A timeless classic, Swan Lake by the State Ballet of Georgia at the London Coliseum is a beautiful fairy tale, told through elegant choreography and musical accompaniment by the English National Opera’s orchestra. What differentiates it from other versions commonly staged in London is its strive to tell the story of everlasting love, and its altered ending.
The ballet follows the classic story of young Prince Siegfried (portrayed by Oleh Ligai) meeting a flock of enchanted swans at the lake and falling in love with Princess Odette (Nino Samadashvili). After a tender courtship, shown through the elegant pas de deux, he pronounces his love for her and promises to break the dark spell by staying loyal to her. However, the cowardly magician Rothbart works against the lovers: he presents Odile, a black swan and a dark twin to Odette, to Siegfried and makes him believe she is the one for him. Heartbroken, Odette flies back to the lake, doomed to stay a swan forever.
Here, the key plot twist for the State Ballet of Georgia’s version of Swan Lake happens: instead of taking her life in desperation, Odette makes peace with Siegfried and they manage to win the fight against Rothbart. In the final scene, we see Odette turning into a princess again, ready for her happily ever after with her prince. While not unique, this finale to the show is a less common staging and makes the whole story weaker. The drama and the emotional intensity of the show feel unresolved by the finale.
The choreography is strong. Clear lines, enchanting solos, lovely pas de deux of Siegfried and Odette/Odile, and of course, traditional national dances in the third act – all classic elements are in order. The performance by Nino Samadashvili was especially powerful: her Odette was truly elegant and feminine, while her Odile felt more passionate and energetic. In both characters, she had perfect on-stage chemistry with Oleh Ligai – a recent addition to the State Ballet of Georgia. The corps de ballet as swans are exquisite as well, and the Three Big Swans appearances (Tata Jashi, Salome Jarajuli, and Mari Lomjaria) are captivating.
Some other parts of the show, however, felt less rehearsed. For instance, the Dance of the Little Swans was not perfectly synchronised as one would hope, and the opening scenes at the park were not too exciting.
Stage decor, on the other hand, was truly magical. With classic large props and backdrops, and simple yet effective use of lights, the creators of the show managed to transport us to three different locations: the park in the palace, the ballroom, and the enchanted lake in the depths of the forest. The last one was perfectly supported by the reflective floor, creating the effect of water on stage. The costumes of the cast were great too, with lots of attention paid to historical costumes for the palace scenes.
If you have not seen this most famous ballet or would love a more positive twist on this dramatic love story, head to the London Coliseum to catch one of the upcoming shows of Swan Lake by the State Ballet of Georgia.
