Swan Lake Swan Lake
Stavros Niarchos Hall
Swan Lake
SEASON 2018/19 - Rigos / Tchaikovsky
November - December 2018
Δημιουργική Ομάδα

CONDUCTOR
Elias Voudouris

CHOREOGRAPHY-DIRECTOR-SETS
Konstantinos Rigos, with references to the choreographies of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov

ORIGINAL COMPOSITION
Thodoris Regklis

DRAMATURGY CONSULTANT
Alexandros Efklidis

COSTUMES
George Segredakis

LIGHTING
Christos Tziogkas

ASSOCIATE ARCHITECT
Mary Tsagari

VIDEO
Konstantinos Garinis

Πρωταγωνιστές Παράστασης

SIEGFRIED
Vangelis Bikos (10, 18/11 & 20, 22/12)
Danilo Zeka (11, 17/11 & 27, 29/12)
Igor Siatzko (16/11 & 28/12)

ODETTE
Maria Kousouni (10, 18/11 & 20, 22/12)
Evridiki Isaakidou (11, 17/11 & 27, 29/12)
Eleana Andreoudi (16/11 & 28/12)

ODILE
Eleana Andreoudi (10, 18/11 & 20, 22/12)
Maria Kousouni (11, 17/11 & 27, 29/12)
Natassa Siouta (16/11 & 28/12)

THE QUEEN
Aimilia Gaspari (10/11 & 20, 22, 28/12)
Alina Stergianou (11, 16, 17/11 & 27/12)
Natassa Siouta (18/11 & 29/12)

TUTOR
Stratos Papanoussis (10/11 & 20, 22, 28/12)
Yorgos Varvariotis (11, 16, 17, 18/11 & 27, 29/12)

ΡΟΘΜΠΑΡΤ
Yorgos Varvariotis (10/11 & 20, 22, 28/12)
Stratos Papanoussis (11/11 & 27, 29/12)
Blendi Latifi (16, 17, 18/11)

With the GNO Orchestra, Principal dancers, Soloists, Demi-Soloists and Corps de Ballet

 

Ticket prices: 15, 20, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 70 €
Students, reduced: 12 €
Limited visibility: 10 €

Stavros Niarchos Hall
Opera

Swan Lake

Rigos / Tchaikovsky

Greek National Opera - Stavros Niarchos Hall
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center

Starts at: 20.00 (Sundays: 18.30)  |  clock  2 hours and 30 minutes

Ballet sponsor

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Supporter

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The first choreography of the Greek National Opera’s new Ballet Director, Konstantinos Rigos, constitutes a new reading of the most famous ballet of all times.

Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake throughout the ages enraptures and moves the audiences while being the utmost career challenge for professional dancers, since the virtuosity and lyricism demanded for its comprehensive interpretation, are almost beyond human limits. At the same time, it is an autonomous music work of great interpretative demands.

Russian composer Piotr Illich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) was one of the most popular composers of the 19th century. He composed equally successful symphonies, concerts, operas, chamber music and music for the ballets Swan lake (1877), Sleeping Beauty (1890) and The Nutcracker (1892). These works remain to this day the most popular ballets in the repertory, thanks to the emotive power and the theatricality of their music, which granted music for ballet the prestige of an independent music genre. The same qualities which run through all of Tchaikovsky’s works, also inspired many choreographers to create new works based on his music. It is thus no coincidence, that Tchaikovsky’s name – perhaps more than of any other colleague of his - has been associated with the art of ballet.

The enchanting story of Prince Siegfried, the Swan Queen Odette, the evil wizard Rothbart and his daughter Odile, comes to life through the eyes of Konstantinos Rigos; he transfers the action to a post-apocalyptic environment, where dancers seem to be environmental refugees at a dried-up lake bed. This new production of Swan Lake attempts to raise questions and seek the answers regarding the way the modern spectator as well as the artist of our time can “reread” and discover anew a classic work, today.

In 2002, Konstantinos Rigos choreographed an adaptation of Swan Lake titled Swan Memory for the National Theatre of Northern Greece. The performance toured from Athens and Volos to Singapore, Sao Paolo, Portugal, Italy and France with great success.

Synopsis

ACT I A magnificent park outside the palace. Prince Siegfried is celebrating his birthday with his tutor, friends and peasants.The revelries are interrupted by Siegfried’s mother, the Queen, who is concerned about her son’s carefree lifestyle. She tells him that he must choose a bride at the royal ball the following evening. Siegfried is upset that he cannot marry for love. His friend Benno and the tutor try to lift his troubled mood. As evening falls, Benno sees a flock of swans flying overhead and suggests they go on a hunt. Siegfried and his friends take their crossbows and set off in pursuit of the swans.

ACT II That night at the lake Siegfried is transfixed by the appearance of a swan, which changes before his eyes into the princess Odette. She and her maidens are prisoners of the sorcerer Rothbart, and condemned to be swans for all but a few hours of each night. Only a vow of true love and fidelity can break the spell. Rothbart suddenly appears. Siegfried threatens to kill him but Odette intercedes – if Rothbart dies before the spell is broken, it can never be undone. As Rothbart disappears, the swan maidens fill the clearing. Siegfried breaks his crossbow, and sets about winning Odette’s trust as the two fall in love. But as dawn arrives, the evil spell draws Odette and her companions back to the lake and they are turned into swans again.

ACT III The next night in the palace ballroom. A great ball is in progress, and this evening the distracted prince is expected to choose a future consort to reign with him. None are aware of his secret love for Odette. The festivities are interrupted by the arrival of Rothbart and his retinue, which includes his daughter Odile. Strangely resembling Odette, the seductive beauty captivates Siegfried. Odette appears and attempts to warn Siegfried, but he does not see her. He then proclaims to the court that he will marry Odile, believing her to be Odette, before Rothbart shows him a magical vision of Odette. Grief-stricken and realizing his mistake, Siegfried hurries back to the lake.

ACT IV That night at the lake Odette is distraught. The swan-maidens try to comfort her. Siegfried returns to the lake and makes a passionate apology. She forgives him, but his betrayal cannot be undone. Rather than remain a swan forever, Odette chooses to die. Siegfried chooses to die with her and they leap into the lake. This breaks Rothbart’s spell over the swan maidens, causing him to lose his power over them and he dies. The lake rises from the storm and drowns Odette and Siegfried. The storm quiets, and a group of swans appears on the lake.