One of the immortal masterpieces in 19th-century ballet history, created by Marius Petipa. First performed in 1877 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, despite Tchaikovsky’s music, it didn’t achieve immediate success. The triumph came later in 1894 when it was staged at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.
Swan Lake tells the enchanting love story between young Prince Siegfried and Odette, an otherworldly creature transformed into a swan by the evil sorcerer Rothbart for rejecting his love. Bringing this classic with its muted atmospheres back to life is the Ballet of the Iasi Opera, one of the most acclaimed classical dance companies that has been touring throughout Europe for over twenty-four years. Evocative lighting designs and scenography will immerse the audience in the pure atmosphere of the world’s most famous swan lake.

PLOT

Act I
In the garden of a princess’s castle, a celebration is held in honor of her son Siegfried, who is coming of age. He spends time surrounded by friends. In the midst of the festivities, the Queen Mother appears, announcing to her son that it’s time for him to marry. For this purpose, a grand ball will be organized the following evening, during which various girls will be presented for him to choose his future bride. The celebration continues after the princess’s departure, with group dances, the jester’s jokes and antics, indulgently observed by the prince’s dance instructor. Later, the guests enter the castle. Siegfried stays behind, wanting to be alone with his thoughts. As the dance master and jester follow him, the prince thoughtfully heads towards the lakeshore in the castle park, where mysterious ruins of an ancient palace can be glimpsed. His thoughts are interrupted by the appearance of a flock of swans flying by, stopping on the other shore near the ruins. Eager to hunt them, the prince takes his crossbow and runs alone into the forest. In this finale, the wonderful swan theme resonates in all its romantic scope, like a leitmotif.

Act II
On the other side of the lake, the ruins are gloomily reflected in the calm water. One by one, white swans appear floating on the lake’s surface. Arriving at the shore, they transform into girls who dance with lightness. Siegfried, following the swans, aims at the most beautiful one and is amazed by their miraculous transformation. Initially a bit frightened, the swans surround him, and the most beautiful among them, Odette, reveals their secret. The evil genius, Rothbart, has transformed them into swans, and only in this solitary place, at night, can they regain their human form for a few moments. Siegfried is determined to fight to defeat Rothbart, but Odette warns him that fighting will not be the solution to break the curse. The spell will only be broken by the boundless love of a young man who professes his love by inviting her to the ball the next day to present her as his bride. Excited, he awaits the long-anticipated moment. Odette, however, tells him that she cannot appear among humans until the spell is broken, otherwise she would incur Rothbart’s revenge, who would deceitfully thwart Siegfried’s plan, causing the swans’ death. In the white light of dawn, the two young lovers part reluctantly. From the shadows, Rothbart observes Siegfried’s conversation with Odette. Enraged, he appears, chasing away the prince and transforming the girls back into swans. But Siegfried leaves determined to break this spirit of darkness’s spell to save his promised bride.

Act III
The guests arrive in the grand hall of the Princess’s palace for the ball where the girls, from whom Siegfried will choose his fiancée, will be presented. The dances begin joyfully (a tumultuous Spanish dance, then a lively Neapolitan tarantella, a Polish mazurka, and finally a Hungarian csardas). Then, in the elegant sway of a waltz, the girls are presented. Thinking of Odette, Siegfried looks at them indifferently and, when asked to choose, he can’t decide. Suddenly, a new guest appears, a gloomy knight, accompanying a young woman dressed in black. Although she has Odette’s features, she is none other than Rothbart’s sister, Odile. The evil genius orders her to seduce Siegfried, making him break his oath. In a grand pas de deux, Odile envelops him in her charm, convincing him that she is the beautiful swan he fell in love with. Believing in this apparition, Siegfried presents Odile to his mother as his fiancée and future bride, unknowingly breaking his oath. Rothbart, in a burst of malice, reveals the truth to him, confessing that she is his sister, and showing him the distant image of Odette, who must now die. Full of sorrow, the young man realizes he has been the victim of deception. Heedless of the despair of those around him, he runs towards the swan lake.

Act IV
From the darkness guarding the castle ruins, Rothbart follows the swans, searching for Odette. But the beautiful swan is not among them, which enrages Rothbart, who threatens them with death. Later, Odette arrives, having seen from afar what happened in Siegfried’s castle. She painfully recounts to her friends the betrayal of the vow of love. Hopes have been shattered forever. Running madly through the forest, Siegfried arrives at the lakeshore, searching for Odette. He desperately confesses that he was deceived, that his love has remained pure. But once the oath is broken, nothing can be corrected. Implacably, the swans leave him, one by one. However, Odette’s love is greater than Rothbart’s charm. Moved by Siegfried’s turmoil, she returns and forgives him. The evil genius appears from the ruins, trying to separate them. He unleashes a powerful storm, strikes Siegfried, but fails to separate them. In the face of their strong love, the spell breaks, and the evil genius is consumed by the darkness of the night.