The world premiere of a new full-length ballet by Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon, based on Shakespeare’s enduring tale of love, loss and reconciliation.

The Royal Ballet presents Wayne McGregor's triptych, inspired by the writings of Virginia Woolf, with an original score by Max Richter. Met with outstanding critical acclaim on its premiere in 2015, it went on to win McGregor the Critics' Circle Award for Best Classical Choreography and the Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production. Each of the three acts draws from one of Woolf's iconic novels - Mrs Dalloway, Orlando and The Waves - combined with elements from her letters, essays and diaries. Presented from The Royal Opera House by Darcey Bussell and Clemency Burton-Hill.

国王和王后迎来了他们可爱的小女儿奥罗拉公主（Alina Cojocaru 饰），为了庆祝这个崭新的小小生命的降临，城堡里举行了盛大的宴会。国王邀请了仙女和女巫们参加晚宴，哪知道仙女们迟到了，这让久候的女巫（玛丽安莉拉·努尼斯 Marianela Nuñez 饰）感到非常的生气。女巫设下了恶毒的诅咒，诅咒奥罗拉公主将在她16岁那一年被纺锤刺破手指而死。
仙女无法破解女巫的诅咒，却将诅咒换了一种形式，被纺锤刺中的公主不会死去，而是陷入永久的沉睡之中。一晃眼16年过去，虽然国王和王后一直对公主的安全严防死守，但悲剧还是发生了，沉沉睡去的奥罗拉公主进入了幻想世界中，体验到了截然不同的人生。

英国皇家芭蕾舞团前艺术总监肯尼斯·麦克米兰（Kenneth MacMillan）创作于1978年的传世经典《梅耶林》，是英皇的独家保留剧目，也被视作英国现代芭蕾的杰出代表；而剧中的鲁道夫王子一角，也成为芭蕾史上对技巧与表演要求最高的男性角色之一，先后被大卫·沃尔、爱德华·沃森、鲍鲁宁等杰出舞者演绎过。
本版制作录制于2018年编舞大师麦克米兰逝世25周年之际，舞团明星首席史蒂文·麦克雷（Steven McRae）与萨拉·兰姆（Sarah Lamb）搭档，共同演绎这部激情迸发的旷世悲剧。编曲约翰·兰奇贝利（John Lanchbery）大量选取李斯特深入人心的音乐，华丽的复古舞台设计再现了维也纳宫廷的恢弘气度。
舞剧《梅耶林》取材于历史上曾被奥匈帝国王室试图掩盖的真实“丑闻”：鲁道夫王子自幼与父亲约瑟夫一世、母亲伊丽莎白（茜茜公主）关系紧张，成年后他接受了与斯蒂芬妮公主的政治联姻，却依旧风流成性，与贵族少女玛丽•维茨拉结识后，更是走上自毁之路，最终在皇家猎舍梅耶林中和情人共赴黄泉。

Below is a synopsis based on the original 1892 libretto by Marius Petipa. The story varies from production to production, though most follow the basic outline. The names of the characters also vary. In the original E. T. A. Hoffmann story, the young heroine is called Marie Stahlbaum and Clara (Klärchen) is her doll's name. In the adaptation by Dumas on which Petipa based his libretto, her name is Marie Silberhaus. In still other productions, such as Baryshnikov's, Clara is Clara Stahlbaum rather than Clara Silberhaus.
Act I
Scene 1: The Stahlbaum Home
It is Christmas Eve. Family and friends have gathered in the parlor to decorate the beautiful Christmas tree in preparation for the party. Once the tree is finished, the children are sent for. They stand in awe of the tree sparkling with candles and decorations.
The party begins. A march is played. Presents are given out to the children. Suddenly, as the owl-topped grandmother clock strikes eight, a mysterious figure enters the room. It is Drosselmeyer, a local councilman, magician, and Clara's godfather. He is also a talented toymaker who has brought with him gifts for the children, including four lifelike dolls who dance to the delight of all. He then has them put away for safekeeping.
Clara and Fritz are sad to see the dolls being taken away, but Drosselmeyer has yet another toy for them: a wooden nutcracker carved in the shape of a little man. The other children ignore it, but Clara immediately takes a liking to it. Fritz, however, breaks it, and Clara is heartbroken.
During the night, after everyone else has gone to bed, Clara returns to the parlor to check on her beloved nutcracker. As she reaches the little bed, the clock strikes midnight and she looks up to see Drosselmeyer perched atop it. Suddenly, mice begin to fill the room and the Christmas tree begins to grow to dizzying heights. The nutcracker also grows to life size. Clara finds herself in the midst of a battle between an army of gingerbread soldiers and the mice, led by their king. They begin to eat the soldiers.
The nutcracker appears to lead the soldiers, who are joined by tin soldiers, and by dolls who serve as doctors to carry away the wounded. As the Mouse King advances on the still-wounded nutcracker, Clara throws her slipper at him, distracting him long enough for the nutcracker to stab him.
Scene 2: A Pine Forest
The mice retreat and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome Prince. He leads Clara through the moonlit night to a pine forest in which the snowflakes dance around them, beckoning them on to his kingdom as the first act ends.
Act II
Scene 1: The Land of Sweets
Clara and the Prince travel to the beautiful Land of Sweets, ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Prince's place until his return. He recounts for her how he had been saved from the Mouse King by Clara and transformed back into himself. In honor of the young heroine, a celebration of sweets from around the world is produced: chocolate from Spain, coffee from Arabia, tea from China, and candy canes from Russia all dance for their amusement; Danish shepherdesses perform on their flutes; Mother Ginger has her children, the Polichinelles, emerge from under her enormous hoop skirt to dance; a string of beautiful flowers perform a waltz. To conclude the night, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier perform a dance.
A final waltz is performed by all the sweets, after which the Sugar Plum Fairy ushers Clara and the Prince down from their throne. He bows to her, she kisses Clara goodbye, and leads them to a reindeer drawn sleigh. It takes off as they wave goodbye to all the subjects who wave back.
In the original libretto, the ballet's apotheosis "represents a large beehive with flying bees, closely guarding their riches". Just like Swan Lake, there have been various alternative endings created in productions subsequent to the original.

该剧经过历年修改，产生了大量不同版本。传统版本的主要情节如下：
凯普莱特和蒙太古是一座城市的两大家族，有深刻的世仇，经常械斗。蒙太古家有个儿子叫罗密欧，品学端庄，是个大家都很喜欢的小伙子。可他喜欢上了一个不喜欢他的女孩罗萨兰，当听说罗萨兰会去凯普莱特家的宴会后，遂与朋友混进宴会场。

在宴会上，罗密欧被凯普莱特家的独生女儿朱丽叶深深吸引住了。两人一见钟情，当夜即在凯普莱特家的阳台上秘密约会，并且私订终身。
三日后，当地的劳伦斯神父在教堂为他们私下主持婚礼。就在新郎回家的路上，再度与新娘的堂兄提伯尔特发生冲突，导致亲王的侄儿茂丘西奥被刺身亡，罗密欧为替好友报仇，被迫举剑杀死提伯尔特，为此遭流放。同时，凯普莱特不顾朱丽叶的抵死抗拒，迳行接纳贵族少年帕里斯对其女儿朱丽叶的求婚，并决定即日完婚。朱丽叶乃在神父的建议下，于结婚前夕服下致人昏迷的药水，以假装死亡来逃避婚礼。
不料，通知罗密欧前来坟墓解救朱丽叶的约翰神父因故延误，罗密欧误以为朱丽叶真死，悲痛之余，乃携剧毒潜返。坟墓之前，巧逢前来祭奠的帕里斯，罗密欧杀死帕里斯，随即在朱丽叶面前服毒自尽。不久，朱丽叶醒来，却发现罗密欧已横尸身旁，遂举刀殉情。

Act I – Paris
Scene 1 – The courtyard of an inn near Paris
The courtyard at the inn is frequented by actresses, gentlemen and the demimonde from Paris. Among them are des Grieux, a young student, the wealthy Monsieur GM, and Lescaut, who is there to meet his sister Manon on her way to enter a convent. A coach arrives bringing Manon and an old gentleman who has been very much attracted to her. Lescaut notices this and takes the gentleman into the inn to come to an arrangement with him over Manon. Manon remains outside and meets des Grieux. They fall in love and decide to escape to Paris with the help of the money that she has stolen from the old gentleman. Lescaut and the old gentleman come out of the inn, having made a bargain, and to their dismay see that Manon has disappeared. Monsieur GM tells Lescaut that he too is interested in Manon and because of this wealth Lescaut promises to find Manon and persuade her to accept GM.
Scene 2 – Des Grieux's lodgings in Paris
Des Grieux is writing a letter to his father but Manon interrupts by declaring her love for him. Des Grieux goes to post the letter and in his absence Lescaut arrives with Monsieur GM. Manon yields to GM's advances and when des Grieux returns, Lescaut persuades him that there will be great wealth for all of them if he, des Grieux, will sanction the liaison between Manon and GM.
Act II
Scene 1 – A party at the hotel particulier of Madame
Manon arrives at the party given by Monsieur GM and is clearly torn between the wealth of her companion and her love for des Grieux, who is also there with Lescaut. Des Grieux tries to persuade Manon to leave with him but she tells him that the time is not right and only will be when he takes more of Monsieur GM's money at cards. Des Grieux is caught cheating and he and Manon rush away.
Scene 2 – Des Grieux's lodgings
Manon and des Grieux once again declare their love for one another but Monsieur GM arrives with the police and Manon is arrested as a prostitute. In the ensuing struggle Lescaut is killed.
Act III – New Orleans
Scene 1 – The port
The gaoler of the penal colony awaits the arrival of the convicts from France. Manon has been deported to America as a prostitute and des Grieux has followed her there by pretending to be her husband. The gaoler now turns his interest towards Manon.
Scene 2 – The gaoler's room
The gaoler has arrested Manon but offers her rewards in the hope that she will desert des Grieux and live with him. Des Grieux, however, breaks in and kills the gaoler.
Scene 3 – The swamp
Manon and des Grieux have escaped into the swamp of Louisiana. All her former ambitions of wealth and splendour have been renounced for her love for des Grieux. While eluding their pursuers, Manon collapses and dies in his arms.

King Leontes, possessed by a mad jealousy, believes his pregnant wife Hermione to be having an affair with his childhood friend King Polixenes. He orders that the baby, Perdita, be abandoned. Hermione and their young son die of distress and Leontes is overcome with remorse. Perdita is discovered by a shepherd. She grows up and falls in love with Florizel, son of Polixenes. They flee Polixenes, who is consumed with fury at his son’s love for a commoner, and seek shelter with Leontes. Perdita is recognized. Hermione, who did not die but went into hiding, returns and the family is reunited.

Prologue: The cemetery at Heiligenkreuz before dawn
Act I
Scene 1: The ballroom at the Hofburg Palace, Vienna
A ball to celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria-Hungary and Princess Stephanie of Belgium is in full swing. Rudolf flirts shamelessly with Stephanie's sister, Princess Louise, offending both his new bride and his parents, Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Elisabeth. Rudolf meets Countess Marie Larisch, a former mistress, and Baroness Vetsera. The Baroness introduces her 17-year-old daughter Mary Vetsera. Four Hungarian officers, friends of Rudolf, enter and forcefully argue the separatist cause of their country. Countess Larisch tries to rekindle her relationship with Rudolf. The pair are discovered by the Emperor, who demands that Rudolf return to his wife.
Scene 2: The Empress’s apartments at the Hofburg
Having retired from the ball, Empress Elisabeth is being attended by her ladies-in-waiting. Rudolf visits his mother, on his way to his new bride. He expresses his deep unhappiness at being pressured into marriage. Desperate for maternal affection he tries to embrace the Empress, only to be coldly rebuffed.
Scene 3: Rudolf’s apartments at the Hofburg
Princess Stephanie is getting ready for her wedding night. Rudolf enters and threatens Stephanie with a revolver before forcing her.
Act II
Scene 1: A notorious tavern
Rudolf and Stephanie enter the tavern in disguise. They are accompanied by Rudolf's driver Bratfisch, who attempts to lighten Stephanie's spirits. Prostitutes compete for the men's attention and Stephanie flees the tavern in disgust. Rudolf turns his attention to his Hungarian friends and his regular mistress, the courtesan Mizzi Kaspar. The police burst in and Rudolf, Mitzi and the Hungarian officers hide. The police arrest several people before leaving. In a despairing mood, Rudolf proposes a suicide pact to Mitzi. The Prime Minister Count Taaffe enters the tavern, looking for Rudolf. Rudolf hides again but Mitzi tells the Count where he is hidden. The Count and Mitzi leave together.
Scene 2: Outside the tavern
Countess Larisch, ostensibly chaperoning Mary, presents the young girl to Rudolf as he leaves the tavern.
Scene 3: The Vetsera house
Countess Larisch calls on her friend Baroness Vetsera. She finds Mary absorbed by a portrait of Rudolf. Countess Larisch tells Mary's fortune using a pack of cards and informs her that her romantic dreams will come true. Mary gives the Countess a letter to deliver to Rudolf on her behalf.
Scene 4: The Hofburg
During the Emperor's birthday celebrations Count Taaffe confronts Rudolph over an incriminating political pamphlet on the Hungarian cause. Colonel 'Bay' Middleton hands the Count a joke cigar, to Rudolf's intense amusement. The Empress presents the Emperor with a portrait of his 'friend' Katherina Schratt. A firework display distracts everyone except the Empress and 'Bay.' Rudolf notices their amorous exchange and becomes bitterly resentful. Countess Larisch produces Mary's letter and teases Rudolf with it.
Scene 5: Rudolf’s apartments at the Hofburg
Mary and Rudolf meet in secret for the first time.
Act III
Scene 1: A royal shoot in the countryside
During a hunting expedition, Rudolf unaccountably shoots wildly. He kills a member of the court, narrowly missing his father.
Scene 2: Rudolf’s apartments at the Hofburg
The Empress discovers Countess Larisch and Rudolf alone together and angrily dismisses the Countess, unaware Mary is waiting outside. Mary enters after the Empress has left. Rudolf asks her to commit suicide with him.
Scene 3: The hunting lodge at Mayerling
Rudolf shares a drink with Count Hoyos and Prince Philipp of Coburg, attended by his valet Loschek. He asks them to leave, saying he is unwell. Bratfisch enters with Mary. Rudolf instructs Bratfisch to entertain him and Mary. Bratfisch, soon realizing he has lost their attention, leaves. In a mounting frenzy Rudolf makes love to Mary. He injects himself with morphine to calm his nerves and embraces Mary for the last time. He shoots her. Loschek, Hoyos and Philipp rush in, having heard the shot. Rudolf reassures them and instructs them to leave. Alone, he shoots himself. His friends rush in again, and collapse in despair when they find Rudolf's dead body.
Epilogue: The cemetery at Heiligenkreuz before dawn