Russian ballet dancers presented a magnificent performance on Thursday to a full house in the Forum hall. For the first time, Bolesławiec audiences were able to see a production of this caliber. Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” is synonymous with ballet classics. The Russian National Ballet’s performance in Bolesławiec is part of their major tour this year.
Tchaikovsky’s story is about love and undeserved betrayal. Young Prince Siegfried, pressured by his mother to marry, went out on a night hunt. During the hunt, he aimed his crossbow at a swan, but the bird transformed into a beautiful girl. Odette confessed to the prince that the evil spell would disappear if someone truly loved her and promised never to betray her. The prince swore his love to her and wanted to kill the sorcerer, but Odette stopped him and once again transformed into a swan.
At the palace, the mother prepared the betrothal ceremony. She invited candidates for the prince’s hand to the ball. The sorcerer also arrived with his daughter, whom he magically made resemble the prince’s beloved. Siegfried fails to see through the deception and is convinced that she is his Odette, so he asks for her hand. When he swears eternal love to the disguised girl, the sorcerer reveals his true face. Desperate, the prince realizes that he has broken the promise he made to his beloved. He tries, by fighting the wizard, to undo the evil spell that would turn his love into a swan forever. But the spell is too strong. Odette dies in the lake, and her beloved dies with her. The prince’s friend finds his body on the shore, while Odette’s spirit emerges from the lake.
(information: Grażyna Hanaf)
