Richmond Theatre, London – until January 21st. Reviewed by Sabrina Fancy
4****
As a ballet novice, it was with some excitement that I went to see Swan Lake, a production by the prestigious Moscow City ballet company, one of Russia’s most successful and popular touring ballet companies.
The time barely registered and I was utterly engrossed and moved by this tragic tale of Prince Siegfriend and his love for Odette, the beautiful Swan Queen, who would rather die together then live apart. The ballet also had the further allure of a live orchestra in the first few rows of the Richmond Theatre. They brought a magical quality to the production and helped to execute feelings of passion and sadness, through the haunting beautiful score by Tchaikovsky.
The set pieces were simple, but striking, consisting of painted backdrops and lighting. The costumes were classically beautiful. In the four main scenes, Swan Lake delights as a poetic dance drama, combining exquisite artistry, technique, and live music, thus providing a delightful experience. Swan Lake is well known for its very technical and demanding dancing and I was amazed at the grace of the dances, despite the limited stage space.
Principal Ballerina Liliya Oryekhova who plays Odette was hypnotic, and created a great distinction between the different characters she played. Her dancing was sublime and she was the star of the show.
There was great chemistry between Oryekhova and Talgat Kozhabaev who played Prince Siegfriend and was utterly captivating as the elegant and mighty prince. His lightness of foot in the leaps are a delight to watch.
One of my favourite scenes was the dances with the swans and Odette which was so delicate and elegant with gorgeous costumes.
The ballet’s soaring conclusion sees the power of true love conquering all in a tragic way. I was enamoured with the whole spectacle – the love story, the music and the beautiful dances, and can honestly say that I was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did.
So, am I now a ballet convert? Absolutely! have to say I couldn’t have picked a better production. Everything was beautiful, the dancers and choreography superb and the live orchestra, incredible. For this reason, I give this production 4 stars and am eagerly anticipating the Moscow City Ballets return to the Richmond theatre.
The Richmond theatre prices are significantly lower than productions in the west end of similar calibre. The Richmond theatre is stunning and very spacious, conveniently located less than a 5- minute walk from the Richmond Overground/Underground station with plenty to do in the area.