The Australian Ballet came to New York to perform different productions – Luminous, Dyad 1929, Warumuk, and finally Swan Lake. Swan Lake was their most classical production, though this production was far from traditional in both story and choreography.
Based on Russian folktales, the original story of Swan Lake is about a princess who is 
turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer. In Graeme Murphy’s version, Odette (Amber Scott) marries Prince Siegfried (Adam Bull) but then goes insane when she discovers his infatuation with the Baroness (Lana Jones). In an insane asylum, she pretends to live in a dream world full of swans. Later when she escapes the asylum, she crashes a party thrown by the Baroness and wins back the Prince’s heart, making the Baroness very jealous. Odette flees the party and kills herself, allowing herself to always live in her dream world of swans. The production was so spectacular and moving that the crowd was awed and my mom even cried!
I personally liked the more traditional numbers. The first act of wedding festivities, though filled with pretty costumes, had a lack of choreography and was more filled with storytelling. I much preferred the swan filled second act. The costumes, though much simpler, were beautiful as the skirts simply floated in the air. The swans seemed to be walking on clouds – they were so graceful! Odette actually looks happy – throughout the entire performance, Amber Scott has a face filled with emotion. Again, the third act is less appealing to me due to its less traditional costumes and choreography. I did, however, appreciate the solos of both Odette and the Baroness.
The music was played by a full orchestra. This has a much greater effect than a digital soundtrack. The main theme was powerful as the horns and drums belted out the melody. Though I couldn’t see, my mom says the conductor was very passionate.
Swan Lake
David H. Koch Theatre at Lincoln Centre
June 16, 2012
Marina B. Nebro
