Opera Tickets Italy

Teatro Filarmonico di Verona, the wonderful performance venue situated in the heart of the so-called city of love, hosts a superb production of Swan Lake, the famous and much-admired ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. First performed on 4 March 1877 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Swan Lake wasn't an instant hit. The great composer had initially conceived of turning a folk tale about swans into a short ballet as an informal entertainment for his nieces and nephews in 1871. Four years later, he was commissioned to make a full-length version of Swan Lake, the one audiences across the world know today.

Even though the first production of Swan Lake was not a success with disagreements between the ballet master and others involved in the staging, Tchaikovsky remained convinced that his score was worthy. In 1880, the ballet was restaged by a Belgian choreographer named Joseph Hansen. However, this production was not a notable success either. Fortunately, in 1888, Tchaikovsky himself conducted his score in Prague to a rather more receptive audience. Afterwards, the Russian composer wrote in his diary that the way Swan Lake's music had been received was a moment of absolute happiness for him.

The action in Swan Lake centres on Prince Siegfried who is told by his mother, the Queen, that he must find a bride. Seeing he is upset by this, the prince's friend, Benno, suggests going on a hunt as a flock of swans fly past. Later, Siegfried has become separated from his friends, reaching a clearing on a lakeside only to witness swans landing there. Taking aim, he notices that one of the swans turns into a maiden named Odette. It turns out that Odette – and the other swans – are all the human victims of a spell cast by Rothbart, an evil sorcerer. In the ensuing act, the setting is a ballroom in the royal palace where six princesses are presented to Siegfried as suitable matches whereupon Rothbart turns up in an attempt to fool the young prince knowing that he has fallen for Odette.

Given that this classic tale continues to offer spellbinding enchantment for audiences all over the world well over a century since it was first staged, this production of Swan Lake, in such an auspicious auditorium, will no doubt prove to be a thrilling theatrical event.