Swan Lake St
Petersburg Ballet Theatre Founded only 8 years ago by Konstantin Tatchkine the St Petersburg ballet is a young up-and-coming company who are proud to perform the great ballet masterpieces and do it in some style. Set traditionally in the forest and the palace, the sumptuous sets combined with the enchanting music allow you to slip into another world. The scenery may have been downscaled to fit within the Apollo's modest stage size and the spacing of the choreography curtailed, but this didn't affect the adaptable dancers as they flowed gracefully around the set. The choreography sticks closely to the original Petipa/Ivanov formula and lends itself well to the beautifully expressive Prima Ballerina, Irina Kolsnikova. In this demanding role, her technique, balance and dramatic interpretation were faultless as she enthralled the audience each time she was on stage. The chemistry between her love interest, Prince Seigfreid was bought to a crescendo during the passionate pas de deux in act IV where the dancers slide from one form to another. The support came from the disciplined corps de ballet whose display of well-timed, harmonious symmetry was pleasing to watch. They didn't distract from the main dancers but provided a lavish backdrop that subtly heightened or lessened the tension - when the malicious Von Rothbart makes a furtive entrance during the party scene, a mere flutter from the corps and you know something is afoot. You
don't have to be a ballet fan to enjoy this, sit back and relax as
the music washes over you and the dancing inspires you.
Sarah Ultsch 5/11/ 2002 |