FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 17, 2015
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The Russian Grand Ballet presents Swan Lake October 15, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. Tacoma’s Pantages Theater
Tacoma, Wash. - The Russian Grand Ballet presents Swan Lake at Tacoma’s Pantages Theater Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. This full-length classic production of the world’s most famous ballet, Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, features Russia’s brightest ballet stars. Tickets are $29, $49, $69, and $85 and go on sale this Friday, June 19 at 11:00 a.m.
Swan Lake (from 1895), together with The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, forms part of the big three of Russian nineteenth-century ballets. Composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, together with choreographer Marius Petipa, raised both ballet music and dance as an art form to new heights with this piece.
There’s a good reason why Swan Lake is so often called the ‘ballet of all ballets.’ The combination of pure romanticism, the story about love and deception, and Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet music all continue to reach new generations of audiences.
Full-length ballet in Three Acts with Two Intermissions
Music By Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov
Libretto: Vladimir Begichev, Vasily Getzer
Choreography: Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov
ABOUT RUSSIAN GRAND BALLET
Russian Grand Ballet was founded by and incorporated graduates from the Great Russian choreographic schools of Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Kiev. The principal dancers of the company came from the upper ranks of the great ballet companies and academies. Today, the Russian Grand Ballet Theatre is its own institution, with over 50 brilliant dancers. Its artistic director – Constantine Pinchuk – is highly dedicated to the timeless tradition of classical Russian Ballet.
The Russian Grand Ballet has established a reputation for talent and versatility and has toured the world with both full-length traditional ballets and shorter ‘divertissements.’ The four acts of the original Swan Lake ballet were compressed into three for this rendition without a compromise on the plot, presenting a beautiful romantic tale that was very well-received by the audience. Russian Grand Ballet repertoire contains such masterpieces of world choreography as: Giselle, Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty and others.
SYNOPSIS OF SWAN LAKE
ACT I Scene One The terrace of the castle is filled with joy and merriment - Prince Siegfried is celebrating his coming of age, his courtiers congratulate him while his mischievous jester entertains the assembled guests. The servants announce the arrival of his mother the Queen; she presents her son with a crossbow for the hunt. The Queen reminds her son that at tomorrow coming of age ball he will have to choose a bride. Night is fast approaching and the guests take leave, Siegfried is finally alone with his thoughts and premonitions of what the future may bring. In the twilight a flock of swans pass over and he rushes to the lake.
Scene Two At the lake in the heart of the forest, the swans having stepped ashore turn into beautiful young girls Siegfried about to draw his crossbow stops fascinated by their beauty. Odette the swan princess is startled by Siegfried’s presence, he assures her no harm will come to her. Odette tells him of her terrible plight. Tells him of her high birth and how she has fallen under the spell of be a swan and only in the hours of darkness to assume her human form. She tells him she is bound for eternity by the spell unless an unblemished youth swears eternal fidelity and marries her. Siegfried realizes his destiny has changed.
ACT II Scene Three The coming of age ball commences at the castle. The young noblewomen whom the Queen has chosen as prospective brides are presented to Prince Siegfried; he shows no interest thinking only of Odette. The entertainment and merrymaking continue until a fanfare announces the arrival of more guests. Rothbart disguised as a knight sweeps in with his daughter Odille; Siegfried, dazzled by her beauty and her resemblance to Odette, swears his love and fidelity. Rothbart the sorcerer triumphs in his deception. Siegfried, horrified at what he has done, rushes from the ball and into the night.
ACT III Scene Four At the lakeside Odette tells her fellow swans of Rothbart’s devilish trickery. Siegfried, fleeing from the ball, arrives at the shore begging Odette’s forgiveness and telling of his undying love for her. Rothbart appears and he and his black swans battle with Siegfried and the forces of good until the light of the dawn breaks and the forces of evil are vanquished. The rising sun gives birth to new life, happiness, and love.
Total run time is estimated at two hours and 45 minutes.
Tickets for Russian Grand Ballet’s Swan Lake at the Pantages Theater on October 15, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. are on sale now for Broadway Center Members, and will go on sale to the public on Friday, June 19 at 11:00 a.m. Tickets are $29, $49, $69, and $85 and are available at Broadway Center Box Office at 901 Broadway, by phone at 253.591.5894, or online at www.BroadwayCenter.org.
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