Swan Lake (Ballet)

The scenario for the ballet by Pyotr IIyich Tchaikovsky, composed 1875-1876, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and an ancient German legend. It tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s curse which can only be broken by a man who truly loves her. First opened on 20 February 1877, at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow as The Lake of the Swans, it has been regularly performed in various cities all over the world and emerged as the top favourite among classical ballet lovers.

This film is a 1984 live recording made at the historic Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Natalia Bessmertnoca dances the dual role of Odetter and D Odile. Prince Siegfried’s role is played by Alexander Bogatyrev. Choreography is by the Yuri Gigorovic and the accompanying music is by the Moscow Symphonic Orchestra under the baton of Algis Zhuraitis. Gene Kellu, as host narrator, provides a brief synopsis in English, before each act of the ballet.

Swan Lake, 2 July, 6 pm, Bangalore International Centre, Bangalore.