The Stage

Swan Lake

Published Monday 18 June 2007 at 09:20 by Gavin Roebuck

With over 120 performers playing to an audience of about 400,000 since the premiere in 1997 Derek Deane’s arena ballet production is a great success for ENB. Filling the arena with dry ice to create the enchanted lake coupled with the marvellous lighting of Howard Harrison brings an awesome atmosphere to the Royal Albert Hall.

The arrival via a trapdoor of Tamas Solymosi as Rothbart, with a vast wing span on his Peter Farmer designed costume, surrounded on the arena by tutu clad white swans was dramatically well performed and thrilling. The swans, including the freelance dancers specially engaged, were well drilled and rehearsed with spot on precision in their steps and alignments. Less powerful are the non-lakeside acts one and three where the traditional dances loose some subtly in the vast space though Yat-Sen Chang partnering Maria Kochetkova - soon to join San Francisco Ballet as a principal - gave an exciting performance of the Neapolitan dance relishing in using up all the area of the vast arena without sacrificing precise footwork. As Siegfried Thomas Edur displayed a virile technique with a clear expansive line and as Odette/Odile Agnes Oaks thrilled in a well projected performance with balances that stunned the audience, even those rusting sweetie papers, into a breathless silence.

This accessible entertaining and spectacular show allows the theatricality of Swan Lake to shine out and with the cheerful ending as Siegfried and Odette are united in eternal love it is a happy start to the summer.