Ballet in three acts after Hans Christian Andersen
The Little Mermaid
The Hamburg version of Lera Auerbach’s full-evening ballet, created with John Neumeier after Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale — a work of sea, memory, sacrifice, transformation, and impossible love.
Commission
Commissioned by The Royal Danish Ballet and Hamburg Ballet. Created for Andersen’s bicentenary in Copenhagen and later revised as the Hamburg version, which premiered with Hamburg Ballet on 1 July 2007.
Structure
Ballet in three acts, Hamburg version.
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Act I
- The Poet’s memory opens into sea, longing, and fantasy.
- The Little Mermaid dreams of the human world above.
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Act II
- Transformation, pain, and the impossible crossing between worlds.
- The Mermaid enters the human realm, where love becomes separation.
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Act III
- Renunciation, solitude, and redemption.
- The Mermaid’s sacrifice becomes an image of spiritual endurance.
Work Information
Abbreviations PDF
Dramatis Personae
- The PoetA figure with echoes of Hans Christian Andersen.
- The Little MermaidThe central figure of longing, sacrifice, and transformation.
- Edvard / The PrinceThe beloved figure, divided between memory and fairy tale.
- Henrietta / The PrincessThe human counterpart and rival image of love.
- The Sea-WizardThe force of transformation, violence, and cost.
- Wedding GuestsThe human world of ceremony and social order.
- Magic ShadowsFigures of dream, fear, and inner transformation.
- Sisters of the MermaidThe underwater world and the Mermaid’s origin.
- The SeaA living dramatic presence.
- Naval Officers and SailorsThe world of ships, voyage, and masculine ritual.
- School Friends of the PrincessThe human world of youthful order and convention.
- Nuns, Passengers, Stewards, BridesmaidsFigures surrounding the journey, wedding, and social landscape.
Synopsis
During a sea voyage, the Poet remembers the wedding of Edvard and Henrietta. A tear runs down his cheek and flows into a sea of memories and fantasies, where the story of the Little Mermaid begins.
The underwater world of the merfolk stands in stark contrast to the confined, glittering world of human life. The Little Mermaid moves between these worlds, drawn by unconditional love for the Prince, though his heart belongs elsewhere.
In Neumeier’s interpretation, Andersen’s fairy tale becomes a meditation on longing, sacrifice, impossible love, and transformation. The Mermaid’s suffering is not merely loss, but a passage toward redemption and spiritual endurance.
Productions & International Repertory
Documented major productions, company premieres, revivals, tours, and filmed presentations of The Little Mermaid across Europe, Asia, and the United States.
- World Premiere · Copenhagen · 2005 Royal Danish Ballet — Royal Danish Opera House Created for The Royal Danish Ballet in celebration of the bicentenary of Hans Christian Andersen’s birth. World premiere: 15 April 2005, Copenhagen. Orchestra of The Royal Danish Theatre, conducted by Graham Bond.
- Hamburg Version Premiere · 2007 Hamburg Ballet / Hamburg State Opera Hamburg version premiered 1 July 2007. John Neumeier — choreography and staging. Soloists and corps de ballet of Hamburg Ballet. Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra, conducted by Klauspeter Seibel.
- U.S. Premiere · San Francisco · 2010 San Francisco Ballet — War Memorial Opera House U.S. premiere by San Francisco Ballet. The work returned in 2011 and was recorded live at the War Memorial Opera House, with Martin West conducting the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra.
- Moscow Repertory Production · 2011 Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre Moscow production at the Stanislavsky Theatre, where the ballet entered the theatre’s repertory as one of its major contemporary story ballets.
- Film Recording · 2011 C Major Entertainment / San Francisco Ballet Filmed with Yuan Yuan Tan as The Little Mermaid, Lloyd Riggins as The Poet, Tiit Helimets as The Prince, Sarah Van Patten as The Princess, and Davit Karapetyan as The Sea Witch. Conducted by Martin West.
- PBS / Great Performances · 2011 The Little Mermaid from San Francisco Ballet Television presentation of the San Francisco Ballet production, bringing the ballet to a broader public audience.
- China Premiere · Beijing · 2012 National Ballet of China — Tianqiao Theatre Introduced into China by the National Ballet of China. Chinese premiere: 24 September 2012, Beijing. Principal cast included Wang Qimin, Ma Xiaodong, Cao Shuci, Wang Jiyu, and Wu Sicong.
- China Repertory Life · 2012–2022 National Ballet of China Revived repeatedly after its Chinese premiere, including performances connected with the company’s anniversary seasons, appearances at the China Shanghai International Arts Festival, Beijing performances, and a 10th-anniversary return to Beijing’s Tianqiao Theater in 2022.
- Washington, D.C. · 2017 Hamburg Ballet — Kennedy Center Opera House Hamburg Ballet brought Neumeier’s The Little Mermaid to the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C., with the Opera House Orchestra and the Hamburg Ballet production.
- Chicago Premiere · 2023 Joffrey Ballet — Lyric Opera House Chicago premiere by The Joffrey Ballet, presented at the Lyric Opera House. The production featured Neumeier’s staging, sets, costumes, and lighting, with Auerbach’s original score.
- Houston Ballet Premiere · 2024 Houston Ballet — Wortham Theater Center Houston Ballet company premiere: 6 September 2024, Brown Theater, Wortham Theater Center. Staged by Niurka Moredo, Lloyd Riggins, and Konstantin Tselikov. Conducted by Simon Thew and guest conductor Ming Luke.
- Salzburg Whitsun Festival · 2026 Hamburg Ballet — Salzburg Festival Guest performance by Hamburg Ballet at the Salzburg Whitsun Festival, presenting Neumeier’s The Little Mermaid with music by Lera Auerbach.
- Hamburg Repertory · 2026–2027 Hamburg Ballet / Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg Continuing repertory performances in Hamburg, with John Neumeier’s choreography and staging and Lera Auerbach’s score.
Hamburg Premiere
2007
Hamburg Version Premiere
- Hamburg
- Hamburg Ballet
- Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra
- John Neumeier — choreographer
- Klauspeter Seibel — conductor
- Soloists and corps de ballet of The Hamburg Ballet
Publisher, Materials, and Film
Published by Boosey & Hawkes / Sikorski. Score and rental materials are available through Zinfonia. The filmed San Francisco Ballet production is available through C Major and listed by Naxos.