathetic, pragmatic, but also open leadership style and above all her uncompromising standard to always reach the highest artistic level, she will inspire our company in the Staatsoper and Volksoper in the best possible way.
Love and passion, her open mind to ballet and dance in all forms, her enthusiastic, never dogmatic approach to art promise a fruitful artistic partnership that I am already very much looking forward to.”
– Lotte de Beer, Director of the Volksoper Vienna
Alessandra Ferri On Her Way to Vienna
As Director Designate, one of Ferri’s first tasks is to begin preparation for Vienna State Ballet’s 2025-2026 season, her first as Artistic Director.
Alessandra Ferri was born in Milan, Italy in 1963 and went on to become one of the most recognized and accomplushed dancers of her generation. She was Principal Dancer at The Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, and is prima ballerina assoluta of La Scala in Milan.
Off the stage, she directed the dance programming of the Spoleto Festival from 2008 through 2014 and most recently has dedicated herself as teacher and rehearsal leader for companies such as The Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, and American Ballet Theater.
Featured Photo of Alessandra Ferri for Vienna State Ballet by © Ilaria Magliocchetti Lombi
