Fast forward to today, and I haven’t seen a ballet in six years! When I learned Swan Lake would be performed by the New York City Ballet in 2025, I finally bought tickets. I was somewhat late in deciding, so finding great seats at a reasonable price was challenging. Eventually, I secured two seats in the second ring on the left side of the stage. Since it was a Tuesday, I figured I could spare a half day at work. I prefer the view from the first and second rings since I don’t have to worry about heads blocking my view.
The last time I saw Swan Lake was during a performance by the American Ballet Theater at the Metropolitan Opera House in 2019. That same year, I also saw both versions of The Sleeping Beauty by ABT and NYCB. I prefer the beautiful costumes of the NYCB production, which made me curious to see their rendition of Swan Lake as well. NYCB does not perform Swan Lake every year as ABT does. The last time NYCB danced Peter Martins’ version of this classic ballet was in 2020. In 2022, two different programs of George Balanchine’s rarely seen one-act Swan Lake were performed. So, it's not like I missed out much over the years.
Ironically, I prefer the ABT production of Swan Lake to the NYCB version. ABT's Swan Lake has a clearer narrative and more focused storytelling, while the NYCB version is less emotionally impactful. Peter Martins, a former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet and a choreographer, created his version of Swan Lake for NYCB in 1996. His adaptation is known for its more modern and experimental approach, with clean, fast-paced, and technical choreography.
In contrast, ABT's version of Swan Lake is typically based on the classic 19th-century Russian production, with choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. This version is more traditional and maintains the full, grand scale of the original, including the famous and intricate corps de ballet sections, and preserving the emotional depth of its characters within the choreography.
Furthermore, Martins’ version incorporates a more minimalist or contemporary aesthetic, while ABT uses lavish sets and traditional costumes to reflect the romanticized era of ballet. Obviously, I am partial to ABT’s grand-scale production of Swan Lake, with its exquisite costumes. I didn't like NYCB’s minimal stage design and less attractive costumes.
While both versions follow the basic narrative of Swan Lake, Martins’ version features a notably different ending from the traditional conclusion. In the classic version, the ballet typically ends with a tragic death, where both Odette and Siegfried perish, but their spirits are freed and ascend to heaven together. However, in Martins' version, the ending is less tragic. Odette and Siegfried are separated, and the evil sorcerer’s spell remains in place. The ballet concludes with Siegfried in deep anguish as Odette remains a swan. Some would argue that Siegfried got what he deserved for falling for Odile’s trickery while Odette left with her dignity intact.
The differences by no means diminish the mesmerizing ballet movements of these incredible dancers. I will forever admire their footwork, hoping that I can be reborn as a ballerina in another life. Having danced as a teen, I understand how complex and challenging this art form is. I still appreciate the graceful work and effort that goes into the production. The entire performance was phenomenal, and I will enjoy any rendition of Swan Lake, no matter what. I'm glad I finally crossed this off my list.
It was also Danny’s first ballet! I'm so glad he was open and willing to attend, as I never saw ballet as his forte. He’s becoming quite the sophisticated individual. He mentioned that ballet isn’t his ultimate preference in terms of stage shows, but he appreciates the dancers' abilities, which are truly extraordinary. He might be persuaded to attend more ballets in the future, though.
This experience truly inspires me to delve into the history of ballet and learn more. I hope to see an international ballet production one day. A girl can only dream!
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