Last night I got to spend a couple of indulgent hours enjoying the stunning English National Ballet present Swan Lake. I have fallen head over heels in love with ballet over recent years. Especially its ability to command such emotions through expertly choreographed dance, and an orchestra that could have you holding your breath with the drama of the score. And Swan Lake lived up to all of my expectations and more.
The English National Ballet’s presentation of Swan Lake was spellbinding and confirmed that indeed Ballet is an art I aim to enjoy at every possible opportunity. It also confirms that it is never too later to discover love for a new art.
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What Is Swan Lake About
Swan Lake starts out at Prince Siegfried’s birthday party where his mother presents him with a crossbow and tells him it is time to find a wife.  A Ball has been arranged for the very next evening and there, where a group of beautiful and carefully selected young ladies are invited as prospective fiancées, he must choose a bride.
Siegfried bow in hand heads to the lake to hunt but is drawn to a captivating white swan who transforms into the most beautiful young woman. She is Odette, Queen of the Swans The evil sorcerer Rothbart had put her under a spell, where by day she and her friends must remain swans, but between midnight and dawn they return to their human form.
Captivated by her beauty Siegfried instantly falls in love with Odette and promises to remain faithful to her forever. However dawn arrives and Odette must return to the lake and return to her swan form.However Rothbart plots to make the Prince break his vow.
My Review Of Swan Lake
As soon as the Orchestra starts to play you are drawn in. The enchanting score that was first penned by Tchaikovsky in 1871 and the Ballet first performed in 1877 draws you in to a world of breathtaking music telling the tale of heartbreak and despair, yet is portrayed in the most beautiful way. Aw way that has your eyes firmly glued to every movement, its truly enchanting.
The choreography and timing are stunning, when you are faced with in excess of 20 swans in costumes that are every little ballet loving girls dreams, and quite frankly some adults too! It’s apparent there is not an inch of room for error. Yet every step and graceful hand movement was perfectly delivered in a way that had you holding your breath in disbelief.
Swan Lake is the epitome of grace, elegance and perfection that’s draws you in and has you feeling as if you are the only person in the audience. The music has a mesmerising calming effect on your soul, which enables you to forget everything in the world apart from what is going on right there on that stage.
I honestly never believed anything had the ability to demand my concentration to such a level. Thus I left the theatre despite the sad overtone of the story feeling calm and uplifted having experienced such beauty on every level.
Where Can I See It?
Swan Lake is showing at the Palace Theatre Manchester until the 8th October, get tickets here. Also see other presentations by the English National Ballet. See more theatre inspiration and reviews here.
Disclaimer, I was gifted the tickets for Swan Lake for review purposes, however all opinions are my own and I had no idea the profound effect this truly stunning work of art would have on me.
