Full-evening ballet score by Lera Auerbach
The Little Mermaid
Lera Auerbach’s full-evening ballet score for John Neumeier’s interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen: a three-act dramatic score of sea, memory, exile, transformation, ritual, sacrifice, and impossible love.
Catalogue Status
A full original ballet score by Lera Auerbach. The Hamburg version belongs to the score’s continuing performance history: a large-scale musical-dramatic work created in collaboration with John Neumeier.
Version History
Original version: Copenhagen, 2005; Hamburg version: Hamburg, 2007. The Hamburg version premiered with Hamburg Ballet on 1 July 2007 and should be distinguished from the Copenhagen premiere of the original version.
Sound World
Large orchestra, theremin, harp, celesta, piano, and extensive percussion. Auerbach’s score creates a liminal sound world between sea and land, voice and silence, bodily pain and spiritual transformation.
Work Information
Scoring
Score Architecture and Stage Organization
Two Accurate Maps of the Ballet
The score and the staged repertory presentation do not use the same organizational map. Lera Auerbach’s score is organized as a three-act musical-dramatic structure with thirty-five titled scenes. Hamburg Ballet’s repertory synopsis, by contrast, presents the staged work in theatrical terms: Prolog, Teil 1, Teil 2, and Epilog, with one intermission in performance.
Score Structure
The score gives the ballet its independent musical architecture: three acts, thirty-five titled scenes, and a continuous sequence of page spans.
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Act I
13 scenes · pages 5–143
From Prologue (Solo — Prelude), Mermaid’s World, and The Sea — Storm through The Witch and Evil Invention — Terrible Ritual. -
Act II
8 scenes · pages 157–204
From Morning on Earth through the paired Prince and Mermaid scenes, Melting Waltz, Guests’ / Polyps’ Waltz, Passacaglia, and Finale. -
Act III
14 scenes · pages 230–356
From Mermaid’s Claustrophobia and Mermaid’s Dream of the Sea through the wedding sequence, Little Mermaid’s Dance with the Knife, Dance with Death, and Epilogue — Coda. In the Stars.
Hamburg Stage Synopsis
Hamburg Ballet’s production synopsis organizes the audience’s theatrical experience by narrative sections, not by the score’s internal act-and-scene numbering.
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Prolog
The Poet’s memory
During a sea voyage, the Poet remembers Edvard’s wedding to Henriette. A tear runs down his cheek and flows into a sea of memories and fantasies. -
Teil 1
Sea world, ship, rescue, transformation
On the sea floor, the Poet’s longing takes the form of the Little Mermaid. She sees the ship above, dreams of the world of the earth, encounters the Prince, rescues him from the storm, witnesses his attachment to the Princess, and resolves to become human. Her transformation by the Sea-Wizard closes the section’s decisive arc. -
Pause
One intermission
Hamburg’s repertory listing presents the performance with one intermission: Part 1 approximately 75 minutes, Part 2 approximately 45 minutes. -
Teil 2
Human world, enclosure, wedding, knife
The Little Mermaid suffers from claustrophobia in the human world. She remains awkward and displaced in her human body, endures the Prince’s wedding to the Princess, receives the knife from the Sea-Wizard, and chooses not to kill the Prince. -
Epilog
Creator and creation
The Little Mermaid is left alone. Her pain mirrors the Poet’s pain. Creator and creation become one; the Poet’s love gives the Mermaid an immortal soul, and both search for a new world.
This distinction is central to the catalogue framing. The Hamburg production synopsis is a theatrical map of what the audience sees; the score is a musical map of how the ballet is composed. Auerbach’s act-and-scene titles are not neutral cue labels. They articulate the ballet’s musical dramaturgy: The Sea — Storm, Evil Invention — Terrible Ritual, Passacaglia, Mermaid’s Claustrophobia, Little Mermaid’s Dance with the Knife, Dance with Death, and Epilogue — Coda. In the Stars.
For that reason, The Little Mermaid should be understood not merely as a staged narrative after Andersen, but as Lera Auerbach’s full-evening musical-dramatic architecture. Neumeier’s choreography realizes the ballet in theatrical space; Auerbach’s score gives the work its musical spine, temporal form, psychological states, and symbolic progression.
Act I
13 scenes · pages 5–143
- Scene 1Prologue (Solo — Prelude)p. 5
- Scene 2Mermaid’s Worldp. 10
- Scene 3Mermaid’s Dream of the World Abovep. 17
- Scene 4Mermaid’s Solop. 19
- Scene 5The Sailorsp. 27
- Scene 6The Sea — Stormp. 61
- Scene 7Lullaby for the Princep. 102
- Scene 8Prince and Mermaidp. 107
- Scene 9At the Churchp. 114
- Scene 10Mermaid is Leaving Her Homep. 122
- Scene 11The Witchp. 131
- Scene 12The Witch and Mermaidp. 139
- Scene 13Evil Invention — Terrible Ritualp. 143
Act II
8 scenes · pages 157–204
- Scene 1Morning on Earthp. 157
- Scene 2Prince and Mermaid (1)p. 165
- Scene 3Prince and Mermaid (2)p. 169
- Scene 4Interludep. 171
- Scene 5Melting Waltzp. 172
- Scene 6Guests’ / Polyps’ Waltzp. 186
- Scene 7Passacagliap. 197
- Scene 8Finalep. 204
Act III
14 scenes · pages 230–356
- Scene 1Mermaid’s Claustrophobiap. 230
- Scene 2Mermaid’s Dream of the Seap. 247
- Scene 3Wedding Ceremonyp. 263
- Scene 4Wedding Dances. First Dancep. 271
- Scene 5Wedding Dances. Almost Polkap. 275
- Scene 6Wedding Dances. Almost Tangop. 281
- Scene 7Wedding Dances. Almost Marchp. 285
- Scene 8Little Mermaid’s Little Solop. 292
- Scene 9Almost Waltzp. 296
- Scene 10Witchy Entertainment with Rusalkas, Sirens, Undines, and Mermaids of the Past and Presentp. 305
- Scene 11Little Mermaid’s Dance with the Knifep. 332
- Scene 12Departure Dancep. 338
- Scene 13Dance with Deathp. 345
- Scene 14Epilogue — Coda. In the Starsp. 356
Dramatis Personae
- The PoetAn Andersen-like figure whose memory and longing open the ballet.
- The Little MermaidThe central figure of transformation, exile, pain, and spiritual endurance.
- Edvard / The PrinceThe human beloved, divided between fairy tale and memory.
- Henrietta / The PrincessThe human bride and rival image of love.
- The Sea-Wizard / Sea WitchThe agent of transformation, violence, and cost.
- Wedding GuestsThe world of human ceremony and social order.
- Magic ShadowsFigures of dream, fear, and psychic transformation.
- Sisters of the MermaidThe Mermaid’s origin and underwater kinship.
- The SeaA living dramatic presence.
- Naval Officers and SailorsThe human world of voyage, shipboard ritual, and distance.
- School Friends of the PrincessThe Princess’s social world.
- Nuns, Passengers, Stewards, BridesmaidsFigures surrounding voyage, wedding, and human ritual.
The Work
Neumeier’s The Little Mermaid begins not simply in the sea, but in memory. During a voyage, the Poet recalls the wedding of Edvard and Henrietta. A tear becomes an ocean of fantasy, and Andersen’s fairy tale emerges as an inner drama of longing, sacrifice, transformation, and impossible love.
The ballet stages two incompatible worlds: the vast, fluid underwater realm and the glittering but constrained human world above. The Mermaid’s crossing between them is physical, emotional, and metaphysical. Love becomes wound; transformation becomes exile; silence becomes the price of desire.
Auerbach’s score gives this world a distinctive musical body. Theremin, harp, celesta, piano, percussion, and large orchestra form a soundscape in which the sea is not decorative but psychological — an unstable element of memory, pain, beauty, and spiritual endurance.
The score’s scene titles make the drama legible as music: The Sea — Storm, The Witch, Evil Invention — Terrible Ritual, Passacaglia, Mermaid’s Claustrophobia, Little Mermaid’s Dance with the Knife, and Dance with Death. This is a ballet whose music does not simply accompany theatrical action; it composes the action’s interior necessity.
Productions, Companies, and Cast Traces
Verified producing and performing companies, major production contexts, and publicly documented cast traces. Original-cast and full ensemble information varies by company; archival theatre programs should be consulted for final cast-complete documentation.
- Original Version · Copenhagen · 2005 Royal Danish Ballet Royal Danish Opera House, Copenhagen. Original version world premiere: 15 April 2005. Created for the Hans Christian Andersen bicentenary. Orchestra of The Royal Danish Theatre; Graham Bond — conductor. Original cast not yet fully verified from public open sources.
- Hamburg Version Premiere · 2007 Hamburg Ballet Hamburg State Opera. Hamburg version premiere: 1 July 2007. Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg; Klauspeter Seibel — conductor. Silvia Azzoni is documented as the Hamburg Little Mermaid and received major recognition for the role.
- Hamburg Repertory / Guest Cast Traces Hamburg Ballet Documented Hamburg Ballet cast traces include Silvia Azzoni and Hélène Bouchet as the Mermaid; Lloyd Riggins, Ivan Urban, and Sasha Riva as the Poet; Carsten Jung and Dario Franconi as Prince / Edvard; Carolina Agüero and Hélène Bouchet as Princess / Henrietta; Alexandre Riabko as Sea Witch.
- U.S. Premiere / Film · 2010–2011 San Francisco Ballet War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco. U.S. premiere in 2010; filmed in 2011. Filmed principal cast: Yuan Yuan Tan — Little Mermaid; Lloyd Riggins — Poet; Tiit Helimets — Prince / Edvard; Sarah Van Patten — Princess / Henrietta; Davit Karapetyan — Sea Witch; Martin West — conductor.
- Moscow Production · 2011 Stanislavsky Ballet Public cast traces include Anna Khamzina and Anastasia Pershenkova as the Little Mermaid; Dmitry Romanenko and Viktor Dik as the Poet; Maria Semenyachenko as Henriette; Felix Korobov — conductor.
- China Premiere / Repertory · 2012–2023 National Ballet of China Chinese premiere in Beijing in 2012, followed by later revivals including 2014, 2022, and 2023. Cast traces include Wang Qimin, Ma Xiaodong, Qiu Yunting, Wang Ye, Xu Yan, Fang Mengying, Sun Ruichen, Wu Sicong, Chen Zhuming, Wang Jiyu, Zhou Zhaohui, Zhan Xinlu, and Li Wentao. Conductors include Zhang Yi, Liu Ju, and Fan Ni.
- Chicago Premiere · 2023 Joffrey Ballet Lyric Opera House, Chicago. Principal cast trace: Victoria Jaiani — Little Mermaid; Stefan Goncalvez — Poet; Dylan Gutierrez — Edvard / Prince; Anais Bueno — Henriette / Princess; Yoshihisa Arai — Sea Witch; Scott Speck — conductor; Lyric Opera Orchestra.
- Korean Premiere / Revival · 2024–2025 Korean National Ballet Seoul Arts Center. Cast traces include Byun Seongwan — Poet; Cho Yeonjae, Choi Yujeong, and Kim Byeol — Little Mermaid; Lee Jaewoo and Heo Seomyeong — Prince; Kwak Donghyeon — Sea Witch; Kwak Hwakyung, Joung Eunyoung, and Han Narea — Princess.
- Houston Premiere · 2024 Houston Ballet Wortham Theater Center. Principal cast traces include Karina González — Little Mermaid; Connor Walsh — Poet; Gian Carlo Perez and Chase O’Connell — Edvard / Prince; Jessica Collado — Henriette / Princess; Naazir Muhammad — Sea Witch. Conductors: Simon Thew and Ming Luke.
- Salzburg Whitsun Festival · 2026 Hamburg Ballet Guest Performance Guest performance by Hamburg Ballet at Salzburg Whitsun Festival, presenting John Neumeier’s The Little Mermaid with music by Lera Auerbach.
Selected Cast Documentation
| Company / Context | Documented Cast | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Danish Ballet · 2005 | Soloists and corps de ballet of The Royal Danish Ballet; Orchestra of The Royal Danish Theatre; Graham Bond — conductor. | Original cast requires confirmation from the Royal Danish Theatre archive or original program. |
| Hamburg Ballet · 2007 / repertory | Silvia Azzoni — Little Mermaid; Lloyd Riggins, Ivan Urban, Sasha Riva — Poet traces; Carsten Jung, Dario Franconi — Prince / Edvard traces; Hélène Bouchet, Carolina Agüero — Princess / Henrietta traces; Alexandre Riabko — Sea Witch. | Silvia Azzoni’s interpretation received the 2008 Benois de la Danse and the Rolf Mares Prize. |
| San Francisco Ballet · 2011 film | Yuan Yuan Tan — Little Mermaid; Lloyd Riggins — Poet; Tiit Helimets — Prince / Edvard; Sarah Van Patten — Princess / Henrietta; Davit Karapetyan — Sea Witch; Martin West — conductor. | Filmed at the War Memorial Opera House; released by C Major and presented by PBS / Great Performances. |
| San Francisco Ballet · 2019 revival | Yuan Yuan Tan — Little Mermaid; Ulrik Birkkjaer — Poet; Aaron Robison — Prince; Sasha De Sola — Princess; Wei Wang — Sea Witch. | Public revival cast trace. |
| Stanislavsky Ballet · Moscow | Anna Khamzina and Anastasia Pershenkova — Little Mermaid traces; Dmitry Romanenko and Viktor Dik — Poet traces; Maria Semenyachenko — Henriette; Felix Korobov — conductor. | Full production cast should be verified against the theatre’s original program. |
| National Ballet of China | Wang Qimin, Ma Xiaodong, Qiu Yunting, Wang Ye, Xu Yan, Fang Mengying, Sun Ruichen, Wu Sicong, Chen Zhuming, Wang Jiyu, Zhou Zhaohui, Zhan Xinlu, Li Wentao. | Public company announcements identify these dancers across leading roles in later revivals; conductors include Zhang Yi, Liu Ju, and Fan Ni. |
| Joffrey Ballet · 2023 | Victoria Jaiani — Little Mermaid; Stefan Goncalvez — Poet; Dylan Gutierrez — Prince / Edvard; Anais Bueno — Princess / Henriette; Yoshihisa Arai — Sea Witch; Gayeon Jung — Mermaid trace in alternate cast. | Chicago premiere at Lyric Opera House; Scott Speck conducting Lyric Opera Orchestra. |
| Korean National Ballet · 2024–2025 | Byun Seongwan — Poet; Cho Yeonjae, Choi Yujeong, Kim Byeol — Little Mermaid traces; Lee Jaewoo, Heo Seomyeong — Prince traces; Kwak Donghyeon — Sea Witch; Kwak Hwakyung, Joung Eunyoung, Han Narea — Princess traces. | Korean premiere and revival at Seoul Arts Center; repetiteurs include Niurka Moredo and Lloyd Riggins. |
| Houston Ballet · 2024 | Karina González — Little Mermaid; Connor Walsh — Poet; Gian Carlo Perez, Chase O’Connell — Prince / Edvard; Jessica Collado — Princess / Henriette; Naazir Muhammad — Sea Witch. | Houston Ballet Orchestra; conductors Simon Thew and Ming Luke; stagers Niurka Moredo, Lloyd Riggins, Konstantin Tselikov. |
Performance and Production Timeline
- 2005Original version world premiere by the Royal Danish Ballet at the Royal Danish Opera House, Copenhagen, for the Hans Christian Andersen bicentenary.
- 2007Hamburg version premiere by Hamburg Ballet at the Hamburg State Opera.
- 2010San Francisco Ballet gives the U.S. premiere.
- 2011San Francisco Ballet film recorded and released; Stanislavsky Ballet / Moscow Academic Musical Theatre production enters Russian repertory.
- 2012National Ballet of China premiere at Beijing’s Tianqiao Theater.
- 2017Hamburg Ballet brings the Hamburg version to the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C.
- 2023Joffrey Ballet presents the Chicago premiere at Lyric Opera House.
- 2024Korean National Ballet Korean premiere at Seoul Arts Center; Houston Ballet company premiere at Wortham Theater Center.
- 2025Korean National Ballet revival at Seoul Arts Center.
- 2026Hamburg Ballet guest performance at Salzburg Whitsun Festival.
- 2027Continuing Hamburg Ballet repertory performances listed with Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg.
Online Materials
References, Film, Production Sources
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TrailerHamburg Ballet / YouTube
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PublisherBoosey & Hawkes / Sikorski Boosey & Hawkes
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RentalZinfonia Materials Zinfonia
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HamburgHamburg Ballet Repertory Page Hamburg Ballet
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FilmC Major Film Release C Major Entertainment
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FestivalSalzburg Whitsun Festival 2026 Salzburg Festival
Publisher, Materials, and Rights
Published by Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski. Score and rental materials are available through Zinfonia. For staging, licensing, orchestra materials, film references, and production documentation, consult Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski, Hamburg Ballet, and the relevant producing company archives.