Latvian National Ballet Stages Neumeier's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" in the Baltics for the First Time

The Latvian National Ballet will present its first premiere of the season on 27 November: "A Midsummer Night's Dream", a ballet by the noted choreographer John Neumeier. It is the first Neumeier ballet ever staged in the Baltics. Mārtiņš Ozoliņš is the musical director and conductor, while Jürgen Rose designed the sets and costumes.

About the ballet

Neumeier created the work for the Hamburg Ballet in 1977, drawing on William Shakespeare's comedy. The production blends humour with dreamlike poetry, and its music leads through three distinct worlds. Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's compositions portray the aristocratic court of the ruler of Athens, György Ligeti's music opens the mystical realm of elves and fairies, and the aesthetics of barrel-organ music characterise the world of the artisans.

The choreographer says the work rests on a single theme: the mystery of human love, with its many touching, erotic and comic variations. He even considered titling the ballet "A Midsummer Night's Dream, or Variations on Love".

Aivars Leimanis, artistic director of the Latvian National Ballet, notes that although the ballet was created almost fifty years ago, it still looks fresh and remains in demand at leading ballet companies worldwide. He says it is technically and physically very demanding for dancers, especially the lifts in the duets. Neumeier personally took part in selecting the dancers and will work with the company again in the final stage of the production.

Neumeier is one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th and 21st centuries and led the Hamburg Ballet for more than fifty years.

Cast and performances

In the first performances the leading roles will be danced by, among others, Jūlija Brauere or Annija Kopštāle (Hippolyta/Titania), Antons Freimans or Viktors Seiko (Theseus/Oberon), Elza Leimane or Sofija Beļkina (Helena) and Emma Lagūna or Izabella Monastirska-Urtāne (Hermia).

A pre-premiere talk will take place on 23 November at 18:30 in the New Hall, featuring dance performances, a conversation with the creative team and a lecture by opera historian Mikus Čeže. The ballet will also be shown on 28 and 29 November, 9 December, 14 and 15 January and 10 February, as well as at the Riga Opera Festival in June. Tickets are available at the Latvian National Opera and Ballet box offices and online.