Longing, unfulfilled love and a sea voyage – in his interpretation of The Little Mermaid, John Neumeier weaves together the story and elements drawn from the life of its author, Hans Christian Andersen, who wrote the fairy tale in the 1830s. Neumeier’s ballet unfolds during a sea voyage, where the writer recalls the wedding of his childhood friend Edvard to Henriette. A tear slowly runs down his cheek and flows into a sea of memories and dreams.

The simple underwater realm of the merfolk stands in stark contrast to the lavish life of the humans on land. The Little Mermaid moves between both worlds, and through her unconditional love for the Prince – even though his heart belongs to the Princess – she endures unending sorrow. The Little Mermaid is left alone, yet through her own strength she ultimately finds redemption. In the end, it’s the writer’s love for his Little Mermaid that gives her a soul and makes her immortal – just as his creation bestows immortality upon him.

Salzburg Festival at Großes Festspielhaus

Schedule in May