Swan Lake
ballet in three acts
music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Cast
Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato’s version of “the Russian stage’s foremost ballet” is more fantasy than fairy tale. “We are moving away from the romance of medieval castles and court rituals,” says the choreographer. “I want to create a more contemporary story, a profoundly emotional and human one. These emotions stem from the music of Tchaikovsky, but the setting will be the twentieth century. The artist Angelina Atlagic has devised fantastically beautiful costumes and an extremely elegant stage design.” Nacho Duato uses fragments of the classic choreography by Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa in his production, but the final act will be something completely new. “The final scene may surprise audiences,” the choreographer hints. “I don’t want to give it away — better for everyone to interpret it in their own way. But if I’m asked whether there’s a happy ending, I’ll say this: the way I see it, there is.”
Act one
A lakeside garden. Prince Siegfried’s friends have gathered to celebrate his coming of age. In the midst of the festivities, the Queen appears: she gives her son a crossbow and informs him that tomorrow at the ball he must choose a bride from the invited princesses...
A moonlit night on the lake. The swans come ashore. The last to appear is Odette, the swan queen. She tells Siegfried that the evil wizard Rothbart has turned them into birds and they can only take on human form at night. Only their selfless love for Odette can lift their evil spell. Siegfried swears his eternal love to Odette. Dawn comes and Odette and Siegfried say farewell.
Act two
A ball at the palace. The guests gather to celebrate, but the Prince is not there. When he finally appears, the Queen offers him a choice of bride. However, the Prince has sworn his love to Odette and will be faithful only to her. Suddenly a fanfare heralds the arrival of new guests. It is Rothbart, accompanied by his daughter Odile, Odette’s double. Odile must charm Siegfried into declaring his love to her, so that he breaks his vow. The Prince mistakes Odile for Odette and announces his decision to marry her. Siegfried swears his love for Odile. Rothbart triumphs. Realising that he has been deceived, Siegfried rushes to the lake in despair.
Act three
The shore of the lake. The swan maidens anxiously await Odette’s return. She appears and tells her friends of Siegfried’s betrayal. The maidens are besides themselves. Siegfried seeks out Odette, hoping to beg forgiveness for his unintentional betrayal: he swore loyalty to Odile only because he mistook her for Odette. The appearance of Rothbart interrupts their meeting. But nothing can break the love between Odette and Siegfried: it is better to die than to remain in Rothbart’s power. The evil wizard engages the Prince in combat and is killed. His spell is broken.
Premiere of the production: 1 October 2021
Libretto after Vladimir Begichev and Vasily Geltzer
The production features choreography by Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov, Alexander Gorsky, and Asaf Messerer
- Choreography and StagingNacho Duato
- Stage and costume designerAngelina Atlagić
- Lighting DesignerBrad Fields
- Musical Director of the productionAlevtina Ioffe
- Stage Designer’s Assistant (sets)Magdalena Vlajić
- Stage Designer’s Assistant (costumes)Srdjan Perić
