Details

One of ballet's most famous works with some of its best known music. It is Siegfried's birthday and his mother gives him a crossbow and an ultimatum to get married! After the party and finding himself alone he goes hunting. The evil magician Rothbart (half man half bird) keeps beautiful women as swans on the lake - but by night they resume human form. Siegfried is bewitched by Odette, a Princess and one of the Swans. She explains their plight to Siegfried and says the spell can only be broken by someone who'll love her truly for ever. He swears to do so but Odette returns to being a swan as Rothbart's powers are so strong. Siegfried returns to the palace and his mother presents him with a string of women from whom to chose his bride - Rothbart arrives with his daughter Odile disguised as Odette and Siegfried agrees to marry her - only then realising his mistake as Odile reviles him for breaking his vow to Odette. Siegfried returns to the lake and begs Odette to forgive him - then fights Rothbart whom he kills - and the swans are released from the spell. Running time: 2hrs 10mins with one interval

Cast/Performers

Sarah Lamb (Odette / Odile), Zenaida Yanowsky (Odette / Odile), Alina Cojocaru (Odette / Odile), Tamara Rojo (Odette / Odile), Marianela Nunez (Odette / Odile), Lauren Cuthbertson (Odette / Odile), Roberta Marquez (Odette / Odile), Federico Bonelli (Prince Siegfried), Nehemiah Kish (Prince Siegfried), Johan Kobborg (Prince Siegfried), Carlos Acosta (Prince Siegfried), Thiago Soares (Prince Siegfried), Rupert Pennefather (Prince Siegfried), Steven McRae (Prince Siegfried)

Creatives/Company

Music: Tchaikovsky
Company: Royal Ballet
Choreographer(s): Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov, Anthony Dowell (this production)
Design: Yolanda Sonnabend
Lighting: Mark Henderson
Conductor(s): Valeriy Ovsyanikov, Boris Gruzin