Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra Performs Lush Tchaikovsky Score

The classic of all classical ballets will soar into the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, May 4-7, 2006 as the Milwaukee Ballet presents Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake.”  With traditional choreography by Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa, “Swan Lake” tells the story of Odette, a young woman cursed to live as a swan by day and woman by night.  This charming tale will be set by Artistic Director Michael Pink.

Tickets to the Milwaukee Ballet’s “Swan Lake” range from $20-80 and can be purchased by calling the Marcus Center box office at (414) 273-7206 or toll free (888) 612-3500 or by visiting the Milwaukee Ballet Web site at www.milwaukeeballet.org.

“Swan Lake” show times:
Thursday, May 4 @ 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 5 @ 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 6 @ 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 6 @ 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 7 @ 1:30 p.m.

“Swan Lake”, one of the most famous and frequently performed works in the international repertoire, was first performed at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow in 1877, with a specially commissioned score by Tchaikovsky.  The production was not an overwhelming success at its premiere. On March 1, 1894, Act II of “Swan Lake”, featuring choreography by Lev Ivanov, was performed for a Tchaikovsky memorial.  The Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov production, which became the definitive version, was performed at the Maryinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg on January 27, 1895.

Since that time, countless choreographers have staged versions of this classic. Milwaukee Ballet has presented this classic piece over half a dozen times since its Milwaukee Ballet debut in 1984. Arguably the world’s most popular ballet, it is also one of the most technically challenging ballets, stretching a ballerina’s physical limits with intriguing solos and pas de deux.

Swan Lake is generously sponsored by The Cudahy Foundation.

Founded in 1970, the Milwaukee Ballet Company strives to inspire its audiences to think within and beyond traditional ballet through the presentation of outstanding performances and educational opportunities.  With an annual operating budget of just under $5 million, the Milwaukee Ballet Company presents more than 40 performances to 70,000 people each year. The Milwaukee Ballet School, official school of the Milwaukee Ballet Company, provides quality dance instruction to more than 1000 students per year at four locations.  For more information about the Milwaukee Ballet Company or the Milwaukee Ballet School, call 414-
902-2103 or visit the Milwaukee Ballet online at www.milwaukeeballet.org.

Swan Lake Synopsis
This version of Swan Lake is deeply rooted in the classical tradition. It was not my intention to delve into the psychological aspects of its narrative or to find change for the sake of change. I see this as an age-old power struggle for dominancy. – Michael Pink

The Queen’s confidante, Count von Rothbart, plots to depose the crown and proclaim himself ruler.  Prince Siegfried laments the loss of his childhood sweet heart Princess Odette, who mysteriously disappeared with her friends whilst playing by the lakeside.  Through his mystical powers, von Rothbart creates the effigy of Odile in the image of Princess Odette to lure the heir apparent, Seigfried, to his death.  Von Rothbart has also placed a terrible curse on Princess Odette and her friends in which they appear as swans by day and women by night.

The day before Siegfried’s twenty-first birthday, he celebrates with his friend Benno. Count von Rothbart salutes the young prince with a chalice containing a hallucinogenic drug. Now he can lure Siegfried to the lakeside where, in his trance, he will see what he believes to be the apparition of his true love, Odette.

The Prince’s coming-of-age denotes the time when he must marry and inherit the Kingdom. Despite his mother’s insistence that he choose a wife, Siegfried refuses, until the arrival of Odile.  Odile cunningly casts her spell over him and he chooses her to be his bride and Queen. Count von Rothbart reveals the vision of Odette to the Prince and to the court.  In horror, the Prince realizes he has been deceived.  He runs from the palace in pursuit of his true love. The monarchy has fallen under the rule of Count von Rothbart.

Siegfried finds Odette by the lakeside where she begs him to forget her, as they can never be together. The Prince would rather forfeit his life than leave her. To ensure his continued domination, Rothbart must now make sure both Siegfried and Odette cannot stand in his way.  In the ensuing fight, he mortally wounds Odette.  Siegfried carries her to the lakeside and together they plunge into their watery grave.  The power of true love rises out of the lake and engulfs Rothbart and Odile.  The image of Odette and her prince united in eternal love rises from the lake.