The story of the glorious, beautiful ballet Swan Lake, by Peter Tchaikovsky. Russian Ballet at it's best.

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By christopheranton

Contents.

The origin of Swan Lake.

Swan Lake. An outline of the story.

Lessons to be learned from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.

Two of the Best Ballet Dancers Ever.

Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky. The final scene.

The composer and his creations.

Tcaikovsky composed the beautiful music for Swan Lake.
Tcaikovsky composed the beautiful music for Swan Lake.
Dancing on the enchanted lake.
See all 2 photos
Dancing on the enchanted lake.
Could this be Odette?
Could this be Odette?

The origin of Swan Lake.

When people think of Ballet one name always springs to mind, Swan Lake. This most famous example of Russian Ballet was first performed in 1875 at The Russian Imperial Theatre in Moscow. The Music was composed by Peter Tchaikovsky. Like that other great ballet by the Russian master, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake wasn’t an immediate success. The dancers thought that the music was too complicated, and difficult to dance to. The choreography by the German Master, Julius Reisinger, was uninspiring, and not very original. It was only after the death of the composer that the ballet became popular. The revisions by the famous choreographers Petipa and Ivanov made Swan Lake into the splendid production that we get to see today.

Tchaikovsky, himself, had quite a strong influence on the storyline of his ballets. He considered the Queen of the Swans, Odette, to be the epitome of the ideality of womanhood. Not that poor Peter would have had any real idea of what actual women were like. His tastes went in a different direction. Still he had been very badly affected when his mother died from cholera, when he was very young, so he may have been attracted to the idea of a woman as a tragic sacrificial victim.

The story of Swan Lake certainly is very sad. I shall give you an outline of the plot, and you can judge that for yourselves. Perhaps you might then want to go see the ballet, or at least listen to some of the absolutely gorgeous music.


Swan Lake. An outline of the story.

The hero of our story is Prince Siegfried, and the story commences at his twenty first birthday party. All the townsfolk and assorted guests are at the palace to help him celebrate. The girls are falling at his feet. His mother gives him a present of a crossbow, and reminds him, that now he is of age, his marriage must be soon arranged. All our prince wants to do is to get away for a while. So, gathering up his best friends, he sets out for the woods to have a hunt, and to clear his head.

In a clearing they come across a lake with a large group of swans swimming on it. One of the swans is wearing a golden crown. Siegfried is enchanted by the beauty of the glorious birds. He asks his friends to leave so he can enjoy the lovely spectacle on his own. When dusk falls the bird with the crown turns into a beautiful queen called Odette. She tells the prince that she has been enchanted by an evil wizard called Von Rothbart, who also happens to be Siegfried’s counsellor. All the other swans are girls that are under a spell also. Swan Lake is made from the tears of their parents, who have been weeping for their bewitched daughters. The only way that the spell can be broken is if a man, pure in heart, proclaims his love for her. The prince is on the point of making the requisite declaration of devotion, when he is interrupted by the evil wizard, Von Rothbart. He snatches Odette from the prince's arms and then orders the swans to dance upon the lake, so that poor Siegfried can’t reach them. The prince is left wandering by the lake all alone.

The next day there is a formal presentation of young women, to the prince at the palace. Prince Siegfried has no real interest in any of them. His heart is lost to the beautiful swan queen. Von Rothbart turns up with his daughter Odile, who he has magicked so that she looks like Odette. The prince dances with her, and then proclaims his eternal love. In all too typical fashion, of course, Odette is peeping in the window at this point. She flees in desolation when she sees Siegfried with the imposter. But the prince sees her at the window. Immediately he realises he has been duped.

Back at the Swan Lake Odette and the other swan maidens are consoling each other. Prince Siegfried finds them. He explains about the imposter, and declares his love. Odette forgives him.

But the evil Von Rothbart and his daughter turn up at the critical moment. They are out of their human disguise, and look like a pair of demented birds. The evil wizard insists that Siegfried must keep his word, and marry his daughter. The prince refuses, and there is a fight. Siegfried declares that he would rather die than desert his great love. The two lovers jump into the lake to their deaths. Straightaway the spell is broken. The swans turn back into rather angry women. They turn on Von Rothbart and Odile, and drown them in the lake. The ballet ends with a vision of Siegfried and Odette happy together in the next world.



Lessons to be learned from Tchaikovsky's Swan lake.

This sad story of star-crossed lovers is one of the most memorable in the history of theatre. It is comparable with Romeo and Juliet in its portrayal of the vicissitudes that are endured when love is opposed. We can, however, take comfort in the notion that great love can endure, even after death. The fate of Von Rothbart and Odile also tells us that evil will only triumph so far. In our age that is something we really need to remember.

The music of Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky, and the choreography by Petipa and Ivanov, are among the premier expressions of artistic beauty ever produced. I am including a couple of small samples with this article. Enjoy.


Two of the Best Ballet Dancers Ever.

Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky. The final scene.

Comments

lightning john profile image

lightning john 14 months ago

I really like the way that you wrote this. We will pull out our Symphony Pathetique and give it a spin.

christopheranton profile image

christopheranton Hub Author 14 months ago

Thanks John.

Peter will be pleased that you are listening to his music.

drbj profile image

drbj Level 8 Commenter 14 months ago

Lovely hub, christopher, beautiful story and enchanting videos. Thank you for this treat.

I had the privilege of seeing Swan Lake performed at the Vienna Opera House a few years back and it was the highlight of a lifetime. Never forgot it.

Nellieanna profile image

Nellieanna Level 8 Commenter 14 months ago

What a treat! It's a gorgeous ballet, Christopher. You've portrayed it beautifully. I was caught up in it and such gorgeous excepts from the actual performance. Margot Fonteyn is simply exquisite. I'll surely go to sleep shortly in a trance, visualizing it.

There is a dance sequence from "Swan Lake" in "The Red Shoes", which I featured in a hub awhile back, disclosing my secret ambition when young to be a ballerina.

christopheranton profile image

christopheranton Hub Author 14 months ago

Thanks drbj and Nellieanna, two of my favourite HubFriends.

I've never seen a complete performance of it myself. That is a pleasure I will have to reserve for my future.

Thank you both for reading, and watching the video.

Fontayne was brilliant, and a great lady as well.

Trish_M profile image

Trish_M Level 6 Commenter 14 months ago

A beautiful ballet, indeed. I saw it when I was five. Absolutely magical!

christopheranton profile image

christopheranton Hub Author 14 months ago

Hi Trish_M.

Thanks for reading. I'm glad you enjoyed the ballet. It is special.

mysterylady 89 profile image

mysterylady 89 14 months ago

I love the music of Tchaikovsky and own a video tape of "Nutcracker" that I play every Christmas, but It has been quite awhile since I have seen "Swan Lake." Thanks for sharing this and the great videos.

My Encyclopedia of Music describes how Tchaikovsky, trying to deny his homosexuality, attempted suicide in the icy Moscow River. So sad!

christopheranton profile image

christopheranton Hub Author 14 months ago

Hi mysterylady 89.

Thanks for reading. Poor Peter did have a rather sad life.

He even got married, but it was a disaster, which didnt last long. His wife went mad.

If you ever get a chance, watch Ken Russells film "The Music Lovers". It's a brilliant movie, and it tells the story of Tchaikovsky really very well. Richard Chamberlain plays the composer.

mysterylady 89 profile image

mysterylady 89 14 months ago

Hi again. I knew Tchaikovsky had married, to escape his homosexuality - but I deinitely have made note of the movie and plan to watch it. Thanks!

Nellieanna profile image

Nellieanna Level 8 Commenter 14 months ago

I've been peeking at excepts from "The Music Lovers", as well as information about Ken Russell, whom I didn't know. But I was intrigued, since it was Mother's maiden name, plus I've admired Richard Chamberlain for years. Thanks for that tip, Christopher. The available copy I found of the movie is on VHS and quite expensive. I saved the embed of the movie clip, though - and it has some entrancing scenes.

christopheranton profile image

christopheranton Hub Author 14 months ago

Hi mysterylady 89, and Nellieanna.

If you have got "surf the channel" on your computer, they might have it for free. They have got loads of films and tv shows.

Try here.

http://www.surfthechannel.com/

Nellieanna. Was your mother called Ken?

Thanks both of you for dropping in.

Kata Kata Bijak 14 months ago

I love the music of Tchaikovsky and own a video tape of "Nutcracker" that I play every Christmas, but It has been quite awhile since I have seen "Swan Lake.katakata bijak

De Greek profile image

De Greek Level 2 Commenter 13 months ago

I just LOOOOOOOOOOOVE Tchaikovsky! :-)

christopheranton profile image

christopheranton Hub Author 13 months ago

Kata Kata. I hope you get many happy hours of enjoying the music yet.

De Greek. There is something special about his music alright.

Thanks both of you for dropping by.

Lol101 7 months ago

Sigh...A truly talented sport (yes I said it) that is put down for hip-hop. Nothing wrong with hip-hop, but ballet deserves its attention and spotlight and shows too!!! A lot goes more into it that tu-tu and twirls. I think a lot of people (who were honest) would change their mind that it isn't a sport if they took 5 year every day of the week classes, haha!

christopheranton profile image

christopheranton Hub Author 7 months ago

Lol101.

Thanks for commenting. It is true that it is not a dance form for sissies. The level of fitness required to lift a woman over your head, and make it look like she is light as a feather, is an indication of that.

Mario Guerra 4 months ago

Swan Lake is my kind of music, period. Thanks to Mr. Leonard Bernstein when conducting his awesome program for children in the 1960s. When I heard the pas-de-deux, especially the male variation I was enthralled, to this day.

christopheranton profile image

christopheranton Hub Author 4 months ago

Thanks Mario for your comments. Leonard Bernstein was a truly great musician, and an inspiring conductor.

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