Each Birmingham Royal Ballet performance wows me with its beauty, elegance and ability to keep me sat still, mesmerised, in awe, fascination and contentment for a period of time.
Last night I saw Swan Lake at Birmingham Hippodrome, my third time of seeing it, and although this time it felt darker and more gothic-like, the ballet continues to be the most beautiful, quintessential ballet of all. It firmly holds a strong place as one of my favourites. The epitome of classical ballet, with the most stunningly danced choreography, performed to Tchaikovsy’s beautiful and moving score with thanks to the very talented Royal Ballet Sinfonia. If you want to hear Tchaikovsky played at its finest, then you really must get a ticket to see this show.
It was a lovely to see that this Birmingham Season of Swan Lake is dedicated to the late Galina Samsova (1937 – 2021). Galina had collaborated with Sir Peter Wright on his production of Swan Lake. She had also performed the role of Odette/Odile for the world premiere back in November 1981. A lovely tribute for a truly great and remarkable dancer.
Swan Lake features romance, drama and tragedy, all with an exquisite score performed by the most talented dancers of BRB.
Baron von Rothbart (performed by Jonathan Payn) is an evil magician who has cast a spell on Princess Odette (Miki Mizutani) and her friends, turning them into swans during the day – and allowing them to be princesses again at midnight until the early hours of the morning. Prince Siegfried (César Morales) and his friend Benno (Haoliang Feng) are walking in the forest when Prince Siegfried sees a beautiful white swan. As he looks at her, she changes into a young woman, Princess Odette, before his very eyes. With only true love able to break the spell, you will have to get tickets to find out the ending. Will Odette, Siegfried and the swans manage to break the magician’s spell?
The performance was beautiful to watch. Breath-taking in parts and well choreographed/danced.
Miki played the roles of Odette and Odile perfectly and really was the star of the show. Showing impeccable discipline and mastery with her ability to portray the difference between Odette and Odile with a graceful and exemplary performance. In Act III when performing as Odile, Miki performed the most fantastic 32 fouette turns revolving on just one leg, 32 times, keeping her raised leg fully off the ground to provide her with most of the propulsion. Absolutely stunning and hugely talented. Miki’s footwork throughout the whole performance was astonishing. Not a single step out of place/time. An incredibly talented ballet dancer that was hugely deserving of the main role.
César Morales as Prince Siegfried was also phenomenal. César is an established and experienced dancer who shone on the stage. Moving so gracefully and smoothly, not just dancing to perfection, but acting too. A real delight to watch.
If there’s a ballet that will make all little girls and boys want to be a ballet dancer, Swan Lake by Birmingham Royal Ballet, will always be the one.
My personal favourite dance in Swan Lake firmly remains The Danse des Petits Cygnes. Performed this time by Rosanna Ely, Reina Fuchigami, Sofia Liñares and Rachele Pizzillo. The four dancers entered the stage in a line, holding hands, arms interlaced. Moving sideways performing sixteen pas de chat. It amazed me how all four managed to be in exact unison. It really is a breathtaking dance. Look out for it in the second act. It is one of those dances that you could watch over and over again. They make it look so easy and yet it must be one of the hardest to dance.
With impeccable dancing, fabulous choreography by Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov and Peter Wright, the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the most exquisite Designs by Philip Prowse and Lighting by Peter Teigen (adapted by Johnny Westall-Eyre) – you are in for a truly superb time.
Swan Lake is playing at Birmingham Hippodrome until 25th February 2023 where it will then continue its tour around the UK.
You can purchase tickets here.
Disclaimer: I was invited along to the press showing of Swan Lake. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.