The Royal Ballet's Swan Lake

I saw this just before Christmas it was excellent
Here's what I thought for Sydney Arts Guide

http://www.sydneyartsguide.com/View-Review.asp?ReviewID=1335

The grandeur of the Royal Ballet Filmed at the Royal Opera House in London, this is part of the thrilling Palace Opera and Ballet season and is a terrific recording of the current Royal Ballet version of that most romantic of ballets SWAN LAKE. This is the version I saw several times when I lived in London. The photography is terrific and it transfers very effectively from stage to screen. The production is opulent and spectacular with the lavish multi layered and textured sets designed by Yolanda Sonnabend .The palace and some of the eerie, atmospheric drop curtains are fascinating and I was also impressed by the use of the giant mirror in the background for Act 3. The show is a very traditional version, with some of the choreography reworked by Ashton and Bintley. The Ashton style is obvious in his Neapolitan dance in Act 3 , also the fiddly fleet footwork elsewhere, and for example the use of ribbons similar to his LA FILLE MA GARDEE. There is a reworking of Act 4, particularly with the use of music. The orchestra, under the dynamic, imposing leadership of Boris Gruzin is excellent. Act 2 with the ‘White Swan’ pas de deux, maintains the traditional Petipa/Ivanov choreography and there is also quite a bit of mime retained. This version fortunately does not have jesters but does have Siegfried’s tutor who is gently mocked in Act 1. It seems to be set in the late nineteenth century and there are no major changes to the familiar plot. Prince Siegfried falls in love with a princess turned into a swan by an evil magician, mistakenly swears to marry a lookalike black swan, and then attempts reconciliation. There is a reunion which in this production seems to be after death. The Royal Ballet’s corps de ballet is magnificent, very well drilled and beautiful in unison work. The haunted flock of swans in the ‘white’ acts is tremendous with rippling arms, at times, like dangerous reeds. In some ways the corps is the character that glues the narrative of the show together. I disagree with some of my colleagues and enjoyed the long feathery ’romantic ‘ flowing tutus for the corps (and of course the other costumes for when they are courtiers or in the national dances...). They have great fun being boisterous peasants celebrating in Act 1, almost knocking mugs over and grinning delightedly – some of the soldiers should possibly be returned to the barracks! As Prince Siegfried, Nehemiah Kish is brilliant . Definitely a very handsome prince he is a superb dancer .He has excellent elevation and a very elegant ‘line’ and seems to be a tremendous partner in the pas de deux. His solos in Act 1 and 3 in particular are jaw dropping. He also is strong and believable in the Act 4 fight with von Rothbart. Zenaida Yanowksy as Odette/Odile is superb, absolutely ravishing. A very tall, glorious dancer she gives Odette a regal yet fragile feel and is dazzling as the bewitching Odile, with huge flashing eyes, in Act 3. She has an incredible long ‘line’ and wonderful rippling arms as Odette. Her control in the languid adagio sections is amazing – a beautiful slow developpe could seemingly go on forever. As Odile,  we see how one can indeed ‘smile, smile and be a villain’. As the evil spirit a.k.a Von Rothbart , Gary Avis is a bit hampered by the black Gothicky shoulder pad ‘wings ‘ he wears as the owl/evil spirit and although he has fantastic makeup isn’t that scary. In Act 3 , with a Mohawk like hairdo and Beardsley like black and silver malicious retinue (with masked malevolent dwarves ) he gate-crashes the Prince’s party and manipulates everything to his own ends – Siegfried’s destruction. As the princess, Siegfried’s mother, Elizabeth McGorian, is  regally stunning in a glorious gold and red dress for the ball in Act 3 .This is a glorious, mesmerizing production definitely worth seeing. SWAN LAKE by the Royal Ballet was filmed at the Royal Opera House in London. The running time was 3 hours and 15 minutes including an interval and ‘extras’, short documentaries about the rehearsals process…backstage, the corps de ballet,  the principals approach to their roles…   This production of SWAN LAKE is part of the Palace Opera and Ballet Season and runs between  December 21 and 24 at selected Palace cinemas. © Lynne Lancaster 23RD December, 2012 Tags: Sydney Stage Reviews- SWAN LAKE, Royal National Ballet, Sydney Arts Guide, Lynne Lancaster