CityLife

Swan Lake @ The Lowry

January 15-19 2001

BIRMINGHAM Royal Ballet's magnificent production of Swan Lake, which returns after an absence of eight years, is a visually-stunning conception of the popular classic - reminding us why this company has won several Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards.

It's party time at the court of a Russian Camelot as the young heir to the throne chooses a wife. Sounds like a fairy tale? Well it is in a sense - complete with an evil magician.

But the fairy tale ends when the prince has to choose between Odette, his faithful swan princess, and the equally-beautiful black swan Odile. Then it becomes a dark tale of betrayal, retribution, forgiveness and redemption.

The remarkable pedigree of this ballet contains contributions from distinguished choreographers Petipa, Ivanov, our own Sir Peter Wright and prima ballerina Galina Samsova. But, it has to be performed well and fortunately the principals and corps de ballet were in fine form.

Tiit Helimets, as Siegfried, makes an impeccable partner to Monica Zamora's Odette/Odile. But, although she seemed more at ease as Odile, unfortunately she didn't quite make the difficult 32 fouettes.

However, Tchaikovsky's lush score and excellent performances from Chi Cao and the competing princesses, changed the initial lukewarm response to such an extent that the opening of the final act, where the swans rise ethereally from the misty lake, brought gasps of appreciation and the final curtain culminated in roars of approval from the enthusiastic audience.

NATALIE ANGLESEY