10 May 2020 (Sun), 20:00 Alexandrinsky Imperial Ballet Theatre (established 1756) - Classical Ballet Peter Tchaikovsky "Swan Lake" (Ballet in 3 Acts)
Running time: 2 hours 10 minutes (till 22:10)
The performance has 1 intermission
Schedule for Peter Tchaikovsky "Swan Lake" (Ballet in 3 Acts) 2022
Composer: Peter Tchaikovsky Choreography: Marius Petipa
Orchestra: Symphony Orchestra "Congress"
Classical Ballet in 2 act
World premiere: 27 February 1877, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, Russia
“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 composer, 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.
Music For Ballets Fragment 1 Fragment 2
© Text 2010 Art and Culture Magazine "St Peterburg"
Synopsis
On Christmas Eve, guests are gathering in the beautiful house of Dr. Stahlbaum. Adults are followed by girls and boys.
Act I
The children of Dr. Stahlbaum, Masha and Fritz, like other children, are eagerly awaiting gifts. The last of the guests is Drosselmeyer. Its ability to revive toys not only amuses children, but also scares them. Drosselmeyer takes off the mask. Masha and Fritz recognize their beloved godfather.
Masha wants to play with dolls, but with chagrin she finds out that they are all cleaned. To reassure the girl, the godfather gives her the Nutcracker. The doll’s strange expression amuses her. The naughty and mischievous Fritz accidentally breaks the doll. Masha is upset. But the godfather is repairing the doll. Masha is happy. She puts her favorite doll to sleep.
The holiday ends, and the guests dance the traditional Grosfater dance, after which everyone goes home. The night is coming. The room in which the tree is located is filled with moonlight. Masha returns, she hugs the Nutcracker. And then suddenly mice appear led by the Mouse King. The brave Nutcracker is fighting.
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King meet in a deadly battle. Masha sees that the army of mice exceeds the strength of the Nutcracker. In desperation, she takes off her shoe and with all its might throws it at the Mouse King. He is scared, and at that moment the Nutcracker deals a victorious blow with his sword.
The Nutcracker won!
Suddenly, the face of the Nutcracker begins to change. He ceases to be an ugly doll and turns into a beautiful Prince. Masha and the Prince are together, and snowflakes are spinning around.
Act II
Masha and the Prince admire the beauty of the starry sky. Everyone is dancing and having fun, celebrating a victory over the mouse army.
Spanish, Indian and Chinese dolls thank Masha for saving their life. Beautiful fairies and pages dance around.
Everyone is preparing for the royal wedding of Masha and the Prince. Masha wakes up. The Nutcracker is still in her hands. She is in a familiar room. Alas, it was just a fabulous dream ...
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.
Schedule for Peter Tchaikovsky "Swan Lake" (Ballet in 3 Acts) 2022
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