The hardest reviews to write are those where little or no negative criticism can be levied at the production, and all the reader is presented with is a long list of superatives. Apologies in advance, but this is going to be one of those reviews!
Birmingham Royal Ballet have an excellent reputation, and are perhaps second only to The Royal Ballet when it comes to presenting authentically produced and traditional ballets as this was this evening. It was a timeless experience, and this production, a truly classical one by Sir Peter Wright, could easily have been its premiere at The Bolshoi in 1877.
Few ballets have stood the test of time like Swan Lake, and that is perhaps because this particular ballet has all the right ingredients, in all the right proportions, to appeal to each successive geneation. There is fantasy, reality, the power of true love, beauty, pantomime-style evil, romance, pageantry, magic, targedy etc... and all presented in an easy-to-follow story, with style, grace and elegance. On top of that, the score, by ballet music composer maestro, Tchaikovsky, is simply perfect. The music this evening being performed by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, conducted by Philip Ellis.
It's quite a long ballet, in four acts, and with two intervals this evening, the performance didn't finish until 10:25pm, which is a little late, but, that is my ONLY negative criticism, and sitting watching the ballet was a sheer delight, the time passed quickly and unnoticed.
The story concerns a young prince, Siegfried (Cesar Morales), who has come of age and his mother, the Queen (Eilis Small), has organised a party for him where all the eligible young ladies of the land come and dance for him, and he should choose one. The Queen is cross with him, for he doesn't want / like any of them, but instead takes his crossbow (his birthday present from his mother) and his best friend Benno (Tzu Chao Chou) down to the nearby lake at sunset. As Siegfried takes aim at a passing swan, she turns into Princess Odette (Momoko Hirata) - for she had been turned into a swan by the evil Rothbart (Rory Mackay). For Odette and Siegfried it is love at first sight. He returns to the castle to find another party in full swing. More girls, this time from different countries have arrived to dance and offer their hand in marriage. At this party is Rothbart with his daughter Odile (again Hirata). Odile looks so much like the Princess Odette that he mistakenly thinks it her and woos her, declaring his love and accepting her hand in marriage. The evil Rothnbart's plan seems to have succeeded. However, just at that moment Odette, now back to being a swan flies past and Siegfied realises he has been tricked. Siegfried rushes back to the lake only to find a distraught Odette, and as they realise they can never be together they both throw themselves into the lake and drown.
Birmingham Royal Ballet's production this evening was a very traditional and faithful one, with sumptuous and opulent costumes, fantastic sets, and of course superb dancers. Lev Ivanov, Marius Petipa and Peter Wright are all credited with this evening's choreography, which was utterly beautiful and masterfully executed by a hugely talented company. The soloists were of course, unquestionably excellent, but my attention was drawn to the corps who were used as chorus, extras and stage-fillers for much of time, and their stillness and their complicity within each scene was excellent. They then came into their own, or at least the females did, when they portrayed the swans. The lines, the pictures and the sequences that they were given were traditional and yet felt frersh and alive, giving the audience a true visiual feast. I've seen this ballet mre than any othert, and have never seen The dance of The Young Swans performed differently.. maybe one day I will.. but tonight it had a vitality and playfulness that it often lacks, and the unity and grace of the corps was second to none.
A wonderful evening spent in the company of the hugely gifted Birmingham Royal Ballet. A faultless and emotional theatrical experience.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 4/3/20
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