10.09.2021
Swan Lake.
Premiere: 1, 2, and 3 October
The next production to premiere at Mikhailovsky Theatre will be Swan Lake by Pyotr Tchaikovsky on 1, 2, and 3 October, when Nacho Duato will present his version of the internationally famous ballet.
Vladimir Kekhman, Artistic Director of the Mikhailovsky Theatre: «A contemporary choreographer once described Swan Lake as a mystery wrapped in an enigma. What answers will Duato offer and will they become a sensation? We’ll soon find out. In this new production of the ballet, Nacho Duato builds a special world, offers a fresh take on the story, and introduces some unexpected nuances. Rothbart is a particularly interesting character. His face is hidden behind a mask, and he is surrounded by impenetrable mystery.»
Nacho Duato, choreographer and Artistic Director of the Mikhailovsky Ballet: «I want to create a more contemporary story, a profoundly emotional and human one. We have shifted the story to the early twentieth century, the so-called Belle Époque, when the European aristocracy, tired of the romance of medieval castles, sought out a new aesthetic, excitement, and adventure. I draw on some aspects of the balletic classicism of Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa in my production, but the final scene will be something completely new, and I’m pretty sure it will surprise audiences. I don’t want to give anything away, but to those who ask whether there’s a happy ending, I’ll say this: the way I see it, there is.»
Production designer Angelina Atlagic has created an extremely elegant stage design and stunning costumes. They reflect Parisian fashion in the 1900s, which was strongly influenced by Diaghilev’s Russian Seasons, especially the costumes designed for ballet by Leon Bakst and Alexandre Benois. In this new production of Swan Lake, viewers will be treated to graceful silhouettes and exquisite decor. The bright and sometimes tempestuous colours underscore the vast emotional abyss into which the characters are plunged.
The musical director and conductor of the production is Alevtina Ioffe, in her first performance since becoming the Mikhailovsky Theatre’s Musical Director.
