John Neumeier – Frédéric Chopin
The Lady of the Camellias
A jewel of classical ballet, now in Finland
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.
This timeless and moving story of a love without a future is based on the classic novel by Alexandre Dumas fils, published in 1848. Over the decades, the story has inspired countless stage and film adaptations, most famously Giuseppe Verdi’s opera La Traviata.
John Neumeier created his internationally acclaimed ballet interpretation of The Lady of the Camellias for Stuttgart Ballet in 1978. It is still counted among the landmark works of his career. Neumeier’s sophisticated dramaturgy, Frédéric Chopin’s expressive piano music, and Jürgen Rose’s atmospheric sets and opulent costumes bring Marguerite Gautier’s heart-wrenching story vividly to life. The work has become a modern classic of the ballet repertoire, performed by only a select number of companies worldwide. Now Neumeier has granted this permission to the Finnish National Ballet, as a rare jewel to crown its repertoire.
“Having seen it four times, I am even more convinced that John Neumeier’s The Lady of the Camellias is the best story ballet I have experienced.”
– Theater heute
Tickets and performances
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Synopsis
Marguerite Gautier is dead. The contents of her luxurious apartment are to be sold at auction. Nanina, her faithful maid, takes leave of the familiar surroundings for the last time. Curious visitors, buyers, acquaintances and friends of the deceased enter to examine the contents of the apartment, among them the older Monsieur Duval. A young man rushes into the room in desperation and collapses. Monsieur Duval recognises him as his son, Armand Duval, and supports him tenderly. Overcome by memories, Armand begins to tell his story.
Read full synopsis
At the Théâtre des Variétés, a performance of the ballet Manon Lescaut is under way. It tells the story of a rococo courtesan torn between the love of luxury and the love of a man. Marguerite Gautier, one of the most beautiful and desirable courtesans in Paris, is in the audience. Moved by Manon’s fate yet repelled by her infidelity, she refuses to recognise herself in the heroine.
Armand has long admired Marguerite from afar. That evening, he is introduced to her for the first time. Watching the ballet, he senses that his own future may yet mirror the tragic destiny of Manon’s lover, Des Grieux.
After the performance, Marguerite amuses herself by inviting Armand to her apartment and using him to provoke the tedious young Count N. When she is seized by a coughing fit, Armand offers his help. He is overcome with emotion and declares his love. Though touched by his sincerity, Marguerite keeps him at a distance. She understands that her illness is fatal and is unwilling to relinquish her life of luxury.
Yet their relationship deepens. Moving from ball to ball and from admirer to admirer, Marguerite continues her glittering existence, while Armand waits faithfully for her and even follows her to the idyllic country house providedl by the Duke.
In the country, Marguerite continues her extravagant life at the Duke’s expense. A confrontation between the Duke and Armand becomes inevitable. For the first time, Marguerite makes a choice. She defends her lover before everyone and rejects a life of wealth and security. The Duke departs in anger. Armand and Marguerite are finally alone.
Overcome by the thought that his happiness is lost, Armand collapses anew. His father, deeply affected, recalls his own role in the story with shame.
Having learned of his son’s life, Monsieur Duval had visited Marguerite in secret and urged her to leave Armand. In a final proof of her sincere love, she had sacrificed her own happiness and agreed to part from him.
Upon his return, Armand had found the house deserted. He waited in vain until Nanina brought him a letter from Marguerite declaring that she must end their relationship and return to her former life. Refusing to believe her words, he rushed to Paris and found her in the Duke’s arms.
Some time later, Armand and Marguerite meet by chance on the Champs-Élysées. Marguerite is accompanied by another beautiful courtesan, Olympia. Deeply resentful, Armand openly courts Olympia in an attempt to hurt Marguerite in return.
The gravely ill Marguerite visits Armand one last time to beg him to stop humiliating her. Their passion flares once more, but as they sleep she is haunted by a vision of Manon. On waking, she resolves to honour her promise and silently leaves Armand for a second time.
At a grand ball, Armand publicly humiliates her by throwing an envelope of money at her feet as “payment” for her love. Weak and exhausted, she collapses.
Armand reaches the end of his story. He will never see Marguerite again. Profoundly moved, his father leaves as Nanina returns with Marguerite’s diary. Reading it, Armand seems to follow her on her final visit to the theatre. Once again, Marguerite watches a scene from Manon Lescaut: Manon, impoverished and dying, in the arms of her faithful Des Grieux.
Marguerite leaves the theatre in despair, but the events of the ballet follow her into a fevered dream. As the phantom lovers merge with her memories, her identification with Manon becomes complete. Abandoned and longing to see Armand once more, she entrusts her final thoughts to the diary and asks Nanina to deliver it to him.
Marguerite dies alone.
Armand silently closes the diary.
Gallery
One of John Neumeier’s most sought-after works
Creative team
- Choreography
- John Neumeier
- Music
- Frédéric Chopin
- Set and Costume Design
- Jürgen Rose
- Lighting Design
- John Neumeier
- Conductor
- Markus Lehtinen
Cast
Cast will be published later.
Listen to the lady of camellias
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The keys to an entertaining evening
The performance takes place on our Main Stage, which has no fewer than 1,300 seats in its auditorium. Please note that the 3rd balcony is very high up. It provides an impressive view, but the front-row seats on this level may not suit those with a fear of heights. Explore the Main Stage and find out more about where to sit. You can also compare the view from different parts of the auditorium.
Price categories: Seats in the auditorium are priced according to the view of the stage and divided into eight price categories (A–H). In addition to seat location, the price is affected by the performance date and demand. Only standard-priced tickets are available in the lowest price categories (F–H).
Discounts
Discounts are available for selected productions, performances, and seats in the Stalls and the 1st and 2nd Balconies, unless otherwise indicated.
- Pensioners: €10 discount per ticket for selected seats in the Stalls and the 1st Balcony. The discount is available to all holders of the card for national pension recipients and anyone aged 65 or over.
- Students, military and non-military servicemen: 40% discount on the full ticket price.
- Children and those aged 20 and under: 40–50% discount on the full ticket price.
- Same-day tickets: A special rate of €30 per ticket is available for those aged 20 and under, students, military and non-military servicemen, the unemployed, and pensioners. The discount applies to seats in the Stalls, no earlier than 12 hours before the performance and subject to availability.
Please note that full-price and concessionary tickets for under-20s, students, and pensioners can be exchanged in our online store free of charge up to 24 hours before the performance. The value of the ticket(s) is credited to your customer account for later use.
Children and young people up to the age of 20 are eligible for a 40–50% discount on ticket prices.
Please note that children under the age of 5 are not admitted to Main Stage performances. The age recommendation for each production can be found at the top of its dedicated page.
For the best view, we recommend seats in the front Stalls or the centre of the 1st Balcony. If you’re unsure which seats would be most suitable, our customer service team will be happy to help you find the best options.
To ensure an enjoyable and memorable visit, see our Visiting with children page for more tips.
You can easily purchase accessible seats either through our online store or customer service. On the auditorium map, you can check the locations of accessible seats in the Main Stage auditorium (pdf). The accessible seats are marked with wheelchair icons to make choosing your seat easier.
Read more detailed instructions for purchasing accessible seats and ensure your visit is effortlessly enjoyable from start to finish.
The programme booklet provides background information about the production, its creators, and the story. It is published on the day of the premiere and can be purchased before the performance from the customer service desk in the Töölönlahti lobby, the sales desk at the Mannerheimintie entrance, all open counters of the Opera Restaurant, and selected members of our lobby staff. The price of the programme booklet is €7.
You can also buy the programme booklet in advance from our customer service desk or online via the Order refreshments page. See more detailed instructions here on how to purchase the programme booklet on the Order refreshments page.
The digital cast details for each opera and ballet, including the evening’s cast and creative team, are published online no later than on the day of the performance (please note that the link opens in a separate window). Cast details are also available on the displays and touch screens in the foyers, as well as under the My events tab in the mobile app.
Enhance your experience with refreshments. You can enjoy refreshments before the performance or during the interval. We recommend placing your order in advance, either through our online store or by calling our customer service. If tables are still available, online sales close no later than 24 hours before the performance.
Using the Opera&Ballet mobile app, you can order interval refreshments to a pick-up counter until shortly before the performance begins. Learn more about pick-up orders.
The Opera House is located by Töölönlahti bay. Our address is Helsinginkatu 58, which is well served by public transport.
The main entrance on the Mannerheimintie side usually opens 1.5 hours before the start of a Main Stage performance. Please make sure you arrive in good time, at least 15 minutes before the performance begins. Latecomers are only admitted after the interval so as not to disturb the performance.
How to dress for the performance? Can I wear perfume? Do I need to pay for the cloakroom? Find answers to these questions and more on our Tips for visitors page. We have put together a comprehensive guide to help make your visit to the Opera House a success.