History Swan Lake

1 history

1.1 origins of swan lake story
1.2 composition history

1.2.1 origins of swan lake composition
1.2.2 tchaikovsky s influences
1.2.3 composition process


1.3 performance history

1.3.1 original production of 1877
1.3.2 tchaikovsky pas de deux 1877
1.3.3 subsequent productions 1879–1894
1.3.4 petipa–ivanov–drigo revival of 1895
1.3.5 later productions

history
origins of swan lake story

many critics have disputed original source of swan lake story. libretto based on story german author johann karl august musäus, der geraubte schleier (the stolen veil), though story provides general outline of plot of swan lake. russian folktale white duck bears resemblance story of ballet, , may have been possible source. contemporaries of tchaikovsky recalled composer taking great interest in life story of bavarian king ludwig ii, tragic life had supposedly been marked sign of swan , who—either consciously or not—was chosen prototype of dreamer prince siegfried.

the russian ballet patriarch fyodor lopukhov has called swan lake national ballet because of swans, argues originate russian lyrically romantic sources, while many of movements of corps de ballet originated slavonic ring-dances. according lopukhov, both plot of swan lake, image of swan , idea of faithful love russian.

composition history

design f. gaanen décor of act ii of swan lake, moscow, 1877


origins of swan lake composition

the origins of ballet swan lake rather obscured, , since there few records concerning first production of work have survived, there can speculation author of original libretto was. authoritative theory appears written vladimir petrovich begichev, director of moscow imperial theatres during time ballet produced, , possibly vasily geltser, danseur of moscow imperial bolshoi theatre. however, geltser in probability merely first person copy scenario publication, surviving copy bears name. since first published libretto of ballet , actual music composed tchaikovsky not correspond in many places, may infer first actual published libretto possibly crafted newspaper writer had viewed initial rehearsals, new productions of operas , ballets reported in newspapers of imperial russia, along respective scenarios.

according 2 of tchaikovsky s relatives—his nephew yuri lvovich davydov , niece anna meck-davydova—the composer had earlier created little ballet called lake of swans @ home in 1871. ballet included famous leitmotif known swan s theme or song of swans. begichev commissioned score of swan lake tchaikovsky in may 1875 rather modest fee of 800 rubles, , begichev began choose artists participate in creation of ballet. choreographer assigned production czech julius reisinger (1827–1892), had been engaged balletmaster ballet of moscow imperial bolshoi theatre (today known bolshoi ballet) since 1873. not known sort of collaborative processes involved between tchaikovsky , reisinger. seems tchaikovsky worked basic outline reisinger of requirements each dance. tchaikovsky had form of instruction in composing swan lake, had know sort of dances required. unlike instructions tchaikovsky received scores of sleeping beauty , nutcracker, no such written instruction known have survived. when reisinger began choreographing after score completed, demanded changes tchaikovsky. whether demanding addition or removal of dance, reisinger made clear large part in creation of piece. although 2 artists required collaborate, each seemed prefer working independently of other possible.

tchaikovsky s influences

from around time of turn of 19th century until beginning of 1890s, scores ballets written composers known specialists, highly skilled @ scoring light, decorative, melodious, , rhythmically clear music @ time in vogue ballet. tchaikovsky studied music of specialists such italian cesare pugni , austrian ludwig minkus, before setting work on swan lake. tchaikovsky had rather negative opinion of specialist ballet music until studied in detail, being impressed limitless variety of infectious melodies scores contained. tchaikovsky admired ballet music of such composers léo delibes, adolphe adam, , later, riccardo drigo. later write protégé, composer sergei taneyev, listened delibes ballet sylvia ...what charm, elegance, wealth of melody, rhythm, , harmony. ashamed, if had known of music then, not have written swan lake. tchaikovsky admired adam s 1844 score giselle, used leitmotif technique: associating themes characters or moods, technique use in swan lake, , later, sleeping beauty.

tchaikovsky drew on previous compositions swan lake score. made use of material voyevoda, opera had abandoned in 1868. grand adage (a.k.a. love duet) second scene of swan lake fashioned aria opera, valse des fiancées third scene. number included theme voyevoda entr acte of fourth scene. april 1876 score complete, , rehearsals began. reisinger began setting numbers aside dubbed undanceable. reisinger began choreographing dances other composers music, tchaikovsky protested , pieces reinstated.

composition process

tchaikovsky s excitement swan lake evident speed composed: commissioned in spring of 1875, piece created within 1 full year. letters sergei taneyev august 1875 indicate, however, not excitement compelled him create wish finish possible, allow him start on opera. respectively, created scores of first 3 numbers of ballet, orchestration in fall , winter, , still struggling instrumentation in spring. april 1876, work complete. tchaikovsky s mention of draft suggests presence of sort of abstract no such draft has ever been seen. tchaikovsky wrote various letters friends expressing longstanding desire work type of music, , excitement concerning current stimulating, albeit laborious task.

performance history

adelaide giuri odette , mikhail mordkin prince siegfried in aleksandr gorsky s staging of petipa/ivanov swan lake bolshoi theatre, moscow, 1901. young vera karalli seen kneeling.

moscow première (world première)

date: 4 march (os 20 february) 1877
place: bolshoi theatre, moscow
balletmaster: julius reisinger
conductor: stepan ryabov
scene designers: karl valts (acts 2 & 4), ivan shangin (act 1), karl groppius (act 3)

st. petersburg première

date: 27 january 1895
place: mariinsky theatre, st. petersburg
balletmaster: marius petipa (acts 1 & 3), lev ivanov (acts 2 & 4)
conductor: riccardo drigo
scene designers: ivan andreyev, mikhail bocharov, henrich levogt
costume designer: yevgeni ponomaryov

other notable productions

1880 , 1882, moscow, bolshoi theatre, staged joseph hansen after reisinger, conductor , designers in première
1901, moscow, bolshoi theatre, staged aleksandr gorsky, conducted andrey arends, scenes aleksandr golovin (act 1), konstantin korovin (acts 2 & 4), n. klodt (act 3)
1911, london, ballets russes, sergei diaghilev production, choreography michel fokine after petipa-ivanov, scenes golovin , korovin

original interpreters

original production of 1877

the première of swan lake on friday, 4 march 1877, given benefit performance ballerina pelageya karpakova (also known polina karpakova), performed role of odette, bolshoi theatre s première danseur victor gillert prince siegfried. karpakova danced part odile, although not known certain. many interpreters of odette have since doubled odile.

the russian ballerina anna sobeshchanskaya – whom original (1877) role of odette intended – pulled première performance when governing official in moscow complained her, stating had accepted several pieces of expensive jewelry him, marry fellow danseur , sell pieces cash. sobeshchanskaya replaced pelageya karpakova danced rôle of swan queen until former reinstated petipa.

the première not well-received, near unanimous criticism concerning dancers, orchestra, , stage sets. tchaikovsky s masterful score lost in debacle of poor production, , though there few critics recognised virtues, considered far complicated ballet. of critics not familiar ballet or music rather spoken melodrama. critics considered tchaikovsky s music noisy, wagnerian , symphonic. critics found fault reisinger s choreography thought unimaginative , altogether unmemorable.

the production s failure due several reasons. german origins of story of swan lake treated suspicion while tale regarded stupid unpronounceable surnames characters. dancer of odette (and odile though has never been proved certain) secondary soloist , not particularly convincing.

poverty of production, meaning décor , costumes, absence of outstanding performers, balletmaster s weakness of imagination, and, finally, orchestra...all of permitted (tchaikovsky) reason cast blame failure on others.

yet fact remains (and omitted in accounts of initial production) staging survived 6 years total of 41 performances - many more several other ballets repertoire of theatre.

though original composition of swan lake received negatively, audiences , critics claiming music complex ballet piece, work seen 1 of tchaikovsky s valuable, , surged him realm of important ballet composers.

tchaikovsky pas de deux 1877

anna sobeshchanskaya odette in julius reisinger s original production of swan lake, moscow, 1877

in spite of poor reaction première, ballet nevertheless continued performed. on 26 april 1877 prima ballerina of moscow imperial bolshoi theatre anna sobeshchanskaya made début odette/odile in swan lake, , start dissatisfied production of ballet, of reisinger s choreography , tchaikovsky s music. sobeshchanskaya travelled st. petersburg have marius petipa—premier maître de ballet of st. petersburg imperial theatres—choreograph new pas de deux replace pas de 6 functioned third act s grand pas. ballerina request supplemental pas or variation standard practice in 19th century ballet, , these custom-made dances quite literally became legal property of ballerina composed for.

petipa choreographed sobeshchanskaya s pas de deux music composed ludwig minkus, held post of ballet composer st petersburg imperial theatres. piece standard pas de deux classique consisted of short entrée, grand adage, variation dancer, variation ballerina, , coda.

word of change found way tchaikovsky, became angry, stating that, whether ballet or bad, alone shall held responsible music. agreed compose new pas de deux ballerina, problem arose: sobeshchanskaya had no reservations performing pas tchaikovsky s new music, wanted retain petipa s choreography, , had no wish travel st. petersburg again have ballet master arrange new pas her. in light of this, tchaikovsky agreed compose pas correspond minkus music such degree ballerina not required rehearse. sobeshchanskaya pleased tchaikovsky s new version of minkus music requested compose additional variation, did.

until 1953 pas de deux thought lost, until accidentally discovered repétiteur found in archives of moscow bolshoi theatre among orchestral parts used alexander gorsky s revival of le corsaire (gorsky had included piece in version of le corsaire staged in 1912). in 1960 george balanchine choreographed pas de deux music ballerina violette verdy, , danseur conrad ludlow performed on city center of music , drama in new york city under title tschaikovsky pas de deux, still known , performed today.

subsequent productions 1879–1894

julius reisinger left moscow in 1879 , successor balletmaster joseph peter hansen. hansen made considerable efforts throughout late 1870s/early 1880s salvage swan lake , on 13 january 1880 presented new production of ballet own benefit performance. part of odette/odile danced evdokia kalmykova, student of moscow imperial ballet school, alfred bekefi prince siegfried. production far more well-received original, though no means great success. hansen presented version of swan lake on 28 october 1882, again kalmykova odette/odile. production hansen arranged grand pas ballroom scene titled la cosmopolitana. taken european section of grand pas d action known allegory of continents marius petipa s 1875 ballet bandits music of ludwig minkus. hansen s version of swan lake given 4 times, final performance being on 2 january 1883, , ballet dropped repertory altogether.

in all, swan lake given total of forty-one performances between première , final performance of 1883 – rather lengthy run ballet poorly received upon premiere. hansen go on become balletmaster alhambra theatre in london , on 1 december 1884 presented one-act ballet titled swans, inspired second scene of swan lake. music composed alhambra theatre s chef d orchestre georges jacoby.

the second scene of swan lake presented on 21 february in prague ballet of national theatre in version mounted balletmaster august berger. ballet given during 2 concerts conducted tchaikovsky. composer noted in diary experienced moment of absolute happiness when ballet performed. berger s production followed 1877 libretto, though names of prince siegfried , benno changed jaroslav , zdeňek, rôle of benno danced female dancer en travestie. rôle of prince siegfried danced berger himself ballerina giulietta paltriniera-bergrova odette. berger s production given 8 performances , planned production @ fantasia garden in moscow in 1893, never materialised.

petipa–ivanov–drigo revival of 1895


pierina legnani odette (1895)

during late 1880s , 1890s, petipa , vsevolozhsky considered reviving swan lake , in talks tchaikovsky doing so. however, tchaikovsky died on 6 november 1893, when plans revive swan lake beginning come fruition. remains uncertain whether tchaikovsky going revise music prospected revival of swan lake. whatever case, result of tchaikovsky s death, drigo forced revise score himself, not before receiving approval tchaikovsky s younger brother, modest. there major differences between drigo s , tchaikovsky s swan lake score. (today, riccardo drigo s revision of tchaikovsky s score done petipa , ivanov s 1895 revival, , not tchaikovsky s original score of 1877, many—though no means all—ballet companies use when performing swan lake.)

pavel gerdt prince siegfried (mariinsky theatre, 1895)

in february 1894, 2 memorial concerts planned vsevolozhsky given in honor of tchaikovsky. production included second act of swan lake, choreographed lev ivanov, second balletmaster imperial ballet. ivanov s choreography memorial concert unanimously hailed wonderful.

the ballerina danced odette , odile italian virtuosa pierina legnani, , because of great talent prospected revival of swan lake planned benefit performance in 1894–1895 season. had made début imperial ballet in cinderella, produced in december 1893 (choreographed marius petipa, lev ivanov, , enrico cecchetti music of baron boris fitinhof-schell). performance demonstrated phenomenal technique, climaxing in variation final tableau no fewer thirty-two fouettés en tournant (the ever performed @ time) during grand pas. dazzled public roared demands encore, , ballerina repeated variation, time performing twenty-eight fouettés en tournant. however, death of tsar alexander iii on 1 november 1894 , period of official mourning followed brought ballet performances , rehearsals close time, , result efforts able concentrated on pre-production of revival of swan lake. ivanov , petipa chose collaborate on production, ivanov retaining dances second act while choreographing fourth, , petipa staging first , third acts.

modest tchaikovsky called upon make required changes ballet s libretto, including character of odette changing fairy swan-maiden cursed mortal woman, ballet s villain changing odette s stepmother magician von rothbart, , revision of ballet s finale: instead of lovers drowning @ hand of odette s stepmother in original 1877 scenario, odette commits suicide drowning herself, prince siegfried choosing die well, rather live without her, , lovers spirits reunited in apotheosis. aside revision of libretto ballet changed 4 acts three—with act ii becoming act i-scene 2.

all ready beginning of 1895 , ballet had première on friday, 27 january. pierina legnani danced odette/odile, pavel gerdt prince siegfried, alexei bulgakov rothbart, , alexander oblakov benno.

the première of petipa/ivanov/drigo revival quite success, though not of 1 has been in modern times. of reviews in st. petersburg newspapers positive.

unlike première of sleeping beauty, swan lake did not dominate repertory of mariinsky theatre in first season. given sixteen performances between première , 1895–1896 season, , not performed @ in 1897. more surprising, ballet performed 4 times in 1898 , 1899. ballet belonged solely legnani until left st. petersburg native italy in 1901. after departure, ballet taken on mathilde kschessinskaya, celebrated in rôle italian predecessor.

later productions

a 2008 production @ royal swedish opera

throughout long , complex performance history of swan lake 1895 edition of petipa, ivanov, , drigo has served version many stagings have been based. every balletmaster or choreographer has re-staged swan lake has sought make modifications ballet s scenario, while still maintaining considerable extent traditional choreography dances, regarded virtually sacrosanct. likewise, on time rôle of siegfried has become far more prominent, due largely evolution of ballet technique.

in 1940, san francisco ballet became first american company stage complete production of swan lake. enormously successful production starred lew christensen prince siegfried, jacqueline martin odette, , janet reed odile. willam christensen based choreography on petipa-ivanov production, turning san francisco s large population of russian émigrés, headed princess , prince vasili alexandrovich of russia, him ensure production succeeded in goal of preserving russian culture in san francisco.

several notable productions have diverged original , 1895 revival:

illusions swan lake 1976: john neumeier hamburg ballet, neumeier interpolated story of ludwig ii of bavaria swan lake plot, via ludwig s fascination swans. of original score used additional tchaikovsky material , choreography combined familiar petipa/ivanov material new dances , scenes neumeier. ballet finishes ludwig s death drowning while confined asylum, set dramatic music act 3 conclusion. theme of unhappy royal being forced heterosexual marriage reasons of state , cross reference personal lives of actual royalty, work anticipated both bourne s , murphy s interpretation. illusions swan lake remains in repertoire of major german ballet companies.
matthew bourne s swan lake departed traditional ballet replacing female corps de ballet male dancers. since inception in 1995, matthew bourne s production has never been off stage more few months. has toured united kingdom , returned london several times. has been performed on extended tours in greece, israel, turkey, australia, italy, japan, korea, russia, france, germany, netherlands, united states, , ireland in addition united kingdom. bourne s swan lake has won on 30 international awards date.
the 2000 american ballet theatre version (taped television in 2005), rather having curtain down slow introduction played, used music accompany new prologue in audience shown how rothbart first transforms odette swan. prologue similar vladimir burmeister s production of swan lake (firstly staged in stanislavsky theatre in moscow, 1953) has differences. rothbart in production played 2 dancers; 1 appears handsome young man able lure odette in new prologue, , other dancer covered in sinister monster makeup reveals magician s true self. (in film black swan, natalie portman, nina, dreams in film s opening sequence). half-an-hour of complete score omitted production.
graeme murphy s swan lake first performed in 2002, , loosely based on breakdown of marriage of lady diana prince charles , relationship camilla parker bowles. combined rôles of rothbart , odile of baroness, , focus of story love triangle.
in 2010, black swan, film starring natalie portman , mila kunis, contained sequences swan lake.
in 2010, south african choreographer , ballet dancer dada masilo, remade tchaikovsky s classic. version mix of classic ballet , african dance. made plot twist presenting odile (the black swan) gay male swan rather female swan.




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