Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Ballet
Libretto by Vladimir Begichev and Vasily Geltser. Choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov.
Ballet in 2 acts and 4 scenes
Premiere: Mariinsky Theatre, January 15, 1895 (St. Petersburg)
Premiere at the Astana Opera House: March 8, 2018
Act I
Scene One.
In the Castle Park
Prince Siegfried and his friends are celebrating his coming of age. The guests toast to Siegfried’s health, dance and have fun. A jester entertains the audience. Servants announce the arrival of the Sovereign Princess – Siegfried’s mother. She presents her son with a crossbow. Having congratulated Siegfried, the Princess reminds him that his childhood is over, and he is obliged to think about marriage. The Prince must choose a fiancée at the ball tomorrow night.
As evening falls, the guests leave. Siegfried is alone. He is oppressed by some unclear forebodings. Having seen a flock of white swans flying to the lake, Siegfried follows them.
Scene Two.
Lake in the Woods
Coming ashore, the swans turn into young maidens, and Siegfried, struck by the extraordinary beauty of Odette, the Swan Queen, lowers his crossbow. She tells him that she and her swan-maidens are prisoners of the sorcerer Von Rothbart, and only the power of true love can break the spell.
Siegfried swears his eternal love to Odette. She warns the young man: if he does not keep his vow, no one will be able to help them. Dawn breaks. The swans glide slowly away across the lake. Odette bids farewell to Siegfried.
Act II
Scene Three.
Ball at the Castle
One after another, beauties are introduced to the Prince, but none of them attracts his attention. Siegfried has given his heart to Odette.
Fanfares herald the arrival of new guests. The sorcerer Von Rothbart appears in the guise of a noble knight along with his daughter Odile. Siegfried is confused, as this beautiful girl looks so extraordinarily similar to Odette! Odile does not let the Prince recover himself; she lures, charms and seduces him… and the Prince, fascinated by her charm, swears his love to her.
She is his fiancée now!
Von Rothbart triumphs: Siegfried has broken his vow to Odette, which means that there is no love and fidelity, and nothing can withstand his power. Siegfried sees a vision of Odette, and having realised the full horror of the deception by which he has been victimized, he rushes to the lake to find Odette.
Scene Four.
Nighttime. By the Lakeside.
Odette tells her friends about Von Rothbart’s cunningness and Siegfried’s betrayal. Siegfried appears and begs her forgiveness. Von Rothbart commands the black swans to separate the lovers, but Siegfried wins the fight with the sorcerer.
The reign of terror ends, and the rays of the rising sun bring life, love and happiness…