December Rain

December Rain
/Vihm detsembris/
A ballet in two acts, inspired by the life and music of Frédéric Chopin

Composer Frédéric Chopin
Director, librettist, choreographer and set designer Kristina Paulin (Slovakia/Germany)
Costume designer Stephanie Bäuerle (Salzburg Landestheater)
Sound designer and composer Davidson Jaconello (Canada)
Lighting designer Imbi Mälk
Director’s assistant Silvia Azzoni (Hamburg Ballet)
Pianist Margus Riimaa or Alexander Motovilov

Cast Raminta Rudžionytė-Jordan, Georgia Toni Hyrkäs, Ana Maria Gergely, Benjamin Newman, Bradley Howell, Alain Divoux, Caroline Maquignon, Olivia Lenssens, Gus Upchurch, Akihito Shimogata, William Halton, Alexandra Heidi Foyen, Maria Engel, Gerardo Avelar, Hodaka Maruyama, Benjamin Kyprianos, Gustavo Pedro, Alexander Germain Drew
Vanemuine Ballet Company


Inspired by the biography of Frédéric Chopin, December Rain depicts the tragic romance between Chopin and George Sand, the acclaimed female author for whom a male pseudonym was the only way to succeed in the literary world of 19th century France.

The course of Chopin’s life was mostly shaped by his career and utter dedication to music, but also by the sickness that ailed him in later years. Through these fragments emerges the primary, ever-recurring theme of his romantic relationship with George Sand.

A former dancer at Hamburg Ballet, Kristina Paulin is a young choreographer whose works have premiered in several German theatres as well as in Kazakhstan, Slovakia, the UK and Italy. She draws much of her inspiration from literary classics, biographies, fine arts and mythology. Paulin’s December Rain premiered in 2022 as part of the tripartite ballet evening 3x Chopin in Salzburg Landestheater under the directorship of Reginaldo Oliveira. The new production in Vanemuine Theatre features a freshly developed second act, which brings under heightened attention Chopin’s interior world.

I find all compositions by Chopin personal, delicate and fragile. When listening to his music, you can truly feel the presence of his soul, as he dedicated his whole life to his art.
– Kristina Paulin, director and choreographer

Premiere on March 2nd 2024 at the Vanemuine Theatre Small Building