Renewed premiere of the Ballet NdB in new costumes and decorations

Swan Lake. National Theatre Brno.

A very important event in the 2018/19 season for the Ballet NdB is the renewed premiere of Tchaikovsky's immortal title and probably the most famous ballet at all, Swan Lake. Exactly 100 years after its first premiere in Brno. This great production, choreographed by Robert Strajner, got after 20 years in our repertoire an entirely new visual interpretation. Thanks to financial support from our founder we could cooperate with renowned artists and amplify your experience from the legendary performance. The costume designer is Roman Šolc, who has been working with our ensemble for twenty years and is one of the most popular costume designers in the Czech dance world. The stage is created by the outstanding British artist Peter Horne, who has already made wonderful set design for the Nutcracker here in Brno.

Swan Lake is one of the most played neo-romantic works. Tchaikovsky was inspired by the motifs of the original Scandinavian legend about a girl turned into a swan for writing lyrical and melodic music that became a masterful example of a romantic ballet score. Princess Odette is cursed by Prince Rotbart in a swan, and only pure love can save her. Prince Siegfried, who swears her faithfulness, betrays her. The curse remains unbroken, even though Odette is finally forgiving Siegfried. Swan Lake is admired by generations of spectators and performers who are struggling to cope with the difficult task of demanding ballet techniques. „This title, which is presented in the traditional choreographic concept of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, has been staged with the Bellet NdB by the prominent longtime ballet master of Milan La Scala, Robert Strajner. He highlighted the storyline of the story and gave the work a directorial logic. By accentuating the purity of a form and style, Brno's production follows the Petipa and Ivanov legacy, and by the personality of the choreographer is also enriched with the West-European tradition,“ say representatives of the National Ballet Brno.

Ballet stars in Swan Lake in Brno
The renewed premiere of Swan Lake brings back to the Janáček theatre the legendary title in a new fairy tale stage set. Ballet NdB adds another bonus into three performances from the premiere till the end of the season, ballet soloist stars as guests.
For the first time at the premiere on 19th February and then on 22nd February, Odette / Odile will be performed by Martina Arduino, the first soloist of La Scala in Milan, and Prince Siegfried by Maxim Chashchegorov, the former soloist of the Bavarian State Ballet and guest artist of the Ballet NdB.
In addition, you can see as Prince Siegfried first soloist of Royal Ballet in London, Vadim Muntagirov, who will decorate the performance on 19th March. His partner will be the first soloist of the Ballet NdB Eriko Wakizono.
As part of the traditional Ballet Gala project with the participation of the Russian Culture Festival in the Czech Republic, there will dance stars from the famous Russian theatres on 11th April. Odette / Odile will dance Oksana Skorik, the first soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg and Prince Siegfried Denis Rodkin, the first soloist of the Grand Theatre in Moscow.

Source: National Theatre Brno