Swan Lake | Pëtr Il’ič Čajkovskij
A timeless classic, indeed a central title in the ballet canon, Swan Lake returns to the Regio with the Latvian National Ballet of Riga, for the first time a guest of an Italian theater. In a classic staging, which has reaped success in the main European cities, the fairy tale of Queen Odette, imprisoned in the guise of a beautiful white swan, will come to life again; of Prince Siegfried, who is tasked with breaking the spell; and of Odile and Rothbart, who try to hinder them. Like a starry cloak that envelops everything, Tchaikovsky's music guides the characters' destinies to their outcome. With this first ballet, performed for the first time at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow in 1877, the Russian composer found the ideal form of spectacle into which to channel his music, where an immense sadness is accompanied by an infinite delicacy: the fury and the tears find here the grace of crystal, his ingenious melodies, with iridescent reflections, flow one after the other as if from an inexhaustible source. The conventions of classical ballet give them the right space in scenes that allow the musical pomp and the virtuosity of the corps de ballet to be displayed simultaneously, such as the parties at the prince's court or the parade of swans on the nocturnal reflections of the lake.
Lecture-Concert: Wednesday 17 December at 6 pm - Piccolo Regio Puccini
Ballet in three acts (four scenes)
Performances
Synopsis
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Scene I. The castle park.
Prince Siegfried celebrates his birthday with his friends at a private party. The guests drink to his health and the jester entertains everyone with his antics. The prince is warned of the imminent arrival of his mother, the queen, who is displeased with her son's behavior; to make peace, the prince gives her a bouquet of roses.
As soon as the queen mother leaves, the party resumes. Night falls. The guests leave and the prince is left alone in the park. Looking up, Siegfried notices a flock of white swans and the sight awakens in him the hunter's instinct. Taking his bow, he goes into the heart of the forest.
Scene II. A lake in the middle of the forest at night.
The white swans swim near the shore; they are very beautiful young girls who have been transformed into swans by the cruel magician Rothbart. Only at night can they assume human form, and the only earthly power capable of breaking this spell is devoted love. Siegfried appears. He sees a white swan approaching the shore and draws his bow to shoot it. Suddenly the swan transforms into a beautiful girl; it is Odette, queen of the swan maidens. Odette’s beauty captivates the prince, who tries to capture her. But she, fearing the evil magician, avoids Siegfried and disappears among the other swan maidens. Siegfried chases after Odette and swears eternal love and fidelity. Odette’s heart responds to Siegfried’s passionate love in the same way. It is dawn. Odette says goodbye to Siegfried; the white swans slowly cross the lake.
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Scene III. A ball at the castle.
Siegfried must choose a bride from the society girls who have been invited, but all are indifferent to him because he has given his heart to Odette. Only at the insistence of his mother does Siegfried dance with each of the suitors. He must, however, choose one and, as a pledge of his love, he will give the chosen one a bouquet of flowers. While Siegfried is in the grip of this dilemma, a trumpet blast announces the arrival of new guests: the magician Rothbart and Odile, his daughter. The prince is struck by the resemblance between the girl and Odette. Rothbart wants the prince to fall in love with Odile and break his vow of eternal love and fidelity; in this way, Odette will remain in his power forever. This is why Rothbart has given his daughter the appearance of Odette. Odile seduces Siegfried, who is captivated by her charm. The prince announces to his mother that his chosen one is Odile. The cruel magician rejoices. Suddenly Siegfried sees the white spirit of Odette outside the castle window and realizes that he has broken his oath. Desperate, he runs to the lake to look for his beloved Odette.
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Scene IV. The shores of the lake, at night.
The swan maidens are sad. Odette has told them what has happened. Siegfried appears. He asks Odette to forgive him and professes his eternal love for her; but Rothbart calls the black swans together and orders them to separate Odette and Siegfried. Siegfried fights with the magician. Fearlessly, he breaks one of Rothbart's wings; the magician collapses and dies and his power disappears. Love has broken the evil spell; the sun rises and shines on the prince, Odette and the maidens whom Siegfried has freed from the spell.