Once in Russia, enjoy the unique chance to admire the most “wished for” Russian classical ballet - Swan Lake. The story encapsulates the world of magic and mystical creatures with that of the real world to produce a story where betrayal and power are in the end conquered by the virtues of love and forgiveness. Considered as one of the great Romantic ballets of all time, Swan Lake is a tragic good versus evil fairy-tale that is set to a score by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Impressive dancing, exquisite costumes and gorgeous sets will help tell the tale of this timeless classic ballet. Swan Lake captures, like no other, the full range of human emotions – from hope to despair, from terror to tenderness, from melancholy to ecstasy.

The ballet conquered and continues conquering the whole world, delivering the greatest pleasure to all fans of Russian ballet art. This great ballet has been performed on almost every stage in the world. Generations and directors changed, but the White Swan, born by the visionary Pyotr Tchaikovsky, still remains a symbol of purity and greatness of the Russian ballet.

Swan Lake ballet history

The world premiere of Swan Lake took place at Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow on 20 February 1877, the choreographer of the production was Julius Resinger. Despite the fact, his work was considered unsuccessful by the critics of the day, Resinger’s original production of Swan Lake was kept in the active repertoire of the Bolshoi Theatre for seven years and was performed over thirty times.

The second birth of the performance was on 15 January 1895 at the Mariinsky Theatre in St.Petersburg. The revival by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov is a basis for most ballet companies, staging Swan Lake nowadays.

It is also worth mentioning Swan Lake premiere in London in the Ballets Russes theatre, performed by glorious Sergei Diaghilev with choreography made by Michel Fokine, which took place in 1911.

The Swan Lake performance survived for more than a century without any significant changes since Marius Petipa’s times and nowadays is being staged in more than 290 theatres all over the world.

Swan Lake in the theatres of St.Petersburg

Today in 2018 in St.Petersburg Swan Lake ballet is staged in all major ballet theatres: Mariinsky Theatre, Hermitage Theatre, Alexandrinsky Theatre and Aurora Ballet Hall

The Mariinsky Theatre is a historic stage, where the revised by Marius Petipa version of Swan Lake, considered to be world classic, was premiered in 1895. The meaning of Mariinsky Theatre for Russian ballet history and for Swan Lake performance cannot be underestimated. The first, the best and the greatest - the most suitable characteristics for Mariinsky Theatre and it’s Swan Lake performance, directed by Maestro Valery Gergiev.

The version of the Swan Lake, staged in Mariinsky Theatre now (Konstantin Sergeyev’s version, based on Marius Petipa’s version) was premiered 8 March 1950 and has not been changed up to date.

If one is lucky enough to buy a couple of tickets to Swan Lake ballet in Mariinsky Theatre - he can truly be sure, he will have a lifetime experience. Unfortunately, Swan Lake ballet in Mariinsky Theatre is staged only a dozen times a year, and a huge amount of best-view and good-view tickets immediately goes to black market resellers, where they are sold at least two times more expensive.

The intimate atmosphere of the Hermitage theatre, which used to be palace theatre hundred years ago, is probably the best place to see the Swan Lake in St. Petersburg.

The ballet is performed with the symphonic orchestra here. The classical original choreography is conserved, and colourful decorations and costumes make ballet in the Hermitage theatre even more attractive.

The peculiarity of the Hermitage theatre is the small hall without seat categories, so if you would like to buy the best tickets for Swan Lake ballet in the Hermitage theatre, you should do that beforehand, especially if calls of the big cruise-ships are expected in St. Petersburg seaport.

The Alexandrinsky Theatre used to be the favourite theatre of the royal family. Its stunning magnificent interiors with the gorgeous balcony, opened in Summer season, are truly royal. Different local ballet companies, including Konstantine Tachkin theatre, perform here. Swan Lake in the Alexandrinsky theatre is always classical one, which really shorter than in other theatres. Unfortunately, it is not that easy to buy the ticket for Swan Lake in the Alexandrinsky theatre, as the companies, which perform here, use to go abroad for ballet-tours, so every ballet performance here is definitely an event.

Although Aurora ballet hall is located in the modern building and is more concert-hall, than theatre, it offers unbeatable prices and same quality of ballet, performed by Russian ballet company - one of the best-known in the city. Swan Lake in the Aurora ballet hall has a touch of modernism, however, the choreography is the ancient one, created by Minkus in the XIX century. The ballet-hall, located at the beautiful Neva river embankment, is relatively big, so if you want to buy last-minute ticket for the ballet in St. Petersburg, Aurora ballet hall might be a good option.