This ballet incorporates the centuries-old legend of the Swan Maiden, wherein young women turned to swans by the evil character are transformed to women at night, and swim as Swans by day in a lake made by their tears. The score by Tchaikovsky was originally commissioned in 1875 in Moscow, but the version we know today did not reach the stage until after his death. The score and the staging changed in many ways over the first 20 years, with productions by several choreographers, before finally being staged at the Maryinsky Theatre in 1895 with what is considered to be the “standard version” of the ballet with Petipa choreographing Acts I & III and Ivanov Acts II and IV.
Swan Lake tells the story of young Prince Siegfried, who falls in love with the Swan Queen Odette, a woman transformed into a bird by an evil sorcerer. Odette explains to him that she is destined to remain a Swan Maiden until rescued by a man's undying love.
Enthralled by her beauty, Prince Siegfried pledges his eternal love - but later, at a party in honor of his 21st birthday, he is tricked by the sorcerer, Von Rotbart, into declaring his love for Von Rotbart’s daughter Odile. Realizing his unintentional betrayal, Prince Siegfried rushes back to the lake. There, he battles Von Rotbart, and destroys Von Rotbart’s power. Odette and Prince Siegfried are reunited.
