Swan Lake

Synopsis

One of ballet's most famous works with some of its best known music. It is Siegfried's birthday and his mother gives him a crossbow and an ultimatum to get married! After the party and finding himself alone he goes hunting. The evil magician Rothbart (half man half bird) keeps beautiful women as swans on the lake - but by night they resume human form. Siegfried is bewitched by Odette, a Princess and one of the Swans. She explains their plight to Siegfried and says the spell can only be broken by someone who'll love her truly for ever. He swears to do so but Odette returns to being a swan as Rothbart's powers are so strong. Siegfried returns to the palace and his mother presents him with a string of women from whom to chose his bride - Rothbart arrives with his daughter Odile disguised as Odette and Siegfried agrees to marry her - only then realising his mistake as Odile reviles him for breaking his vow to Odette. Siegfried returns to the lake and begs Odette to forgive him - then fights Rothbart whom he kills - and the swans are released from the spell.

Our Review:

24 June 2010

Birmingham Royal Ballet has enjoyed huge success in the presentation of contemporary pieces during its twenty year presence in the city, take David Bintley’s E=mc2 which won a South Bank Show Award for contemporary dance last year. However, it is the traditional classics crafted by previous BRB Director Sir Peter Wright which have provided the solid foundations for the company’s success.

Swan Lake is a fine example of Wright’s craftsmanship in creating visually striking representations of the classic ballet repertoire. Wright is aided in conjuring a gothic landscape by Philip Prowse’s design of large dominating towers and a gloomy yet atmospheric palette of light and dark in Peter Teigen’s lighting.

The dark side of this ballet is a major component in its engaging narrative and makes for a more compelling evening in comparison to some of the other classics, such as Sleeping Beauty. The third act is more of a celebratory presentation rather than aiding in the progre...

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