After the sensational success of A Swan Lake, performed by the Norwegian National Ballet in 2014 at the Oslo Opera, the chorographical prodigy Alexander Ekman created his Midsummer Night’s Dream in April 2015 for the Royal Swedish Ballet at the Stockholm Opera. It is a powerful, contemporary piece that explores the energy and the mysteries conjured up by the summer solstice in the Scandinavian tradition.

It is the height of summer, the longest day of the year, and everyone gets together to celebrate the most loved of all traditions – Midsummer. Expectations are high, seven kinds of flower must be picked, schnapps must be drunk, and everyone dances giddily around the maypole – perhaps there will even be new love in the air? It is a night filled of love and eroticism as nature gushes with vitality. The border between the world of mortals and the kingdom of the supernatural becomes thinner and thinner as the bottle becomes emptier and emptier. Traditions play jokes on us, the world changes and suddenly we are no longer sure – is it all a dream? … a midsummer night’s dream.

A vast and ambitious project, Midsummer Night’s Dream is danced by the Royal Swedish Ballet and set to a music by Mikael Karlsson. Swedish star pop singer Anna von Hausswolff sings through this great production, evidently one of a kind.

‘Among the best things I have ever experienced on a stage. Ever.’ – Per Sinding Larsen

Cast:
- The Dreamer: Dragos Mihalcea
- Hostess: Jenny Nilsson
- Mistress: Sarah-Jane Brodbeck
- Love Couples: Lea Ved, Ross Martinson, Amanda Åkesson, Devon Carbone
- The Dreamwomen: Daria Ivanova, Desislava Stoeva
- Mr Canon: Johnny Mcmillan
- A Bubbler: Ross Martinson
- A Chef on Pointe: Daniel Norgren-Jensen

A piece by Alexander Ekman
Music: Mikael Karlsson
Vocals: Anna Von Hausswolff
Lyrics: Mikael Karlsson, Anna Von Hausswolff
Set design: Alexander Ekman
Sound design: Mikael Karlsson, Alexander Ekman

HD recording: Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm, 09/2017
Produced by Xavier Dubois
Directed for TV by Tommy Pascal