Swan Lake

Bavarian State Opera, National Theatre, Munich, Germany

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

All photos (12)

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7:30 PM

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Important Info

Type: Ballet

City: Munich, Germany

Starts at: 19:30

Acts: 2

Intervals: 1

Duration: 2h 35min

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.

Can I choose my seats?

Overview

Ray Barra kept Lev Ivanov’s magnificent choreographic delivery in his version for the Bayerisches Staatsballett, which he created in 1994/95.

Swan Lake is both a ballet classic and ballet mystery par excellence in equal measure. Although there is no “original version” and vis-à-vis the delivery we cannot speak of any fixed choreographic text or a clear dramaturgical structure, the St. Petersburg production by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov (1895) is the one that most choreographers orient themselves on, and which continues to influence new productions to this very day. The performances of a group of dancers in tutus, swan feathers and pointe shoes are inseparably interwoven with practically every version of Swan Lake.

Ray Barra's composition of the second act became a milestone of ballet history and the precursor of all that we call abstract or concertante ballet in the 20th century. Decisive for Barra was the psychological starting situation, which he presented in the tradition of John Cranko and Rudolf Nureyev. Prince Siegfried is an unstable young man, who has no intention of complying with the political and social demands his position makes of him. He escapes to dream worlds where the swans, the beloved Odette, her evil double Odile and the sorcerer Rothbart become real figures for him, who ultimately cause his death.

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

The plot

At a royal court, Prussian in style, second half of the 19th century. Prince Siegfried is soon to succeed to the throne, and must therefore marry. His mother, the Queen, who has always determined the course of his life and what is best for her son and the royal family, has chosen a beautiful bride for Siegfried from among the bountiful selection of relatives. Siegfried, an emotional dreamer of a young man, who would prefer to dedicate his time to literature than to politics, has been battling a crisis for some time, struggles with his conflicting feelings, torn to and fro between performing duty and preference. He cannot and will not endure any longer the growing pressure the demands of his mother and his position make on him. Increasingly he withdraws from reality and immerses himself in fantasies peopled with literary and fairy tale figures.

Prologue

The prince has dreamed himself into the world of the legend of the “Swan Lake”. Horrified, he must look on as Von Rothbart the sorcerer casts a spell on a young girl, Odette, turning her into a swan.

Act 1

The day of the engagement, to be opulently celebrated at court, has arrived. A garden party is held in the morning in the castle’s park. Siegfried’s friends have arrived, a cheerful, carefree atmosphere reigns – they dance, laugh, converse. Siegfried alone sits immersed in thought. His friends – and Benno in particular – try to cheer him up and distract him. Into the middle of the young people’s garden party enters the Queen with her entourage and high-ranking guests from all Europe, here to attend the evening ball.

Charlotte, Siegfried’s intended, is lead in by the Queen. When Siegfried signals to his mother that he is not happy with her choice, the Queen once again reinforces her unrelenting will to seal this engagement. With the very first dance Siegfried lets Charlotte know she cannot win his heart. The Prince, deeply affectedly by his mother’s appearance, sinks into depression, his thoughts confused.

Von Rothbart the sorcerer leads him to the shore of a lake, where Odette, the Swan Queen, appears to him with her entourage. Odette connotes to him that only love can free her of her imprisonment as a swan. Siegfried falls in love with her and vows his eternal fidelity to her.

Act 2

The members of the court, led by Queen Mother, and relatives from all Europe are at the ball to celebrate Prince Siegfried’s engagement. The guests present dances from their homelands. Finally, when all but Siegfried at table, a beautiful woman clad in black appears to him, Odile, who enters the hall with her companions and an imperious man at her side. In Siegfried’s delirium she becomes a black swam with Odette’s features and characteristics.

He follows Odile in a seductive dance, swears loyalty to her and in that very moment recognises he has betrayed and lost Odette forever.

At the lake the crying Odette awaits her unfaithful beloved with her companions. Once again Siegfried desperately declares his love and begs Odette for forgiveness. She forgives him, but all is already lost. With his magical storms Von Rothbart draws Odette away from Siegfried’s grasp. Siegfried follows the illusion, and drowns in the lake.
Queen Mother finds her dead son. She knows not what drove him into the water, or the story he found death in.

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

Bavarian State Opera - Munich
Max-Joseph-Platz 2

The Bavarian State Opera or the National Theatre (Nationaltheater) on Max-Joseph-Platz in Munich, Germany, is a historic opera house and the main theatre of Munich, home of the Bavarian State Opera, Bavarian State Orchestra, and the Bavarian State Ballet.

During its early years, the National Theatre saw the premières of a significant number of operas, including many by German composers. These included Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde (1865), Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (1868), Das Rheingold (1869) and Die Walküre (1870), after which Wagner chose to build the Festspielhaus in Bayreuth and held further premières of his works there.

During the latter part of the 19th century, it was Richard Strauss who would make his mark on the theatre in the city in which he was born in 1864. After accepting the position of conductor for a short time, Strauss returned to the theatre to become principal conductor from 1894 to 1898. In the pre-War period, his Friedenstag (1938) and Capriccio were premièred in Munich. In the post-War period, the house has seen significant productions and many world premieres.

First theatre – 1818 to 1823
The first theatre was commissioned in 1810 by King Maximilian I of Bavaria because the nearby Cuvilliés Theatre had too little space. It was designed by Karl von Fischer, with the 1782 Odéon in Paris as architectural precedent. Construction began on 26 October 1811 but was interrupted in 1813 by financing problems. In 1817 a fire occurred in the unfinished building.

The new theatre finally opened on 12 October 1818 with a performance of Die Weihe by Ferdinand Fränzl, but was soon destroyed by another fire on 14 January 1823; the stage décor caught fire during a performance of Die beyden Füchse by Étienne Méhul and the fire could not be put out because the water supply was frozen. Coincidentally the Paris Odéon itself burnt down in 1818.

Second theatre – 1825 to 1943
Designed by Leo von Klenze, the second theatre incorporated Neo-Grec features in its portico and triangular pediment and an entrance supported by Corinthian columns. In 1925 it was modified to create an enlarged stage area with updated equipment. The building was gutted in an air raid on the night of 3 October 1943.

Third theatre – 1963 to present
The third and present theatre (1963) recreates Karl von Fischer's original neo-classical design, though on a slightly larger, 2,100-seat scale. The magnificent royal box is the center of the interior rondel, decorated with two large caryatids. The new stage covers 2,500 square meters (3,000 sq yd), and is thus the world's third largest, after the Opéra Bastille in Paris and the Grand Theatre, Warsaw.

Through the consistent use of wood as a building material, the auditorium has excellent acoustics. Architect Gerhard Moritz Graubner closely preserved the original look of the foyer and main staircase. It opened on 21 November 1963 with an invitation-only performance of Die Frau ohne Schatten under the baton of Joseph Keilberth. Two nights later came the first public performance, of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, again under Keilberth.

Important Info

Type: Ballet

City: Munich, Germany

Starts at: 19:30

Acts: 2

Intervals: 1

Duration: 2h 35min

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