Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake (complete ballet recorded in 2005)

G :-

All Regions - Regular 1.33:1 / 4:3 - Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround - 108 Minutes - Colour

A new DVD performance of the greatest of all classical ballets - Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. A beautiful and authentic staging in the great tradition of Russian classical ballet (including the authentic Russian happy ending!) Featuring the remarkable ballerina Marina Rzhannikova in the demanding double role of Odette/Odile

ACT I
A Spring morning. At the lakeside, Prince Siegfried, Benno and the Prince's friends enjoy themselves, dancing with the village girls and feasting. The Queen appears, surrounded by her court. She presents the Prince with a bow and reminds him that it is the last day of his bachelorhood: tomorrow hewill come of age and must select a bride. The Queen introduces prospective brides to Sigfried and suggests that he choose one of them. The Prince is thrown into confusion, but Benno comes to his aid and dances with the girls. The Queen and her court leave the lakeside. In an attempt to distract the Prince from his uneasy thoughts, Benno, the Jester and the huntsmen try to draw the Prince into their dance, but he wants to be left alone. A flock of swans flies over the water, and the Prince runs toward the lake.

ACT II
The swans glide across the lake. The Prince aims an arrow at them but is surprised to see them being transformed into young girls. The Swan Princess Odette tells him that she and her maidens are victims of an evil magician, Von Rothbart, who transformed them into swans. Only at night, near this lake, are they allowed to regain human form. The evil spell will continue until someone falls in love with Odette and swears lifelong devotion. Only a young man who has never declared his love for any other girl can become her savior and make her human again. Siegfried, charmed by Odette's beauty, offers to rescue her, vowing his eternal love and loyalty. Day is now breaking. Odette says goodbye to her beloved and disappears with her maidens. A flock of swans glides again over the water.

ACT III
In the Royal Castle, there is a grand ball in celebration of the Prince's coming of age. The guests assemble, and the prospective brides enter with their entourages. The Queen again asks the Prince to make his choice. Suddenly, Von Rothbart, in the guise of a nobleman, appears with his beautiful daughter, Odile. The Prince is confused by Odile's resemblance to Odette. Attracted by her beauty, he is blind to all else about him. Playing on her similarity to Odette, Odile attempts to enthrall the Prince. Siegfried makes his choice: convinced that Odette and Odile are the same person, he declares Von Rothbart's daughter his bride-to-be and swears his eternal love. As Odette, in the form of a white swan, appears beyond the window of the castle, Von Rothbart and Odile mock the Prince and leave. The Prince rushes to the lake, to Odette. The Queen is distraught despite all attempts to console her.

ACT IV
The Lake. The swan-maidens are anxiously awaiting Odette's return. Odette runs in and tells them in anguish about Siegfried's treachery. The evil magician has triumphed, and there is no salvation for the swan-maidens now. A storm springs up on the lake. The Prince comes running to the lakeside and begs for Odette's forgiveness. But Odette is destined to die. The Prince fights with Von Rothbart; in his last effort, the magician destroys the Prince and Odette but dies himself. The swan-maidens are thus freed from his evil spell, and the souls of Siegfried and Odette are united in eternal happiness.