Inspired by William Shakespeare’s comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream was created for the Hamburg Ballet in 1977 by the legendary German choreographer of American origin John Neumeier, in collaboration with the distinguished set and costume designer Jürgen Rose. Blending humour with dreamlike poetry, this production attains a powerful psychological richness that has secured its place in the repertoire of the world’s leading ballet companies. The ballet’s musical dramaturgy draws the audience into three stylistically distinct worlds: the works of Felix Mendelssohn portray the aristocratic court of the ruler of Athens, György Ligeti’s music leads into the mystical realm of elves and fairies, while the aesthetic of barrel-organ music evokes the vivid world of the artisans.