The Story of Swan Lake

Parents: if you have young children, try watching the animated version. The Swan Princess video is available at the Flagstaff Public Library, and it can be found in the "family" section at Hastings, Blockbuster, and other video rental stores. Watching the video will help even very small children understand the performance.

Swan Lake is one of the great classical ballets. The story centers on a handsome prince (Siegfried), a beautiful princess (Odette) who had been transformed into a swan, an evil sorcerer (von Rothbart), and his daughter (Odile).

The first act opens on preparations for the official celebration of Prince Siegfried's twenty-first birthday. The palace is full of royal families, whose daughters hope to attract Siegfried's attention and hand in marriage. Siegfried's mother tells him that he is now of age and must announce his wife at the formal celebration. Overwhelmed, Siegfried takes his crossbow and leaves for the woods to hunt with his friends.

In the second act, the prince finds himself beside a peaceful, enchanted lake filled with stately swans. A particularly beautiful swan is wearing crown. At dust the swan wearing a crown turns into a beautiful princess. She is Odette, the Swan Queen. An evil sorcerer, von Rothbart, had turned Odette and her friends into swans. The only way to break the spell is for a man who is pure in heart to pledge his love to Odette. Just as Prince Siegfried was about to announce his love, the evil sorcerer appears. Von Rothbart takes Odette from Siegfried's arms and commands the swan-maidens to dance on the shore and lake. Siegfried cannot chase them, and he is left alone on the shore.

The third act opens on the formal celebration of Prince Siegfried's birthday. Siegfried dutifully dances with all of the princesses, but he cannot forget Odette. Suddenly, Odette appears. But she is an imposter! It is Odille, von Rothbart's daughter. The sorcerer had cast a spell so she would look like Odette. The real Odette is at a castle window, watching Siegfried and Odile.

Siegfried announces his love to the impostor, and Odette is heartbroken. She flees. Siegfried sees Odette leave the window, and he realizes his mistake. Von Rothbart reveals Odile's true identity, but Prince Siegfried bolts from the celebration to find Odette.

In act four, Odette has returned to the lake and the other girls. They are desolate. Prince Siegfried finds them on the shore trying to console one another. Prince Siegfried explains the trickery and begs forgiveness. Von Rothbart and Odille appear. A fight between the prince and the sorcerer follows. During the fight, Siegfried announces that he would rather die with Odette than live with Odille. The spell is broken. The swans turn into humans and drive von Rothbart and Odile into the water, where they drown. Prince Siegfried and Odette are united in their love.