“Swan Lake”, ballet in four acts, Op. 20

Composed in 1875-76 and first staged at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre in 1877, choreographed by Julius Reisinger. The libretto is associated with Vladimir Begichev and Vasily Geltser, though its...Read more

Composed in 1875-76 and first staged at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre in 1877, choreographed by Julius Reisinger. The libretto is associated with Vladimir Begichev and Vasily Geltser, though its authorship is not conclusively established. The 1895 production by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov used Riccardo Drigo’s posthumous musical revision, distinct from the composer’s original sequence.

Synopsis. Prince Siegfried meets Odette, transformed into a swan by an evil spell. At the ball Odile assumes her appearance and obtains his pledge. Realising the deception, Siegfried returns to the lake. The ending varies between stage versions and must not be described identically for all recordings and productions.

Score numbers:
Introduction Moderato assai
No. 1 (Act I) Scene Allegro giusto
No. 2 (Act I) Waltz Tempo di Valse
No. 3 (Act I) Scene Allegro moderato
No. 4 (Act I) Pas de trois; Intrada . Allegro; Andante sostenuto; Allegro semplice — Presto; Moderato; Allegro; Coda . Allegro vivace
No. 5 (Act I) Pas de deux; Tempo di Valse ma non troppo vivo, quasi Moderato; Andante — Allegro; Tempo di Valse; Coda . Allegro molto vivace
No. 6 (Act I) Pas d'action Andantino quasi Moderato — Allegro
No. 7 (Act I) Subject
No. 8 (Act I) Goblet Dance Tempo di Polacca
No. 9 (Act I) Finale Andante
No. 10 (Act II) Scene Moderato
No. 11 (Act II) Scene Allegro moderato — Moderato — Allegro vivo
No. 12 (Act II) Scene Allegro — Moderato Assai quasi Andante
No. 13 (Act II) Dances of the Swans; Tempo di Valse; Moderato assai; Dance of the Swans . Tempo di Valse; Allegro moderato; Pas d'action. Andante — Andante non troppo — Allegro; General Dance . Tempo di Valse; Coda . Allegro vivo
No. 14 (Act II) Scene Moderato
No. 15 (Act III) Allegro giusto
No. 16 (Act III) Dances of the Corps de Ballet and Dwarves Moderato Assai — Allegro vivo
No. 17 (Act III) Scene. Arrival of the Guests and Waltz Allegro — Tempo di Valse
No. 18 (Act III) Scene Allegro
No. 19 (Act III) Pas de six; Intrada . Moderato assai; Allegro; Andante con moto; Moderato; Moderato — Allegro semplice; Coda . Allegro molto
No. 19a (Act III) Pas de deux; Introduction . Moderato — Andante; Allegro moderato; Allegro; Allegro molto vivace
No. 20 (Act III) Hungarian Dance: Czardas Moderato assai — Allegro moderato — Vivace
No. 20a (Act III) Russian Dance Moderato — Andante semplice — Allegro vivo — Presto
No. 21 (Act III) Spanish Dance Allegro non troppo. Tempo di Bolero
No. 22 (Act III) Neapolitan Dance Allegro moderato — Andantino quasi Moderato — Presto
No. 23 (Act III) Mazurka Tempo di Mazurka
No. 24 (Act III) Scene Allegro — Valse — Allegro vivo
No. 25 (Act IV) Entr'acte Moderato
No. 26 (Act IV) Scene Allegro non troppo
No. 27 (Act IV) Dances of the Little Swans Moderato
No. 28 (Act IV) Scene Allegro agitato
No. 29 (Act IV) Final Scene Andante — Allegro agitato — Alla breve. Moderato e maestoso — Moderato

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