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Benny190891

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Everything posted by Benny190891

  1. I've seen 4 different productions of Swan Lake all very different. The first one I saw (only when I was little) was Graeme Murphy's contemporary take on the story of Odette and Siegfried. It is part of the Australian Ballet's repertoire, and they have toured to Britain, America, and Japan with it. The story is about a young girl who doubts the fidelity of her new husband and goes mad, finding peace only in a fantasy of swan-like maidens. The late and tragic re-capture of her husbands love leads to both their deaths. I might note that the Australian Ballet is doing another performance season of this production next year (at different times around Australia) and if ur in Australia at the right time it is well worth seeing. The 2nd production of swan lake that i have seen/danced is the Anne Wooliams production. I have both seen it on video and danced in it as a jester in the Australian Ballet School's production of the ballet. I thoroughly enjoy this version as it has a logical story that I think is easier to follow than other more 'traditional' productions. The choreography as well is just sublime-a really great use of the classical technique to express the emotions of the characters, especially the swans: Act 4 makes me cry every time! The 3rd production I have seen is the Paris Opera Ballet's Nureyev version. I didn't enjoy this version as much because of the different roles characters like Rothbart and Siegfried play-to me Swan Lake is not about a complicated relationship between Rothbart and his apprentice but about the Swans and Siegfried's involvement with them that happens to include the evil and spiteful Rothbart. I don't think a romantic style story such as Swan Lake needs any type of complex deeper meanings and such-I think the deepness of good vs evil, light vs dark, and some good choreography can support a ballet with such a constant theme of true and desperate love. I just didn't enjoy this version because it had too much in it that the dancers had to portray-simple and strong I think is the way to go with a romantic storyline. The 4th production doesn't fully count as I've only seen it on video, but I'm putting it here anyway-the Bolshoi production (I THINK it was the Bolshoi, it was with Zakharova and Roberto Bolle-correct me if im wrong someone). I liked it... I spose but the choreography annoyed me-again I think simple is the way to go rather than 50 different sequences in every variation and dance. As well at the points in the music where there was a massive crescendo and climax it was often only a single person dancing (e.g Act 4 where Siegfried's final entrance, and attempt to drown himself in the lake was just laughable-which it should NOT be!!). Other than that I think they got the story right-nice and simple again so that the dancers can focus on showing emotions rather than thoughts. Overall I like both the Australian productions the best (the Murphy and Wooliams) because the stories are simple but powerful-and can be shown easily enough with some good choreography and brilliant music! P.S Tchaikovsky's music is deserved of the highest praise-it puts me through so many emotions every time I listen to it. It's relaxing but energising, it simplifies but it is so complex-I LOVE SWAN LAKE MUSIC
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