Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake

Soloists:

Evelyn Hart (Odette / Odile), Peter Schaufuss (Siegfried)

Orchestra, choir:

London Festival Ballet, Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Conductor:

Graham Bond

Choreography:

Natalia Makarova, Sir Frederick Ashton, Marius Petipa

Venue:

Dr-Studios, Aarhus, Denmark

Natalia Makarova, one of the most significant interpreters of classical ballet in the 20th century, has also enjoyed success as a producer. Her staging of Swan Lake is based on the original choreography by Petipa and Ivanov, supplemented by the late Sir Frederick Ashton. Evelyn Hart and Peter Schaufuss dance the lead roles in this studio recording. Makarova's innovative interpretation presents the work as a story of perfect and eternal love. The main focus is on Siegfried's love for Odette, Odette's love for him, Siegfried's infidelity, which Odette ultimately forgives, and Odette's self-sacrifice as she follows Siegfried to his death in order to break the power of the evil curse. The production is concise and well-paced. Günther Schneider-Siemssen's set design does not use scenery to express changes in location and mood, but rather background projections, which are extremely effective in creating a mysterious, magical atmosphere.