 Music by Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky Choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov Choreography for the Peasant Dance, Goblet Dance, Act I; and the Storm Scene, Act IV by David Blair Staged by Kevin McKenzie Scenery by Oliver Smith Costumes by Freddy Wittop Lighting by Thomas R. Skelton after Jean Rosenthal World Premiere: (Petipa-Ivanov production) Imperial Ballet, Maryinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, 1/27/1895 Original Cast: Pierina Legnani (Odette-Odile), Pavel Gerdt (Prince Siegfried), Alexander Oblakov (Benno), Alexei Bulgakov (Von Rothbart) ABT Premiere:(of full-lentgh production)Civic Opera House, Chicago, Illinois, 2/16/67 Choreography by David Blair, from the original by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov Libretto by Vladimir Begichev and Vasily Geltzer Scenery by Oliver Smith Costumes by Freddy Wittop Lighting by Jean Rosenthal Cast: Nadia Nerina (Odette-Odile), Royes Fernandez (Prince Siegfried), Lucia Chase (Princess Mother), Paul Sutherland (Benno), Tom Adair (Von Rothbart), Enrique Martinez (Wolfgang, the tutor) 
ACT I: A meadow near the castle. Afternoon.
Price Siegfried has organized a hunting party to
celebrate his twenty-first birthday. The peasants of the
district have been given a holiday and have arranged a
picnic which the Prince has promised to attend. The
picnic is interrupted by the arrival of the Queen
Mother, who reminds her son that it is his duty at his
coming-of-age ball to chose a bride from one of six
eligible princesses. As the day draws to a close, the
peasants take their leave. The Prince, sad at the
thought of his carefree youth slipping away, is roused
out of his mood by Benno, who has sighted a flight of
swans. The Prince, deciding the night is still to be
enjoyed, orders pursuit, and the hunters
leave.ACT II: Some hours later. By the lake. As Prince
Siegfried enters the forest to hunt, he suddenly sees a
magnificent swan in flight. He carefully takes aim,
but, to his astonishment, the bird transforms into a
most beautiful girl, and he withdraws into the trees to
observe her. Unable to restrain his curiosity, he steps
out, only to startle and frighten her. He assures her he
will do no harm and asks her to explain the marvel he
has just seen. Impressed by his gentleness, Odette
unburdens the story of her plight. She tells him she is a
Princess of high birth who fell under the spell of an evil
sorcerer, and now her fate is to be a swan; only in
hours of darkness may she assume her human guise.
Indeed, this very lake is filled with her mother's tears.
She tells him she is condemned for eternity, and only
if a virgin youth swears eternal fidelity to her and
marries her can she find release. Only then can the
spell be broken. But, if he should forswear her, then
she must remain a swan forever. At that moment, the
sorcerer appears. The Prince in his passion reaches for
his crossbow, but Odette immediately protects the
sorcerer with her body, for she knows that if he is killed
before the spell is broken, she too will die. The
sorcerer disappears, and Odette slips away into the
forest. Siegfried realizes his destiny is changed. Dawn
approaches and Odette is compelled by the spell to
return to her guise as a swan. Siegfried is left
distraught.ACT III: The next night, The Great Hall. Guests
from many royal houses assemble for the birthday
ball, including six princesses and their retinues, whom
the Queen Mother has chosen as eligible maidens for
her son's hand. The Queen Mother commands the
entertainment to begin, then invites the princesses to
dance. Prince Siegfried dances with each of the
beautiful young maidens in turn. The Queen Mother
urges Siegfried to make a decision, but, haunted by
the memory of Odette, he refuses, to his mother's
consternation. A fanfare announces the arrival of the
Baron Von Rothbart with his daughter Odile.
Siegfried, who is dazzled by Odile's beauty and
seduced by her resemblance to Odette, declares his
love and fidelity. Rothbart and Odile triumphantly
reveal their deception, and Siegfried realizes he is the
victim of an evil plot. He rushes into the
night.ACT IV: The lakeside. That night. The
swan-maidens are anxious at the disappearance of
Odette. She appears and tells of Rothbart's treachery;
before dawn, she intends to die, A great storm rages.
Siegfried, bursting into the glade, discovers her and
begs her
forgiveness.
As dawn approaches, Rothbart appears again in his
disguise as a sorcerer. Odette tells Siegfried she must
kill herself, or she will forever be a swan. Siegfried,
knowing that his destiny is forever changed, declares
he will die with her, thus breaking the power of
Rothbart. The lovers throw themselves into the lake.
Rothbart is mortally struck and his power
ended.Apotheosis: The lovers are united in life after
death.
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