Swan Lake

Swan Lake (Russian: Лебединое Озеро) is one of the most famous and critically-acclaimed ballets, with music by Tchaikovsky.

Synopsis

It concerns a prince, named Siegfried, who falls in love with a princess called Odette; who is in human form at night, but has been turned into a swan by day by the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart. She has a retinue of other swan-maidens to attend her. The prince while out hunting sees her dancing in a moonlit glade by the lake.

Related Topics:
Swan - Von Rothbart

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The Swan Lake was formed by the tears of Princess Odette's parents when Von Rothbart kidnapped her. When he appears and Siegfried threatens to kill him, Odette intercedes. Only when someone sacrifices their life for the Swan Queen will his power be destroyed.

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The spell on her may be broken if a prince pledges eternal fidelity to her. Von Rothbart insinuates his own daughter Odile into the court, making her seem identical to Odette. The prince dances with her, and proclaims to the court that he wants to make her his wife.

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There are several versions of the ending, here is just one:

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At that moment the real Odette appears outside at the window. Prince Siegfried realizing his mistake flees the castle to follow Odette. She disappears into the lake, and he pursues her there. Unable to be wed in life, they are united in death. Von Rothbart, his power, and his castle fell; the Swan Maidens were freed and human, and they danced homage to the souls of the lovers.

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Another ending is that the true love between Siegfried and Odette overcomes and defeats Von Rothbart, and Odette resumes her human form and unites happily with the prince. This version has been used by the former Soviet Union and China.

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