To celebrate the coming-of-age of Prince Siegfried, the countess organises a ball in his honour. Her son should marry a suitable wife before assuming his rightful place on the throne. The evening before the planned celebrations, however, the prince discovers the meaning of true love. While out hunting swans with his best friend, Benno, the two young men observe how the birds are transformed into swan maidens. Siegfried falls in love with of these, the beautiful Odette. He intends to break the curse with which the evil wizard Rotbart has bound the maiden to himself by declaring an oath of eternal love. The next evening the wizard foils Siegfried’s plan. The young couple’s love seems doomed; but in the end Rotbart fails to destroy the bond of true love, and cannot separate those who are destined for one another.
Ballet in two acts. Choreography by Aaron S. Watkin after Marius Petipa & Lev Ivanov
Premiere 21 Sep 2009
Narrative & Choreography: Aaron S. Watkin
Narrative: Francine Watson Coleman
Mise en scène: Francine Watson Coleman
Music: Peter I. Tschaikowsky
Costume Design: Erik Västhed
Set Design: Arne Walther
Lighting Design: Wieland Müller-Haslinger
Musical Director: David Coleman
Odette/Odile (début): Svetlana Gileva
Prince Siegfried: Milán Madar
Benno von Sommerstein: István Simon
Baron von Rotbart: Pavel Moskvito
Odettes Großmutter: Raquél Martínez
Eine verwitwete Fürstin: Ana Presta
Wolfgang: Ralf Arndt-Vogt
Semperoper Ballett
Staatskapelle Dresden
With generous support of the foundation of the Semperoper Dresden
