| Sherrie's profile小蛋壳儿~OoOPhotosBlogLists |  Tools  Help |
|
|
February 05 Swan LakeACT I - The Countryside
It is Prince Siefried's twenty-first birthday and the courtiers and peasants are gathered to celebrate his coming of age. When the Prince enters, he finds his tutor already among the revellers. Many toasts are being made and a Pas de Trois is danced in the young Prince's honor. During the festivities, the Queen Mother arrives and presents him with her gift of a crossbow, and informs him that the time has come to marry. She is giving a ball tomorrow night to which she has summoned all the young princesses of the court deemed worthy of becoming his wife. He is to select the one who enchants him most.
As the peasants return to their celebrations, Siegfried moves away from the merrymaking. He seems overcome and disturbed by his thoughts. The idea of having to choose a bride from his mother's selections has saddened him. As the revellers disperse he dejectedly reaches for his crossbow and heads out in search of some late night hunting.
ACT II - The Lakeside
A flock of swans flies overhead and the Prince is drawn by the magnificent sight. In awe, he aims his crossbow when suddenly, one of the swans turns into a beautiful woman. It is Odette, Queen of the Swans. The prince is captivated by her soulful countenance but she becomes frightened and turns from him. When he assures her that he means no harm, Odette reveals that she and her companions are under a spell by the wicked magician Von Rothbart. By day they are condemned to take the form of swans and only at night can they regain their human shape. this spell can be broken only if a man promises his love and remains faithful to that vow. Siegfried seizes his crossbow and takes aim, Odette shields the evil magician, for if he should die the spell imprisoning her could never be broken. Von Rothvart escapes and Odette runs away followed by the Prince.
The remaining swan maiddens appear and dance their celebrated waltz. At the end, Siegfried returns, seeking Odette. When she appears they express their tragic love in an adagio pas de deux.
Dawn begins to break and the pale light tells the maidens that they must change back once more into swans. Left alone with her beloved, Odette bids him a tender farewell and reluctantly reassumes her enchanted swan-like form.
ACT III The Ballroom in the Palace
The guests assemble for the great ball in which Prince Siegfried is to find his bride. The Queen turn, but his thoughts remain with Odette. At the end of the dance, he informs his mother that he cannot marry any of them. At this moment trumpets sound the arrival of two uninvited guests. They are Von Rothbart, disguised as a polished courtier, and his daughter Odile, whom he has transformed into a semblance of Odette. Siegfried is enraptured thinking he has found Odette again. He leads her from the ballroom, while the Queen Mother and Von Rothbart watch a divertissement of national dances: Spanish, Hungarian, Neapolitan and Polish.
Siegfried and the beguiling Odile return in the exultant Black Swan Pas de Deux. As the duet reaches its brilliant climax, the real Odette appears as a vision, but Von Rothbart spellbinds the court and so deludes the Prince. At the conclusion of their dance, Siegfried declares his love for Odile and his desire to marry her. Immediately the Prince's mother expresses her approval, but Von Rothbart demands that the young man swear a formal oath. The Prince innocently complies, and only when he has done so, do Von Rothbart and Odile mockingly reveal their true identities. Siefried now sees the vision of the weeping Odette and understands his mistake. Frantic, he flees the palace in search of his beloved.
ACT IV - The Lakeside
The swans are grieving for their Queen. With Siegfried's broken vow, Odette's hope for love and freedom have vanished. Distraught, the Prince enters and explains to his beloved that he, too, was betrayed by the evil magician. He begs Odette's forgiveness and explains that he could never love another. Odette understands and forgives him. Nevertheless, the fatal error condemns her to remain a swan. Instead she determines she will die.
Von Rothbart endeavors to drive Siegfried away and keep Odette for himself, but the lovers defy him. Odette flings herself into the lake and Siegfried follows, Siegfried's and Odette's steadfast love breaks the enchanter's spell and so Von Rothbart, too, collapses and dies.
|
|
|
