Dutch National Ballet
Swan Lake
2022-2023
Dates
22 Mar-18 Apr 2023
Location
Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Main Stage
Running time
3:25, incl. 2 intervals
Tickets
n.a.
Swan Lake: the ballet of ballets
Big, full-length classical ballets form an essential part of Dutch National Ballet’s repertoire. Over the past sixty years, the company has presented many successful international productions, but has also produced its own interpretations of the classics. One of the most important milestones along the way was Rudi van Dantzig’s Swan Lake from 1988, which is still regarded worldwide as one of the most beautiful versions of this ‘ballet of ballets’.
Dutch National Opera & Ballet recommends that children be at least 10 years old for this performance.
Photo: Marta Syrko
Credits
Choreography Rudi van Dantzig, after Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, in cooperation with Toer van Schayk
Set and costumes Toer van Schayk
Music Pjotr Iljitsj Tsjaikovski
Musical accompaniment Dutch Ballet Orchestra conducted by Matthew Rowe
Online programme
Along with the printed programme book, we also offer online programme information for this performance. The online programme will take you behind the scenes with in-depth stories, articles, and interviews with the creators and cast.
Rudi van Dantzig
2023 is the ninetieth anniversary of the birth of Rudi van Dantzig (1933 - 2012). For over twenty years, he was the artistic director of Dutch National Ballet, which he forged into a united family. His ballets – he choreographed more than forty for the company – demonstrate great social engagement and a perpetual ‘quest for the unattainable’. His most famous works include Four Last Songs, Monument for a dead boy, Onder mijne voeten and his acclaimed versions of the full-length classical ballets Romeo and Juliet and Swan Lake.
The Story of Swan Lake
In short
On his 18th birthday, Prince Siegfried hears his life as a bachelor will soon come to an end and decides to go on one last ramble through the woods with his friend Alexander. It is there that a sorcerer, in the guise of a bird of prey, summons the swan queen Odette, who assumes a human form. Surrounded by such purity, Siegfried swears his eternal loyalty to Odette. However, when the black swan Odile is among the potential brides presented to Siegfried, he believes she is Odette and offers her his ring. Once he realises that he has made a mistake and betrayed Odette, he rushes back to the lake in desperation ...
How she [Olga Smirnova] performs the dual role Odette/Odile [...] is world class
Magical, enchanting, unique, world-class [...]
This magical, yet dramatic Swan Lake is a must for classical ballet fans and anyone who might become one
Dutch National Ballet dances the most beautiful Swan Lake. There is no debate about that. (...) Swan Lake by Van Dantzig, with the beautiful design by Van Schayk, has a deeper layer that makes the ballet more than just a fairytale.
It is beyond dispute that every self-respecting ballet-goer should not miss Swan Lake by Dutch National Ballet. Even 26 years after its premiere, Rudi van Dantzig's version still stands strong, thanks in part to Toer van Schayk's picturesque sets and costumes.
Dutch National Ballet Orchestra
Dutch Ballet Orchestra’s mission is ‘to inspire movement in dance’. Since its inception in 1965, the orchestra has been the proud musical partner of Dutch National Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater. In every performance, the orchestra searches for inspiring synergy between music and dance, in order to give the audience a magical experience.
Listen to a brief summary on the creation of the score of Swan Lake here.
Introduction of the podcast
Podcast
In this podcast, Jet Sprenkels (harpist), Sarah Oates (concertmaster) and Juan Mendoza (oboeist) of the Dutch National Ballet Orchestra tell how they experience the music of Swan Lake without seeing what happens on stage. Based on the story, the genius of Pjotr Iljitsj Tsjaikovski's music will be explained.
Here you can listen to the history of the creation of the ballet production Swan Lake.
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