'As far as numbers go, we are scraping by - even the ballet mistress and I have walk-on parts, just to fill all the roles.' He said the set and costumes, which had been designed by Russian emigre Alexandre Vassiliev, would be lavish.

The piece begins with a scene at the railway station, setting the tone for the entire evening's ballet. It is the scene that marks the ending of Tolstoy's tragic work, where Anna Karenina, a woman who has fallen in love with a man who was not her emotionally cold husband, is wondering what point there is in living any longer.

The train that finally helped her in her decision was a massive prop on rollers, lying in wait in the darkness at the back of the set until it was used, at the end, 'to stunning effect', Steivel said.

'It is a love story set among the Russian aristocracy but, in many ways, it is very contemporary. It deals with events and feelings that are still everyday happenings,' he said.

'So, on one side, you have the heavy Russian wealthy lifestyle - gorgeous balls, a scene on a skating rink, parties - and, on the other, you have the portrayal of emotions and problems that could be felt anywhere at any time.' He said one of the grandest parts of the ballet was the one where Anna first met Vronsky, who was to become her lover - and her downfall.

It is a huge party but Anna's husband becomes tired of the festivities, while Anna wants to keep on dancing.

The scene, Steivel admits, adapts perfectly to a ballet choreography.

He said he saw the piece two years ago for the first time and, since then, it has been performed by the Kirov ballet in St Petersburg, as well as several other big companies.

The choreographer, Prokofsky, is a Russian who has lived in Paris and London, and who specialises in turning great novels into ballets. He is due to arrive in Hong Kong in January, to start the intensive rehearsals for the ballet that is scheduled for seven performances starting on March 4.

Meanwhile, and in conjunction with the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, the Hungarian National Ballet will perform A Midsummer Night's Dream at the end of February.

When the Hungarians took the show to Canada in October it was described by one critic as 'A Midsummer Night's Dream, the likes of which you won't readily find this side of an acid trip in tights'.

It was given a standing ovation by the audience who enjoyed the spectacle which was also described as 'at times downright bawdy . . . a bit Ziegfield Follies, a bit Broadway musical comedy and a lot of fun'.

The piece - about a night in a magical forest - is choreographed by Hungarian Laszlo Seregi, to an adaptation of Mendelssohn's original music for the play which includes other Mendelssohn music and Renaissance consort music.

A Midsummer Night's Dream was first produced at the end of 1989 as a Christmas present for the people of Budapest. Its performance next February could be a suitable Chinese New Year present.

The Hong Kong Ballet will perform Anna Karenina on March 4,5,8,9,10,11 and 12. Tickets are priced from $70 to $240. The Hungarian National Ballet will give four performances of A Midsummer Night's Dream between February 24 and 26. Tickets or the ballet are priced between $150 and $520.