It has been considered a perfect romantic ballet for it's completeness and perfect synthesis and one of the greatest classics. First seen in Paris in 1841 on a book by Théophile Gautier, music by Adolphe-Charles Adam and choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, with a memorable performance by Carlotta Grisi, it was first presented in Rome on the 18th of may 1911 at the Teatro Costanzi by Les Ballets Russes company of Sergej Diaghilev with direction by Nikolai Tchérepnine, the scenery and costumes by Alexandre Benois and excellent performance by Tamara Karsavina and Vaslav Nijinsky. A frequent title of the theatre's programme: one can remember the unforgettable performance by Carla Fracci and Rudolph Nureyev in the 1979-80 season and one of the latest versions choreographed by Vladimir Vassiliev (1994). The version we have today is in fact based on the choreography suggested by Carla Fracci in adherence to the intergral score.