Swan Lake

Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre, Grand Stage, Novosibirsk, Russia

Scene 11 from the ballet "Swan Lake", photo 2

Scene 12 from the ballet "Swan Lake", photo 3

Scene 1 from the ballet "Swan Lake", photo 4

Scene 3 from the ballet "Swan Lake", photo 5

Scene 4 from the ballet "Swan Lake", photo 6

Scene 5 from the ballet "Swan Lake", photo 7

Scene 6 from the ballet "Swan Lake", photo 8

Scene 7 from the ballet "Swan Lake", photo 9

Scene 8 from the ballet "Swan Lake", photo 10

Scene 9 from the ballet "Swan Lake", photo 11

Scene 10 from the ballet "Swan Lake", photo 12

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1 PM 6 PM

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Important Info

Type: Ballet

City: Novosibirsk, Russia

Starts at: 18:00

Acts: 4

Intervals: 2

Duration: 3h

Ticket delivery: E-Tickets

E-tickets: Print at home or at the box office of the event if so specified. You will find more information in your booking confirmation email.

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You can only select the category, and not the exact seats.
If you order 2 or 3 tickets: your seats will be next to each other.
If you order 4 or more tickets: your seats will be next to each other, or, if this is not possible, we will provide a combination of groups of seats (at least in pairs, for example 2+2 or 2+3).

Overview

A rendition of Tchaikovsky’s ageless masterpiece “Swan Lake” is being prepared by Mikhail Messerer – who is internationally renowned for reviving XX century ballets. The ballet master is restoring the Bolshoi Theatre’s famous 1956 production, which has become a showpiece of the Soviet choreographic school. Mikhail Messerer on his work, which was rapturously appreciated by Russian critics and given highest marks in the western media: “I approached the revival with care, for I admire the 1956 version of "Swan Lake"; however I hope that my participation infused our production with a modern feel".

Although Swan Lake is presented in many different versions, most ballet companies base their stagings both choreographically and musically on the 1895 revival of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, first staged for the Imperial Ballet on 15 January 1895, at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. For this revival, Tchaikovsky's score was revised by the St. Petersburg Imperial Theatre's chief conductor and composer Riccardo Drigo.

During the late 1880s and early 1890s, Petipa and Vsevolozhsky discussed with Tchaikovsky the possibility of reviving Swan Lake. However, Tchaikovsky died on 6 November 1893, just when plans to revive Swan Lake were beginning to come to fruition. It remains uncertain whether Tchaikovsky was prepared to revise the music for this revival. Whatever the case, as a result of Tchaikovsky's death, Drigo was forced to revise the score himself, after receiving approval from Tchaikovsky's younger brother, Modest. There are major differences between Drigo's and Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake score. Today, it is Riccardo Drigo's revision of Tchaikovsky's score, and not Tchaikovsky's original score of 1877, that most ballet companies use.

In February 1894, two memorial concerts planned by Vsevolozhsky were given in honor of Tchaikovsky. The production included the second act of Swan Lake, choreographed by Lev Ivanov, Second Balletmaster to the Imperial Ballet. Ivanov's choreography for the memorial concert was unanimously hailed as wonderful.

The revival of Swan Lake was planned for Pierina Legnani's benefit performance in the 1894–1895 season. The death of Tsar Alexander III on 1 November 1894 and the ensuing period of official mourning brought all ballet performances and rehearsals to a close for some time, and as a result all efforts could be concentrated on the pre-production of the full revival of Swan Lake. Ivanov and Petipa collaborated on the production, with Ivanov retaining his dances for the second act while choreographing the fourth, with Petipa staging the first and third acts.

Modest Tchaikovsky was called upon to make changes to the ballet's libretto, including the character of Odette changing from a fairy swan-maiden into a cursed mortal woman, the ballet's villain changing from Odette's stepmother to the magician von Rothbart, and the ballet's finale: instead of the lovers simply drowning at the hand of Odette's stepmother as in the original 1877 scenario, Odette commits suicide by drowning herself, with Prince Siegfried choosing to die as well, rather than live without her, and soon the lovers' spirits are reunited in an apotheosis. Aside from the revision of the libretto the ballet was changed from four acts to three—with act 2 becoming act 1, scene 2.

All was ready by the beginning of 1895 and the ballet had its première on Friday, 27 January. Pierina Legnani danced Odette/Odile, with Pavel Gerdt as Prince Siegfried, Alexei Bulgakov as Rothbart, and Alexander Oblakov as Benno. Most of the reviews in the St. Petersburg newspapers were positive.

History

Premiere of this production: 04 March 1877, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow

Swan Lake is a ballet composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875–76. Despite its initial failure, it is now one of the most popular of all ballets. Swan Lake is the ballet which embodies the soul of Russian art. The combination of brilliant music and choreography creates a special kind of magic; what the great 20th century choreographer George Balanchine had in mind when he famously said, “One should call every ballet Swan Lake because then people would come.”

Synopsis

Act 1

A garden in front of the Sovereign Princess's castle. The young folk are frolicking on the lawn. The young ladies and their partners are entertained by the Jester’s silly dancing. The Princess informs her son Siegfried that tomorrow during the ball he will have to choose his future wife from the beauties invited to the big day. Her words do not touch his heart: there is no girl whom he loves, and he is not willing to give up his uninhibited lifestyle. It begins to grow dark. The young folk are heading back to their homes. Siegfried is feeling blue: he is dreaming of a girl he could fall in love with. Where might he find her? His friends’ chatters don’t amuse him anymore. A flock of swans draws his attention. He sets off after them.

Act 2

A moonlit night. The swans lead Siegfried to the shore of a dark lake. Upon going ashore, the swans transform into maidens and they start a round dance. Siegfried is attracted to a beautiful white swan – Odette, queen of the swans. Along with her friends, she was put under a spell: the Evil Genius turned them into swans, and only at night can they take on human form. The incantation can only be broken by the selfless love of a young man, who has never before proclaimed his love to anyone. Entranced by her beauty, Siegfried falls in love with the queen of the swans. He swears his fidelity and eternal love to her. The Evil Genius has overheard Odette and Siegfried talking. Dawn. The maidens are about to turn back into swans. Odette bids her beloved a farewell. Siegfried is sure about his love for her – he will set Odette free from the Evil Genius’ spell.

Act 3

A ball at the sovereign princess’ castle. Today Siegfried is choosing his future wife. All the guests are here, but Siegfried is nowhere to be seen. The Jester starts his jolly dancing, and the guests follow him. Finally, Siegfried arrives. His heart is not moved by the gorgeous brides – his thoughts are with the enchanted maiden. A stranger appears. It is the Evil Genius in disguise. He has brought his daughter Odile to the ball, and she looks identical to Odette. The Evil Genius orders her to charm Siegfried and make him swear his love to her. The Prince does not recognize the Evil Genius and takes Odile for Odette. He announces his wish to marry her. The Evil Genius triumphs. The vow is broken, now Odette and her friends must die. The sorcerer points to Odette, who can be seen in the background, and with wicked laughter, he and Odile disappear. Siegfried realizes he was deceived. Frustrated, he hurries back to Swan Lake.

Act 4

An ominous night at the lake. A despondent Odette reveals the tragic news about the broken vow. The swan-maidens grieve: their hope of freedom is lost. Siegfried appears. He hasn’t broken his promise: it was his Odette, not Odile, who he saw at the castle. It was to her that he swore his undying love.
Lightning flashes the outraged Evil Genius summons a storm against the lovers, But nothing can overcome the pure love of inseparable Siegfried and Odette. The Evil Genius decides to fight Siegfried himself and dies in the clash. His spells are destroyed. Odette and Siegfried, surrounded by Odette’s friends, watch the sunrise.

Swan Lake is generally presented in either four acts, four scenes (primarily outside Russia and Eastern Europe) or three acts, four scenes (primarily in Russia and Eastern Europe). The biggest difference of productions all over the world is that the ending, originally tragic, is now sometimes altered to a happy ending.

Prologue
Some productions include a prologue that shows how Odette first meets Rothbart, who turns Odette into a swan.

Act 1

A magnificent park before a palace

[Scène: Allegro giusto] Prince Siegfried is celebrating his birthday with his tutor, friends and peasants [Waltz]. The revelries are interrupted by Siegfried's mother, the Queen [Scène: Allegro moderato], who is concerned about her son's carefree lifestyle. She tells him that he must choose a bride at the royal ball the following evening (some productions include the presentation of some possible candidates). Siegfried is upset that he cannot marry for love. His friend Benno and the tutor try to lift his troubled mood. As evening falls [Sujet], Benno sees a flock of swans flying overhead and suggests they go on a hunt [Finale I]. Siegfried and his friends take their crossbows and set off in pursuit of the swans.

Act 2

A lakeside clearing in a forest by the ruins of a chapel. A moonlit night.

The "Valse des cygnes" from act 2 of the Ivanov/Petipa edition of Swan Lake
Siegfried has become separated from his friends. He arrives at the lakeside clearing, just as a flock of swans land [Scène. Moderato]. He aims his crossbow [Scène. Allegro moderato], but freezes when one of them transforms into a beautiful maiden, Odette [Scène. Moderato]. At first, she is terrified of Siegfried. When he promises not to harm her, she explains she and her companions are victims of a spell cast by the evil owl-like sorcerer Rothbart. By day they are turned into swans and only at night, by the side of the enchanted lake – created from the tears of Odette's mother – do they return to human form. The spell can only be broken if one who has never loved before swears to love Odette forever. Rothbart suddenly appears [Scène. Allegro vivo]. Siegfried threatens to kill him but Odette intercedes – if Rothbart dies before the spell is broken, it can never be undone.

As Rothbart disappears, the swan maidens fill the clearing [Scène: Allegro, Moderato assai quasi andante]. Siegfried breaks his crossbow, and sets about winning Odette's trust as the two fall in love. But as dawn arrives, the evil spell draws Odette and her companions back to the lake and they are turned into swans again.

Act 3

An opulent hall in the palace

Guests arrive at the palace for a costume ball. Six princesses are presented to the prince [Entrance of the Guests and Waltz], as candidates for marriage. Rothbart arrives in disguise [Scène: Allegro, Allegro giusto] with his daughter, Odile, who is transformed to look like Odette. Though the princesses try to attract the prince with their dances [Pas de six], Siegfried has eyes only for Odile. [Scène: Allegro, Tempo di valse, Allegro vivo] Odette appears (usually at the castle window) and attempts to warn Siegfried, but he does not see her. He then proclaims to the court that he will marry "Odette" (Odile) before Rothbart shows him a magical vision of Odette. Grief-stricken and realizing his mistake, Siegfried hurries back to the lake.

Act 4

By the lakeside

Odette is distraught. The swan-maidens try to comfort her. Siegfried returns to the lake and makes a passionate apology. She forgives him, but his betrayal cannot be undone. Rather than remain a swan forever, Odette chooses to die. Siegfried chooses to die with her and they leap into the lake. This breaks Rothbart's spell over the swan maidens, causing him to lose his power over them and he dies. In an apotheosis, the swan maidens watch as Siegfried and Odette ascend into the Heavens together, forever united in love.

Venue Info

Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre - Novosibirsk
36 Krasny Prospect

The Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre (the official title is the Novosibirsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre is one of the most important theatres in Novosibirsk and Siberia. It is located at the center of Novosibirsk at Lenin square.

The building was completed in February 1944, and the first performance was held on 12 May 1945. As of 2012, it is the largest theatre in Russia, larger than the Bolshoi Theatre (literally "Big theatre") in Moscow. After its renovation in 2005 with computerized stage equipment, at the time it became the most technically advanced in Russia. The total area of the building is 11,837 m2 (127,410 sq ft), the volume is 294,340 m3 (10,395,000 cu ft). The theatre is often called the "Siberian Coliseum" because of its size and beauty. The auditorium seats more than 1,790 spectators. Its upper gallery is decorated with copies of antique Greek statues.

Music directors

Current music director is Dmitri Jurowski. Previous directors were Teodor Currentzis (2004 to 2010) and Ainars Rubikis.

The building

The principal construction of the theatre building is the big dome, which is 60 metres (200 ft) wide and 35 metres (115 ft) high. The dome is a unique construction that supports itself without girders or columns. The ratio of its thickness (an average of 8 cm (3.1 in)) to its radius is less than that of a chicken's egg.

In front of the dome there is a large foyer, while behind it there is a 30-metre (98 ft) deep stage with bars rising up to 30 metres (98 ft) above.

The theater also served as the fifth pit stop in the fourteenth season of The Amazing Race.