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. Following sell-out seasons around the world, Graeme Murphy's critically acclaimed production of Swan Lake returns to London. Visually stunning, bursting with glamour, wit and intrigue, the doomed love triangle between Odette, Baroness Rothbart and Prince Siegfried is set to Tchaikovsky's glorious score and danced with breathtaking excellence. A passionate retelling of the traditional tale with a contemporary twist ? under the veil of royal protocol, intrigue abounds in this tragic story of one prince torn between two loves. Swan Lake is one of the world's favourite ballets and it is undoubtedly The Australian Ballet's most-loved production. Rarely in London - it should not be missed.

Creatives/Company

Music: Tchaikovsky
Producer(s): Askonas Holt, Raymond Gubbay
Company(s): Australian Ballet, Orchestra of English National Opera
Choreographer: Graeme Murphy
Design: Kristian Fredrikson
Lighting: Damien Cooper