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14 September 2022 (Wed), 19:00 World famous Bolshoi Ballet and Opera theatre (established 1776) - Marvellous Main (Historic) Stage - Classical Ballet Swan Lake. State Music Theatre named after Natalia Sats
Running time: 2 hour 15 minutes (till 22:40)
The performance has 2 intermissions
Schedule for Swan Lake. State Music Theatre named after Natalia Sats 2022
Composer: Peter Tchaikovsky
Libretto: Vladimir Kirillov
Stage Director: Vladimir Kirillov
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Stills: Kirill Andreev
Costume Designer: Kirill Andreev
Opera company: Bolshoi Opera
Orchestra: Bolshoi Theatre Symphony Orchestra
Classical Ballet in 3 acts
Performed in Russian, with syncronized English supertitles
Ballet with prologue in 2 acts and 4 scenes
Libretto: P.Tchaikovsky edited by V.Kirillov
Choreography: M.Ivanov, M.Petipa
Staging director: national artist of Russia Vladimir Kirillov
Stills and costumes: Kirill Andreev
"The Swan Lake" is one of the most famous and favourite ballet among the audience. It was staged almost in all ballet theatres of the world. Representatives of the majority ballet generations from different countries have been trying to understand secrets and philosophical depth of Tchaikovsky’s by now. The White Swan itself, created by great composer’s imagination, will stay the symbol of the Russian ballet, its purity and noble grandeur for ever. It’s not an accident, the Great Russian ballet dancers stayed in people’s memory as legends after performing the part of the swan Queen Odetta. Marina Semenova, Galina Ulanova, Maya Plisetskaya, Raisa Struchkova, Natalia Bessmertnova were among them.
"Swan Lake"
It is difficult to
understand these days how it could have happened that the first show of the
“Lake” in 1877, in Moscow’s Bolshoi, was a flop, and that it took many years for
the ballet to achieve its worldwide cult status. The c
omposer, Pyotr Ilych
Tchaikovsky, never lived to see the ultimate success of his creation.
The story begins in 1875, when Bolshoi commissions a
ballet score from the young but already famous composer. It was not yet
customary practice –despite Tchaikovsky fame and previous successes, which
included four symphonies, the now famous Piano Concerto and “Eugene Onegin”
opera, the Imperial Theatres of the time would normally employ the composers on
Imperial payroll, such as Cesare Pugni, Ludwig Minkus, and Riccardo Drigo.
Keeping that in mind, Tchaikovsky did not embark on the course of a revolution
in the Russian ballet, and studied the classic ballet scores assiduously,
planning to produce a score that would be in tune with the established tradition
but at the same time would sound new and interesting. The task of composition
occupied him from May 1875 to April 1876. The story was a knightly fairy tale,
and historians still debate the literary origins –some opt for Heine, some for
Musaeus, a German fairy-tale writer, some for Russian folklore fairy tales, some
even for Pushkin.
The first show took place on February 20, 1877, and was
a flop. The critics reviled the chief choreographer, Wentsel Reisinger, and were
short on praise for Polina (Pelageya) Karpakova, the first interpreter of the
main female part. The failure of the first show was detrimental for the
immediate reputation of the ballet itself, and for quite some time nobody dared
to stage it again.
The situation changed after Tchaikovsky’s death. In
1893, Mariinka decided to revive the “Swan Lake”. A new version of the libretto
and the music was to be produced by Modest Tchaikovsky, the composer’s brother,
Ivan Vsevolzhsky, the director of the Imperial Theatres himself, and by Riccardo
Drigo. The latter used the original music as a source material for a completely
new score. The choreography was supervised by Marius Petipa and his pupil Lev
Ivanov. The tradition claims that while Petipa was the father of the unique
choreography of the new ballet, its truly Russian singing character is there
thanks to Ivanov. The lake and swan scenes, famous for their perfection, are
undoubtedly his alone. It was Ivanov who came up with the idea of enchanted
ladies with their criss-crossed arms and heads tilted to one side, which every
spectator immediately recognized for birds that sit with their wings folded. The
very magical world of the swan lake was created by Ivanov. Petipa’s are the
scenes of courtly dances and festivities and their intricate lace of waltzes and
various dances – Spanish, Hungarian, Polish. Petipa also created an antipode for
Ivanov’s White Queen of Swans –its black twin Odile, and its beautiful black
pas-de-deux of the second act.
It was this particular stage version that came to be
admired as the pinnacle of Russian ballet. This production, as none other, was
the perfect setting for many famous dancers to showcase their art. The Swan Lake
is a unique and perfect creation, and despite the changing musical and dancing
fashions, the performance of Odette and Odile parts is still considered a
touchstone for the mettle of any serious dancer. The White Swan is truly a
symbol of Russian Ballet, of its beauty and magnificence.
Synopsis
ACT I
Scene one
The terrace of castle is filled with joy and merriment - Prince Siegfried is celebrating his coming of age, his courtiers congratulate him while his mischievous jester entertains the assembles guests. The servants announce the arrival of his mother the queen, she presents her son with a crossbow for the hunt. The queen reminds her son that at tomorrow coming of age ball he will have to choose a bride. Night is fast approaching and the guests take leave, Siegfried is finally alone with his thoughts and premonitions of what the future may bring. In the twilight a flock of swans pass over and he rushes to the lake.
Scene two
At the lake in the heart of the forest, the swans having stepped ashore turn into beautiful young girls Siegfried about to draw his crossbow stops fascinated by their beauty. Odette the swan princess is startled by Siegfrieds presence, he assures her no harm will come to her. Odette tells him of her terrible plight. Tells him of her high birth and how she has fallen under the spell of be a swan and only in the hours of darkness to assume her human form. She tells him she is bound for eternity by the spell unless an unblemished youth swears eternal fidelity and marries her. Siegfried realizes his destiny has changed. Day is breaking, the swans are again swimming on the lake, Odette bids a sad farewell, Siegfried is left desolate.
ACT II
Scene three
The coming of age ball commences at the castle. The young noblewoman whom the Queen has chosen as prospective brides are presented to Prince Siegfried, he shows no interest thinking only of Odette. The entertainment and merrymaking continue until a fanfare announces the arrival of more guests. Rothbart disguised as a knight sweeps in with his daughter Odille, Siegfried is dazzled by her beauty and her resemblance to Odette, swears his love and fidelity... Rothbart the sorcerer triumphs in his deception.
Siegfried horrified at what he has done rushes from the ball and into the night.
ACT III
Scene four
At the lakeside Odette tells her fellow swans of Rothbarts devilish trickery. Siegfried fleeing from the ball arrives at the shore begging Odette’s forgiveness and telling of his undying love for her. Rothbart appears and he and his black swans battle with Siegfried and the forces of good until the light of the dawn breaks and the forces of evil are vanquished. The rising sun gives birth to new life, happiness and love.
Music For Ballet: Fragment 1 Fragment 2
© Text 2010 Art and Culture Magazine "St Peterburg"
Synopsis
Act I
Scene 1
Petersburg. Strolling in the Summer Garden, Surin tells Chekalinsky about the previous night’s gambling: as usual, Нerman had spent the whole night by the gaming table, gloomily following the game, but not taking part in it.
Нerman and Count Tomsky come into the garden. Нerman admits he is in love with a girl whose name he does not know even. He is afraid she is above him in station and therefore will prove beyond his reach.
Prince Yeletsky informs his friends that he is to get married. Нerman asks him about his betrothed. „There she is”, Yeletsky replies, pointing to Liza who is in the company of the old Countess, known as The Queen of Spades. Gherman is in despair: for Liza is the very girl with whom he is in love.
„Happy day, I bless you!” Yeletsky says. „Unhappy day, I curse you!” Нerman exclaims.
Tomsky tells his friends that in her youth the Countess was a great beauty. A passionate gamblег, in Paris she had once lost everything at the gaming table. Count Saint-German had told the ’Moscow Venus’ the secret of three cards which had helped her win her fortune back. The Countess had been warned she would die at the hands of a man who, „impelled by despair”, would come to her to demand the secret of the three cards.
Tomsky’s story made a great impression on Нerman. The Summer Garden empties, a storm is about to break. All take shelter except Нerman who stands as if in a trance. He swears that if Liza does not become his, he will take his life.
Scene 2
Liza’s room at the Countess’ house. Some girls of her own age have come to see Liza. Their merrymaking is interrupted by a stern housekeeper: the Countess is annoyed — it is already late and she cannot sleep because of the noise the girls are making. Left alone, Liza confides her secret to the night: she is in love with Herman.
Herman appears at the balcony doors. He declares his love to Liza. There is a loud knocking at the door. The old Countess has come to Liza’s room herself to find out what the noise is about. Hiding, Herman remembers the legend of the three cards. Overcome by a burning desire to find out the secret of the winning cards, he immediately forgets his love for Liza. The Countess leaves the room and Gherman comes to his senses. He again tells Liza he loves her. She begs him to leave but, won over by the strength of his passion, she admits to reciprocating his feelings.
Act II
Scene 3
A ball given by a rich dignitary. Yeletsky notices that Liza is out of spirits and keeps questioning her as to the cause of her malaise. Liza avoids giving an explanation. The entreaties of her fiance to whom she is indifferent, leave her cold.
Liza gives Herman the key to a secret door into the Countess’ house: they must see each other. The way to Liza’s room lies through the old woman’s bedroom. It seems to Gherman that fate itself is helping him discover the secret of the three winning cards.
Scene 4
The Countess’ bedroom. Here everything is reminiscent of the distant youth of the ’Moscow Venus’ and Herman forgets why he has come. Possessed by the wish to find out the secret of the three cards, he decides to remain in the bedroom and make the Countess reveal it to him.
On her return from the ball, the Countess, having dismissed her maids and hangers on, remembers her youth and the marvelous balls in Paris. Herman suddenly appears and asks the Countess to reveal her secret to him. The old woman remains silent. Herman, threatening her with a pistol, repeats his request. The Countess dies....
Hearing the noise, Liza runs into the bedroom. Catching sight of the dead Countess, she exclaims in despair: „So it was the cards, not me you were after!”
Act III
Scene 5
Herman’s quarters in the barracks. Herman is reading a letter from Liza in which she asks him to meet her on the embankment and give an explanation of his conduct. Herman is tormented by thoughts of the dead Countess. Against a background of the wailing wind and raging snowstorm outside, the old woman’s ghost appears to Herman, who has gone out of his mind. She tells Herman he must marry Liza and that the secret of the three cards — Three, Seven and Ace — will be his.
Scene 6
The embankment of the Winter Canal. Dusk is falling fast. Liza is waiting for Herman hoping that he will dispel her suspicions that his murder of the Countess was premeditated. She waits a long time. Liza begins to lose hope and is ready to believe in Herman’s villainy. But then Herman appears and for a brief moment it seems to them both that happiness may be possible, that all their sufferings are over. But, possessed by the thought of the three cards, Herman, half out of his mind, pushes Liza aside and runs off. Liza throws herself in the canal.
Scene 7
At the gambling house, the game is in full swing. Herman puts all his money on the three, the card named to him by the ghost, and wins. He doubles his stake. The second card, the seven, also brings him luck.
Herman, in very overwrought state, challenges anyone to stake once more. Yeletsky offers to play with him. But Gherman’s third card turns out to be the Queen of Spades, not the ace. His card is trumped. Herman sees the ghost of the Countess. Gibbering with fear and rage he shoots himself.
Schedule for Swan Lake. State Music Theatre named after Natalia Sats 2022
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