Costume Designer

Set Designer

John Neumeier's Illusions – like Swan Lake combines motifs from Tchaikovsky's ballet with the biography of the Bavarian "Fairy Tale King" Ludwig II. In a mixture of classical reconstruction and psychological drama, Swan Lake becomes a canvas for inner conflicts. Neumeier addresses loneliness, longing, and the border between reality and illusion – integrating parts of the original choreography by Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa.

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Illusions – like Swan Lake

Festspielhaus Baden-Baden

John Cranko's masterpiece based on Alexander Pushkin's classic tale of romantic tragedy tells the story of the love between the shy Tatiana and the dandy Onegin.

Onegin

Semperoper Dresden

A grand decorative opera on the one hand: ancient saga! War between Rome and Gaul, but Norma is also a psychologically fine-grained chamber play about a highly complex woman in the throes of terrible conflicts: Norma, high priestess of the Druids and mistress of the Roman proconsul Pollione. When she is betrayed, this "Casta Diva", this "chaste goddess" is determined to take revenge. It all ends terribly: a love-death burning at the stake! The madness, ecstasy and beauty of total bel canto!

NORMA

Max-Joseph-Platz

In desperation, he buys a supposed love potion from the shady quack Dulcamara - in reality just wine. By chance, Nemorino inherits money and is suddenly desired, which arouses Adina's jealousy. Eventually she realizes her true feelings. In the end, the two find each other and Nemorino firmly believes in the effects of his "elixir".

L'Elisir d'amore

Vienna State Opera

To win her over, he buys a love potion from the quack doctor Dulcamara - in reality a bottle of wine. But of course it is not the wine that ensures a happy ending, but his loving heart - and Adina's.

L'elisir d'amore

It has become a tradition for ballet companies all over the world to perform Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" at Christmas time. John Neumeier's version of "The Nutcracker", however, avoids direct reference to Christmas. In his ballet, the central character Marie celebrates her twelfth birthday and is drawn by the mysterious ballet master Drosselmeier into the fascinating world of dance. It is, in fact, a ballet about ballet itself.

The Nutcracker

Ballettzentrum Hamburg – John Neumeier

A colorful gingerbread house in the middle of the forest, in which two hungry children seek refuge. But there lives an evil witch with gruesome baking recipes. Engelbert Humperdinck's most famous opera is full of contrasts, both on stage and in the music. It combines traditional children's songs with Wagnerian orchestral sound, creating a magical soundscape that captivates both young and adult audiences alike. The fairy-tale opera, in which the siblings successfully overcome danger together, returns to the stage in the 2005 production by Jürgen Rose. It is conducted by the new Cologne General Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada.

Hansel and Gretel

Cologne Opera

Paris in the 19th century: extravagant balls, visits to the theater, sparkling diamonds, and champagne. Here, Armand Duval, a young man from high society, falls head over heels in love with the courtesan Marguerite Gautier. Marguerite gives up her former life to be with Armand, but his father rejects their relationship as unsuitable and pressures her until sheagrees to give Armand up, which she does out of love for him. Soon after,, Marguerite dies, lonely and destitute. Only after her death does Armand learn the true reason behind their separation.

Lady of the Camellias

Staatsoper Hamburg

The penniless and insecure Nemorino loves the rich and well-read Adina.

To win her over, he buys a love potion from the quack doctor Dulcamara - in reality a bottle of wine. But of course it is not the wine that ensures a happy ending, but his loving heart - and Adina's.

Wiener Staatsoper

Alexandre Dumas fils in his La Dame aux Camélias describes a refined variant of personal love for a Parisian courtesan. Love, let us add, quite brief in duration and cut short by Alexandre Dumas père, and ultimately by his beloved’s death of consumption. It began with a novel, later a play appeared, followed by a migration of the tragic heroine to Verdi’s La traviata, for the story to finally become the theme of the famous ballet by the remarkable choreographer John Neumeier. He opted to use Chopin’s music (although initially he considered Verdi). I do not know if he knew at the time that Dumas fils ended up in Mysłowice in 1851 while searching for another paramour of his (a daughter-in-law of the Russian Chancellor), where he took up the case of a mysterious murder to while away the time. He never got to see his mistress, never found the murderer, but he did stumble upon George Sand’s letters to Frédéric Chopin instead. The paths of Dumas and Chopin crossed once in Silesia, and now they do yet again in Warsaw, in Neumeier’s exceptional La Dame aux Camélias. The power of modern classics on stage and historical flavours off stage.

The Lady Of The Camellias

Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera

John Neumeier's version of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker presents the ballet as a coming-of-age story. The focus is on Marie, who is introduced by ballet master Drosselmeier to the world of theater. Neumeier combines classic Petipa quotations with autobiographical elements, creating a poetic work about artistic awakening – a modern classic since its premiere in 1971.

The young Armand enjoys the pleasures of 19th-century Parisian high society, with its cultural delights and sparkling champagne. His carefree life takes a fateful turn when he falls head over heels in love with Marguerite, the city’s most beautiful courtesan.

Costume Designer, Set Designer

Jürgen Rose

Events

Upcoming events

May 5, 2026 - May 18, 2027

L'Elisir d'amore · Wiener Staatsoper

2 - 4 Oct, 2026

Illusions – like Swan Lake · Festspielhaus Baden-Baden

9 - 11 Oct, 2026

The Nutcracker · Festspielhaus Baden-Baden

Apr 23 - May 26, 2027

The Lady of the Camellias · Finnish National Opera and Ballet

Past events

2 - 4 Oct, 2026

Illusions – like Swan Lake · Festspielhaus Baden-Baden

Jun 27 - Jul 12, 2026

Onegin · Semperoper Dresden

About

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