After making its triumphant U.S. Premiere and playing to sold-out houses, John Neumeier's superlative work of dance-theater returns. Featuring an evocative score by Lera Auerbach, and danced by the prestigious San Francisco Ballet, this heart-wrenching story of sacrifice and unrequited love comes to life against dazzling scenic, costume and lighting designs.

"Rejoice, exult" - John Neumeier turns Buch's Christmas Oratorio into an experience that confronts us all with the most basic questions of trust, hope, faith, doubt and self-sacrifice. "My choreography is not a religious undertaking. We perform to Bach's music, for a few hours unifying individuals of many different cultural and religious backgrounds, For me, the basic human values expressed through the choreography are always the most important thing. Therefore, in my ballet, Mary is known simply as 'The mother' and Joseph as 'Her husband'." "Once again it is impossible not to be impressed by the flawless technique of the ensemble ... When at the end Lloyd Riggins tap-dances his way across the stage like Fred Astaire, the Christmas oratorio is complete" (Sueddeutsche Zeitung).

The San Francisco Ballet's performance of John Neumeier's ballet, The Little Mermaid. Composer: Lera Auerbach Conductor: Martin West Artists: John Neumeier, Yuan Yuan Tan, Lloyd Riggins Year: 2011-11 Run time: 02:14:00

In this narrative ballet, John Neumeier links the myth of the swan prince Siegfried with the tragic life story of Ludwig II, King of Bavaria, who fell into madness, and contrasts his own creations with the old original choreography by Ivanov and Petipa from 1895. Recorded at the Hamburg State Opera in May 2001.

Lis Jepessen dances the lead role of La Sylphide -- a beautiful forest sprite who entrances Scottish farmer James (Nikolaj Hubbe) with her radiance -- in this memorable stage adaptation of August Bournonville's most enduring work, a piece he created for the Royal Danish Ballet in 1836. Sorella Englund co-stars as Madge, a vengeful witch and fortune-teller who, after being spurned by James, resolves to destroy his future.

Created in 1971, John Neumeier's ballet set to Tchaikovsky's music is now a classic performed all over the world. In his reinterpretation of The Nutcracker, the American choreographer transposes young Marie's initiation into the world of dance under the tutelage of ballet master Drosselmeier.