With the instantly recognizable music of Tchaikovsky virtually a signature of classical ballet and the wonderfully dark story of good set against evil, Swan Lake is one of the most famous and loved of all works in the repertory. It is impossible to imagine the ballet world without it. The production by Anthony Dowell for The Royal Ballet is an especially appealing and popular one, using beautiful designs inspired by the intricacy and brilliance of Faberg?. The glamour of the palace ballroom is evocative of the Russian Imperial world in which the ballet was created, while the haunting moonlit lakeside is perfect for the tragic conflict of the human and spirit worlds. The central role of Odette/Odile is one of the most testing for any ballerina especially in portraying both the vulnerability of Odette the white swan and the predatory duplicity of Odile the black swan.

Not surprisingly, the two great pas de deux of Acts II and III are anticipated highlights of every performance. Without question, this is one of the finest works of all ballet and one of the most loved and appreciated in the entire Royal Ballet repertory.

News: Published on Monday 23 November 2010 at 19:15