Swan Lake

It’s no wonder that Swan Lake is one of the most loved of all classical ballets. It has that magical combination of Tchaikovsky’s music, a compelling story of tragic romance and choreography that allows the very best dancers to show just how amazing they can be.

This Royal Ballet performance opens with a revival of Anthony Dowell’s romantic production whose designs were inspired by Imperial Russia of 1895, when the ballet was first performed. Against this atmospheric setting, Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov’s choreography provides an opportunity to see great dance partnerships in the leading roles and the whole Company in the dance ensembles. In its story, Prince Siegfried falls in love with the Swan Queen, Odette, condemned through the evil magic of magician Von Rothbart to transform into a swan by day. After trickery at a palace ball prevents the Prince marrying his new love and restoring her to her true form, tragedy is the only means left to him finally to break the spell.

The ethereal forms of the swans, illuminated by moonlight, the charged solos for the Prince and Odette and her alter-ego Odile, the machinations of Von Rothbart and the colour of a palace ball – all combine with glorious music, here under the expert baton of Boris Gruzin, to make for an afternoon of inspiration and romance.