On 27 November, the Latvian National Ballet will present its first premiere of the season, A Midsummer Night’s Dream by the renowned choreographer John Neumeier. The production’s Music Director and Conductor is Mārtiņš Ozoliņš, with set and costume designs by Jürgen Rose. A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be the first ballet by John Neumeier to be staged in the Baltic states.

The leading roles in the first performances will be danced by Jūlija Brauere or Annija Kopštāle (Hippolyta/Titania), Antons Freimans or Viktors Seiko (Theseus/Oberon), Elza Leimane or Sofija Beļkina (Helena), Emma Lagūna or Izabella Monastirska-Urtāne (Hermia), Amir Dodarkhojayev or Kārlis Cīrulis (Lysander), Kristaps Jaunžeikars or Kārlis Cīrulis (Demetrius), Robert Nae or Genādijs Eisaks (Puck), and Aeden William Conefrey or Antons Freimans (Bottom).

“Although A Midsummer Night’s Dream was created almost fifty years ago, it still looks remarkably fresh and remains in demand among the world’s leading ballet companies. It is an exceptionally vivid and multilayered work, both choreographically and musically. The ballet is technically and physically very demanding for the dancers, with the lifts in the pas de deux presenting a particular challenge. It is a great honour for us to work with John Neumeier, who personally participated in the selection of dancers and will return to work with our company during the final stages of rehearsals,” emphasises Aivars Leimanis, Artistic Director of the Latvian National Ballet.

John Neumeier is one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th and 21st centuries, whose work has significantly expanded the expressive possibilities of dramatic ballet. During his more than fifty years as Director of the Hamburg Ballet, he developed a distinctive choreographic style that combines the traditions of classical ballet with a contemporary movement vocabulary, psychologically nuanced characterisation and profound musicality.

John Neumeier created A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the Hamburg Ballet in 1977, drawing inspiration from William Shakespeare’s comedy. The production combines humour with dreamlike poetry, while its musical dramaturgy takes the audience through three stylistically distinct worlds. The music of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy represents the aristocratic court of the Duke of Athens, György Ligeti’s compositions evoke the mysterious realm of fairies and elves, while the distinctive sound of barrel organ music characterises the world of the craftsmen.

“Perhaps most decisive is the unified theme that underlies the piece and is presented in different ways on the three levels: the mystery of human love in its thousand touching, erotic and highly comic variations. I once wanted to call the ballet A Midsummer Night's Dream - or Variations on Love.” says choreographer John Neumeier about his ballet.

This season, A Midsummer Night’s Dream will also be performed on 28 and 29 November, 9 December, 14 and 15 January, and 10 February. The ballet is also scheduled to be presented during the Riga Opera Festival in June.

Tickets are available at the Latvian National Opera and Ballet box offices and online