So this is pretty cool: for one night only (each) you can see Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty performed by the Royal Ballet on the big screen, up close and personal, including behind-the-scenes footage of the Royal Opera House and Royal Ballet with exclusive cast interviews.
If, like me you saw Black Swan but had never seen Swan Lake performed… this is a good chance to remedy that. (And then rewatch Black Swan and figure out just what the heck is going on.) Of course, Black Swan is decidedly NOT a kids’ movie. But these two classic performances are for ballet lovers of all ages.
Now if they would only run the Baryshnikov Nutcracker at Christmastime…
Swan Lake runs Thursday, February 20th at 7:00 PM local time in select theaters; for us that’s Regal Brandywine 16. Run time is approximately 3 hours, with one intermission.
The Sleeping Beauty runs Thursday, March 20th at 7:00 PM local in select theaters, again Regal Brandywine for us. Run Time 2 hours 55 minutes, includes two intermissions.
Tickets can be purchased online (Swan Lake here and The Sleeping Beauty here) or at the box office of participating theaters (you can see the complete list of theaters at those links).
About Swan Lake:
With instantly recognizable music and a timeless story of good versus evil, Swan Lake is the greatest of Romantic ballets. Prince Siegfried chances upon a flock of swans while out hunting. When one of the swans turns into a beautiful woman he is instantly captivated…but will his love prove strong enough to break the evil spell that she is under?
Anthony Dowell’s romantic interpretation returns the ballet to its 1895 origins by using the choreography of Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa. Dramatic costumes emphasize the contrast between human and spirit worlds, while glowing lanterns, shimmering fabrics and designs inspired by the work of Carl Fabergé create a magical setting. The twinned role of the pure White Swan and the scheming, duplicitous Black Swan tests the full range of a ballerina’s powers, particularly in the two great pas de deux of Acts II and III. Other highlights include the charming Dance of the Little Swans performed by a moonlit lake and sweeping ballroom waltzes in the splendor of the royal palace.
About The Sleeping Beauty:
Don’t miss Marius Petipa’s enchanting ballet as a wicked fairy places a fatal curse on the baby Princess Aurora, which the good Lilac Fairy softens to a sleep of 100 years and only a prince’s kiss can break the spell.
Marius Petipa’s classic 19th-century choreography is combined with newly created sections by Frederick Ashton, Anthony Dowell and Christopher Wheeldon. First staged in St. Petersburg in 1890, The Sleeping Beauty is the pinnacle of classical ballet: a perfect marriage of Petipa’s choreography and Tchaikovsky’s music and a glorious challenge for every dancer on stage. Today’s The Sleeping Beauty not only captures the mood of the original but shows that this is very much a living work for The Royal Ballet, growing and changing with the Company while celebrating its past.
