A deeply emotional work

San Francisco Ballet's 2018/2019 season sees another outing for John Neumeier and Leah Auberbach's treasured interpretation of this enthralling fairytale ballet that takes us on an emotional journey below the waves, to he underwater realm of a young mermaid intent on discovering world above. Emotional, achingly beautiful and breathtakingly contemporary, this shimmering adaptation is a jewel any company's repertoire and well worth a repeat viewing.

First premiering in 2005 at the Royal Danish Ballet, John Neumeier's haunting and more mature retelling of the classic myth juxtaposes two different worlds using flowing costumes and projections to mimic flowing water and terra firma. With Lera Auerbach's music, the narrative takes place as a story within a story, with the mermaid's unrequited love for the prince mirroring that of the tormented narrator poet, who pines away for his friend Edvard. However, hope floats in the final scene as the poet and mermaid find each other, as creator and creation, discovering everlasting peace.