When Frederic Chopin meets the lady of the camellias... When classic literature meets a master ballet choreographer...

World famous American ballet choreographer John Neumeier has brought his "Lady of the Camellias" to China. The performance, by the Hamburg Ballet from Germany, was staged in Beijing's Tianqiao Theater.

Based on Alexandre Dumas' novel of the same name, the ballet, which premiered in 1978, tells of the meandering and tragic romance between a Parisian courtesan and a young bourgeois. 

It has been deemed one of the best works by Neumeier.

"For me, the ballet is different in each performance that is given and each time I watch it, I tried to watch it as if I've never seen it before, and try to correct not only what the dancers are doing, but to correct what I have done, and to see if there is something that could be better," said Neumeier. The adaptation of Dumas's tragedy is famous for its outstanding choreography and detailed portrayal of the characters' psychology. 

Since its premiere, The Lady of the Camellias has become a staple of many renowned ballet companies across the globe, such as Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet, the Ballet of the Paris Opera, and New York's American Ballet Theatre. It is considered a classic "dramatic ballet" show.

It is the second time the ballet has been staged in Beijing, and this time around it has attracted droves of fans to the theater. 

"This time, his original team came to perform and the tickets were all sold out at the very beginning. This shows that, from the perspective of the audience, the appreciation levels of Chinese audiences are continuously rising," said Feng Ying, director of the National Ballet of China. 

"An honest one" is Neumeier's answer to what a good show is. And with an honest performance, the Lady of the Camellias has won the hearts of audiences in the Chinese capital.