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Rating: What better way for a novice like me to discover the world of ballet than this 2006 edition of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake?
First performed on March 4, 1877, as explained by the comprehensive 30-page booklet included with this newsstand edition, the ballet only achieved the hoped-for success in the 1895 revival, after the death of the Russian composer.
The edition reproduced in this DVD of the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg draws from the original choreography by Marius Petipa (a leading authority in the dance world of the late 1800s), revised by Konstantin Sergeyev in 1950 and in repertoire ever since.
The action unfolds in three acts over a duration of more than 2 hours, but the quality of the edition is evident from the outset.
The first act is skillfully accompanied by the conducting of Gergiev, who introduces us to the carefully crafted scenery and the rich dances for the celebration of Prince Siegfried's coming of age. The music flows with immense pleasure, especially supporting the virtuosity and pirouettes of the Court Jester (Andrei Ivanov), the true protagonist of this first part.
The scenery and action change with the second scene, in which the Prince encounters Princess Swan Odette (Ulyana Lopatkina). The entrance of Odette and the duet with Siegfried leave one breathless. The dancer's slender physique combined with her sinuous movements convey the drama of her condition, coupled with the sensuality of the courtship.
The first act concludes with the reprise of the famous theme and the exit of Odette, who appears to truly soar into the air, attempting to escape the spell.
In the second act, the rich and carefully crafted stage designs take us back to the castle, where Siegfried falls victim to Rothbart's deception, seduced by the sensual and brazen dances of the Black Swan Odile (again Lopatkina).
The third act concludes the tale with Rothbart's defeat and the breaking of the spell.
The masterpiece is completed with expert BBC direction that captures all the virtuosity of the ballet company, literally transporting the viewer to the midst of the scene, especially in the dynamic finale of the third act.
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