A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Ballet by John Neumeier from William Shakespeare
Dedicated to August Everding
Music by Felix Mendelssohn, György Ligeti and traditional mechanical music
Choreography and staging John Neumeier
Sets and costumes Jürgen Rose
Characters and performers:
Prologue – The wedding eve
Hippolyta Alina Cojocaru / Anna Laudere (20)
Helena Xue Lin
Hermia Madoka Sugai
The friends of Hippolyta Olivia Betteridge, Greta Jörgens, Charlotte Larzelere, Emilie Mazoń, Yun-Su Park, Ana Torrequebrada
Demetrius / An officer Lizhong Wang
Two soldiers Florian Pohl, Emiliano Torres
Lysander / A gardener Jacopo Bellussi
Two gardening helpers Francesco Cortese, Louis Musin
Theseus, Duke of Athens Christopher Evans / Edvin Revazov (20)
Philostrat, master of ceremonies in the court of Theseus Alexandr Trusch / Alessandro Frola (20)
A group of craftsmen:
Zettel, weaver Matias Oberlin
Flaut, conciamantici Artem Prokopchuk
Squenz, carpenter Nicolas Gläsmann
Schlucker, a tailor Lennard Giesenberg
Schnauz, a tinker Eliot Worrell
Schnock, a carpenter João Santana
Klaus, a musician Louis Haslach
Tailors Viktoria Bodahl, Justine Cramer, Anita Ferreira, Francesca Harvey, Paula Iniesta, Alice Mazzasette, Hayley Page, Madeleine Skippen, Ida Stempelmann, Hermine Sutra Fourcade
Court painter Illia Zakrevskyi
Treasurer Lasse Caballero
Vallets
Act I – The Dream
Helena, Hermia, Demetrius, Lysander, craftsmen and the fairy world
Titania Alina Cojocaru / Anna Laudere (20)
Oberon Christopher Evans / Edvin Revazov (20)
Puck Alexandr Trusch / Alessandro Frola (20)
Spinnweb Yun-Su Park
Bohnenblüte Hayley Page
Senfsamen Paula Iniesta
Motte Emiliano Torres
People accompanying Titania Gabriel Barbosa, Lasse Caballero, Francesco Cortese, Pepijn Gelderman, Alfie McPherson, Louis Musin, Javier Monreal, Kallum Morris, Tibor Perthel, Pablo Polo, Caspar Sasse, Torben Seguin, Illia Zakrevskyi
Titania’s favourite Florian Pohl
Fairies Olivia Betteridge, Lormaigne Bockmühl, Viktoria Bodahl, Eleanor Broughton, Ghanima Choffat, Justine Cramer, Anita Ferreira, Abbey Haller, Francesca Harvey, Carolin Inhoffen, Greta Jörgens, Charlotte Larzelere, Alice Mazzasette, Hannah McCloughan, Madeleine Skippen, Ida Stempelmann, Hermine Sutra Fourcade, Ana Torrequebrada
Act II – Awakening and Wedding Banquet
Hippolyta, Helena, Hermia, Theseus, Demetrius, Lysander, Philostrat
Dame e cavalieri di corte Francesca Harvey, Lasse Caballero, Greta Jörgens, Caspar Sasse, Charlotte Larzelere, Javier Monreal, Alice Mazzasette, Torben Seguin, Hayley Page, Pablo Polo, Madeleine Skippen, Gabriel Barbosa
Companions of Demetrius Yun-Su Park, Florian Pohl, Olivia Betteridge, Emiliano Torres
Bridesmaids of Helena Viktoria Bodahl, Justine Cramer, Ida Stempelmann, Ana Torrequebrada
Companions of Lysander Francesco Cortese, Louis Musin, Ghanima Choffat, Paula Iniesta, Emilie Mazoń, Hermine Sutra Fourcade
Bridesmaids of Hermia Eleanor Broughton, Anita Ferreira, Abbey Haller, Carolin Inhoffen
Divertissement
Pyramus and Thisbe
Zettel as Pyramus Matias Oberlin
Flauto as Thisbe Artem Prokopchuk
Squenz as Bacchetta Nicolas Gläsmann
Schnauz as Il muro Eliot Worrell
Schlucker as Chiaro di luna Lennard Giesenberg
Schnock as the lion João Santana
Klaus, as musicist Louis Haslach
The Hamburg Ballet John Neumeier will be in Nervi, on two unique dates in Italy in 2024, with the ballet Ein Sommernachtstraum – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, created by John Neumeier in 1977. The choreographer was inspired by Shakespeare’s play of the same name, delving into the famous play with the aim of reproducing through dance the same images and emotions created by the playwright with his verses. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, to music by Felix Mendelssohn, György Ligeti and traditional mechanical music, offers a multidimensional and innovative vision of the literary text. After its enormous success since its first performance, the ballet has also been taken up around the world by companies such as the Paris Opera Ballets and the Bolshoi, reaching over three hundred productions. The Hamburg Ballet’s presence at the Nervi Festival with A Midsummer Night’s Dream represents a very significant moment for the world dance scene, as it is the last two performances of the company under the artistic direction of John Neumeier, the Ballet’s highly esteemed leader since 1973.
The Hamburg Ballet John Neumeier is one of the most important dance companies in the world. International tours have made the company a landmark on the world ballet scene and one of Germany’s leading cultural ambassadors. The heart of the company is the artistic director and chief choreographer, John Neumeier, who has led it since 1973. Neumeier is a master in combining classical ballet tradition with modern forms in his works, infusing his choreographic language with a personal touch. Neumeier’s demonstration classes occupy a special place in the Hamburg Ballet’s repertoire. During the matinees, which have been a long-standing tradition several times a season at the Hamburg State Opera since 1973, John Neumeier, together with his company, delves into specific aspects of ballet history. The Hamburg Ballet performs at the Hamburg State Opera, its creative headquarters, while the rehearsal studios and training centre are located in a separate building, the Hamburg Ballet Centre, opened in 1989. The Hamburg Ballet Centre is also the home of the Professional School of the Hamburg Ballet and the National Youth Ballet, of which John Neumeier will remain artistic director.
Photo credit: Kiran West
