From 15 to 22 October, the San Francisco Ballet is making its debut at the Teatro Real opera house, performing Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, with choreography by Helgi Tomasson created in 2009, when he was artistic director of the company, which focuses on the character of Odette and her past. This is the company’s first international tour since Tamara Rojo took over as director.
Tamara Rojo brings to the stage the choreography of Helgi Tomasson, who was inspired by the Black Swan’s pas de deux and Act II choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. It is a timeless fairy tale in four acts, first performed in 1877 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow (Russia). The music was composed by Piotr Ilich Tchaikovsky and the original choreography was by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov.
Thanks to its beauty and symbolism, it has become one of the most popular and beloved ballet pieces in the world. Its story revolves around Princess Odette, who is bewitched by the evil sorcerer Rothbart and condemned to live as a swan by day. Only at night, under the moonlight, can she regain her human form. Prince Sigfried, during a hunt, comes across a group of swans and falls in love with Odette. Upon discovering her secret, he swears eternal love to her and promises to break the spell.
Born in Montreal (Canada) but raised in Spain, Tamara Rojo is a dancer and director who began her training at the age of eight at the Víctor Ullate Dance Centre. At the age of 17, she joined the Scottish Ballet and a year later the English National Ballet. In 2000, Rojo made the leap to the prestigious Royal Ballet in London, but in 2012 she returned to the English National Ballet, this time as artistic director and principal dancer. In 2022, Tamara Rojo became director of the San Francisco Ballet, one of the most important companies in the United States.
Artistic credits:
- Choreography - Helgi Tomasson (the choreography of the Black Swan’s pas de deux and Act II are inspired by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov)
- Dance instructor - Julio Bocca
- Stage design and wardrobe - Jonathan Fensom
- Lighting - Jennifer Tipton
- Projection Design - Sven Ortel
- Characterisation, makeup and hair - Michael Ward
- Orchestra conducted by - Martin West
- Orchestra - Orquesta Titular del Teatro Real
Programme:
Ballet in four acts
- Music by Piotr Ilich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
- Libretto by Vladimir Begichev and Vasily Geltser
- First performed at the Teatro Bolshoi in Moscow on 4 March 1877
- First performed at the Teatro Real on 19 April 2006
- Helgi Tomasson’s 2009 world premiere of Swan Lake was made possible by the exclusive patronage of Mrs. Jeannik Mequet Littlefield. The 2016 redesign of Act I was funded by Denise Littlefield Sobel
