Dance / dance
Review: Derek Deane’s Swan Lake, Hippodrome
Before the madness of panto descends upon the Hippodrome, there is a treat for the city’s balletomanes this week in the form of a beautifully classical production of Swan Lake, delivered by English National Ballet.
Swan Lake wasn’t particularly well received when in premiered in 1877 but, after a bit of tweaking over the years, it has become one of the most popular of all ballets. This production, choreographed by Derek Deane, is very much inspired by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov’s 1895 revival, and it is beautiful.
Over four acts (with a short prologue to kick things off), Swan Lake tells the story of Siegfried, a 21-year-old prince who is being urged to find ‘the one’ and put a ring on it, and Odette, a princess who has been turned into a swan by wicked sorcerer Rothbart. It’s a romantic tragedy with an act of betrayal at its core.
is needed now More than ever
Tchaikovsky’s score is performed faultlessly by the English National Ballet Philharmonic. It’s music that almost everyone, ballet fan or not, will recognise and if it weren’t for the drama unfolding on stage, I could happily close my eyes and be swept away by it.
However, I keep my eyes open and delight not just in the skill of the dancers, led by Francesco Gabriele Frola and Erina Takahashi as Siegfried and Odette/Odile, but also in the opulent sets and costumes, designed by Peter Farmer. The Hippodrome’s stage is big, but Farmer has somehow made it appear even more spacious.
Throughout the evening there are many highlights but for me, and, judging by the applause, many others, the stand-out moment was the famous Dance of the Cygnets – a masterclass in precision by Crystal Costa, Adela Ramirez, Jung an Choi, and Rina Kanehara.
Much as I enjoyed this production of Swan Lake, I must admit to being a tad disappointed by the closing moments. I found myself giggling inappropriately as Odette launched herself off the top of a slope, closely followed by Siegfried, distracted from the tragedy of their demise by the thought of them most likely landing on an out-of-view crash mat.
However, if you like your ballet classical, you won’t want to miss this.
Derek Dean’s Swan Lake continues at the Hippodrome until Saturday, December 1. For more info and to book tickets, visit www.atgtickets.com/shows/derek-deanes-swan-lake/bristol-hippodrome
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