The brand new Royal Castlebar Theatre is sure to have pirouettes, plies and piqués aplenty, when Ballet Ireland showcase their wonderful production of the world renowned Swan Lake on Tuesday December 9.
Ballet Ireland celebrates its ten-year anniversary this year with a landmark production of Swan Lake at the Royal Theatre. This most famous of ballets combines romantic themes and classical technique, and its ethereal imagery, together with Tchaikovsky’s majestic score, conspire to ensure this masterpiece’s immortality. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales as well as an ancient German legend, which tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. In 1875, Tchaikovsky was commissioned by the directorate of the Moscow Ballet to produce the music for Swan Lake, work which he gladly accepted as it not only paid well but also allowed him to try his hand at a different type of music. However, its first performance in 1877 was not a success and after the composer’s death in 1893, the first St Petersburg ballet production was precipitated, the second act of which was staged in choreography by Lev Ivanov. In January 1895, the score was edited once again and the scenario revised by Marius Petipa and Ivanov, and although today it is presented in many different versions, most ballet companies base their stagings both choreographically and musically on Petipa and Ivanov’s 1895 revival.
“Swan Lake really is a beautiful production and synonymous with ballet the world over, ” said Pat Jennings, Managing Director of the Royal Castlebar Theatre and Events Centre and the Days Harlequin Hotel Castlebar. “We are delighted to have Ballet Ireland stage this very special performance here at the Royal” added Jennings. Tickets priced at €18/ €20 including booking fee. For more information and to view a full programme please visit www.theroyal.ie or call 0818 300000. For rates, availability and Theatre Packages at the Days Harlequin Hotel, Castlebar please visit www.dayshotelcastlebar.com or call 094 928 6200.
