Swan Lake

One of the immortal masterpieces of 19th century ballet history by Marius Petipa. First performed in 1877 at the Bol’šoj Theatre in Moscow, despite the music by Tchaikovsky, it was not immediately as successful as it was in 1894, when it was staged at the Marijinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.
The Swan Lake tells the enchanting love story between the young prince Siegfried and Odette, an otherworldly creature transformed into a swan by the perfidious magician Rothbart for refusing his love. To revive the emotion of this classic with its muffled atmospheres, the Iasi Opera Ballet, one of the most acclaimed ballet companies that has been touring all over Europe for more than twenty-four years. Evocative lighting designs and sets will immerse the audience in the white atmosphere of the world's most famous swan lake.
 

PLOT

Act I
In the garden of a princess' castle, a party is held in honour of her son Siegfried, who is celebrating coming of age. He spends the time surrounded by friends. In the middle of the feast, the Queen Mother appears, announcing to her son that the time has come to marry. To this end, a grand ball is organised for the following evening, during which several girls are introduced to him in order to choose a bride-to-be. The party continues after the princess' exit, with dances with the jester's jokes and gimmicks, followed with indulgence by the prince's dance teacher. Later, the guests enter the castle. Siegfried remains behind them, wanting to be alone with his thoughts. While the ballet master and the jester follow him, the prince makes his way pensively to the lakeside in the castle park, where the mysterious ruins of an ancient palace can be glimpsed. His thoughts are interrupted by the appearance of a flock of swans, which fly past, stopping on the other shore, near the ruins. Eager to hunt them down, the prince takes his crossbow and runs alone into the forest. In this finale, the marvellous swan theme resounds in all its romantic scope, like a leitmotif.

Act II
On the other side of the lake, ruins are sombrely reflected in the calm water. One after another, floating white swans appear on the mirror of the lake. When they reach the shore, they turn into girls dancing lightly. Siegfried, following the swans, picks out the most beautiful one, and is amazed by their miraculous transformation. At first a little frightened, the swans surround him and the most beautiful of them, Odette, reveals their secret. The evil genius, Rothbart, has turned them into swans, and only in this lonely place, at night, can they regain their human form for a few moments. Siegfried is determined to fight to defeat Rothbart, but Odette warns him that fighting will not be the solution to break the curse. The spell will only be dispelled by the boundless love of a young man who professes his love by inviting her to the ball the next day to present her as his bride. Excited, he awaits the long-awaited moment. Odette, however, tells him that he cannot appear among the humans until the spell is lifted, otherwise he would incur the vengeance of Rothbart, who, by deception, would break the plan to Siegfried, causing the death of the swans. In the white light of dawn, the two youths part with difficulty. From the shadows, Rothbart observes Siegfried's conversation with Odette. Enraged, he appears, chasing away the prince and turning the girls into swans. But Siegfried sets out determined to break the spell of this spirit of darkness to save his betrothed.

Act III
The guests arrive in the great hall of the Princess' palace, at the ball where the girls from which Siegfried will choose his fiancée are presented. The dances are joyously started (a tumultuous Spanish dance, then a cheerful Neapolitan tarantella, a Polish mazurka and, finally, a Hungarian csardâs). Then, in the elegant swing of a waltz, there’s the presentation of the girls. Thinking of Odette, Siegfried looks at them indifferently and, when asked to choose, cannot make up his mind. Suddenly a new guest, a gloomy knight, appears, accompanying a young woman dressed in black. This, although she has Odette's features, is none other than Rothbart's sister Odille. The evil genius orders her to conquer Siegfried, making him break his oath. In a grand pos de deux, Odille envelops him in her charms, convincing him that she is the beautiful swan he has fallen in love with. Believing in this apparition, Siegfried presents Odille to his mother as his fiancée and future bride, unwittingly breaking his oath. Rothbart, in a fit of malice, reveals the truth to him, confessing that she is his sister, showing him in the distance the image of Odette, who must now die. Filled with grief, the young man realises he has been the victim of a deception. Heedless of the despair of those around him, he runs towards the swan lake.

Act IV
From the darkness that guards the castle ruins, Rothbart follows the swans, searching for Odette. But the beautiful swan is not among them, which infuriates Rothbart, who threatens them with death. Later Odette arrives, having seen from afar what has happened in Siegfried's castle. She painfully tells her friends about the betrayal of the vow of love. Hopes have been dashed forever. Running madly through the forest, Siegfried arrives at the shore of the lake, searching for Odette. He confesses with despair that he has been deceived, that his love is remained pure. But once the oath is broken, nothing can be corrected. Relentless, the swans leave him, one by one. However, Odette's love is greater than Rothbart's charm. Moved by Siegfried's turmoil, she returns and forgives him. The evil genius appears from the ruins, trying to separate them. He unleashes a mighty storm, strikes Siegfried, but fails to separate them. Faced with their strong love, the spell is broken and the evil genie is consumed by the darkness of the night.

Program and cast

Ballet Corps of the National Theatre of the Romanian Opera in Iasi