Born: 1829 (Vienna, Austria)
Died: 1908
Biography:
Katti Lanner (14 September 1829 15 November 1908) was a Viennese ballet dancer, choreographer, and ballet mistress who found fame in Germany and England, where she staged many productions at the Empire Theatre in London.
Katharina Josefa Lanner, known as Katti, was born on September 14, 1829, in Vienna, Austria. She was the daughter of Josef Franz Karl Lanner and Franziska Jahns Lanner. Her father was a renowned composer and conductor, known as the Waltz King, and he held the position of director of dance music at the Viennese court. Growing up in such a musical and artistic environment, it is no wonder that Katti developed a passion for the performing arts at a young age.
At the age of 14, Katti began her dance training at the ballet school of the Wiener Hofoper (Vienna Court Opera) under the guidance of Pietro Campilli and André Isidore Carey. She quickly showed great promise and made her debut at the Theater am Kärntnertor in 1845, taking on the title role of Angelica in Antonio Guerras’ opera. Her talent and dedication were evident, and she experienced her first major triumph in 1847 as Fennela, the lead character in Daniel Auber’s opera Die Stumme von Portici (The Dumb Girl of Portici).
Throughout her career, Katti shared the stage with renowned ballet dancers such as Fanny Elssler, Marie Taglioni, and Paul Taglioni. She danced Myrtha in Giselle to great acclaim and performed other principal roles in ballets such as Die Verwandelten Weiber by Paul Taglioni and Der Toreador by August Bournonville.
In 1855, after the death of her widowed mother, Katti Lanner decided to leave Vienna and seek employment in Germany. Her exceptional talent and reputation led to great success in Berlin, where she performed the lead role in Giselle. She went on to dance in Dresden, Munich, and Hamburg, where she also choreographed her first major work, Uriella, der Dämon der Nacht (1857). In 1862, Katti was engaged as a ballerina and ballet mistress at the Stadttheater Hamburg. During her time there, she staged ten ballets, including Die Rose von Sevilla (1862) and Asmodeus, oder Der Sohn des Teufels auf Reisen (1863). She also organized a children’s ballet troupe and took the Hamburger Ballett on tour to Berlin, as well as making guest appearances in other cities.
Around 1865, Katti Lanner founded her own company, the Viennese Ballet and Pantomime Troupe, and embarked on an extensive tour in Scandinavia, Russia, France, Portugal, the United States, and England. Everywhere she performed, she was acclaimed for her exquisite portrayal of Giselle. In fact, a critic for a Lisbon newspaper hailed her as the best ballerina known. In 1872, she returned to New York leading a troupe called the Kathi Lanner Choreographic Connection and performed at the famous Niblo’s Garden theater. Her company received critical praise for their performances in the extravaganza Leo and Lotus and the pantomime Azarel. The Spirit of the Times remarked that their performance was well proportioned, harmonious, exact in time, graceful in its evolutions, and beautiful.
Throughout her career, Katti Lanner demonstrated not only outstanding talent and technique but also an innovative spirit as a choreographer. She left a lasting impact on the world of ballet and influenced the development of this art form. Her dedication to her craft, combined with her ability to captivate audiences with her performances, cemented her place in history as one of the most celebrated ballet dancers and choreographers of her time.