There is an interesting essay on the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation Web site regarding Nureyev’s various additions to and productions of Swan Lake. In 1962, shortly after his defection to the West, he rather imperiously added a solo for the Prince to the Royal Ballet’s Swan Lake. Two years later, he created his own Swan Lake for the Vienna Ballet, a version that looked deeper into the psychology of the Prince. And in 1984, he produced a radical Swan Lake for the Paris Opera Ballet, one in which Odette is a mirage—a projection of the Prince’s desire to escape reality and, perhaps, his latent homosexual desires. As the essay suggests, “deep down he does not want to grow up or become part of the adult world, he takes refuge in his dreams: we could believe Siegfried to be an autistic teenager.” Rudi was too old to dance the prince, but took on the dual role of the tutor Wolfgang and the sorcerer Rothbart. The sets are beautiful, with a lakeside that suggests a secret garden in Giverny. This production debuted at La Scala in 1990, and now returns. The performance of September 27 will be live streamed on LaScalaTv. —Laura Jacobs
The Arts Intel Report
Swan Lake
Nicoletta Manni in Rudolf Nureyev’s production of Swan Lake, at Teatro alla Scala.
When
Sept 15–27, 2023
Where
Etc
Photo: ©Teatro alla Scala