Citizens Opera House is also such a gorgeous theatre and overall the entire performance was so so stunning. In my mind, Swan Lake is the epitome of classical ballet in terms of music, choreography, and costuming, and I was so thrilled that I finally got to experience it.
March 1, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Citizens Opera House is also such a gorgeous theatre and overall the entire performance was so so stunning. In my mind, Swan Lake is the epitome of classical ballet in terms of music, choreography, and costuming, and I was so thrilled that I finally got to experience it.
Viktorina Kapitonova and Sangmin Lee brought such emotional depth to the choreography, and while I don’t know the original Petipa/Ivanov choreo well enough to know the distinctions I really enjoyed Mikko Nissinen’s adaptation.
March 1, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Viktorina Kapitonova and Sangmin Lee brought such emotional depth to the choreography, and while I don’t know the original Petipa/Ivanov choreo well enough to know the distinctions I really enjoyed Mikko Nissinen’s adaptation.
This ballet demands so much from the corps & principals in both pure technique and artistic expression. I thought everything about this production was absolutely gorgeous, and the orchestra was fantastic.
March 1, 2025 at 11:37 PM
This ballet demands so much from the corps & principals in both pure technique and artistic expression. I thought everything about this production was absolutely gorgeous, and the orchestra was fantastic.
The corps absolutely carried here, and ultimately while the ballet is centered around Odette and Siegfried, the corps is so integral to the entire production and I was just so impressed with the blocking, formations, and how synced the corps was with their arms and heads.
March 1, 2025 at 11:37 PM
The corps absolutely carried here, and ultimately while the ballet is centered around Odette and Siegfried, the corps is so integral to the entire production and I was just so impressed with the blocking, formations, and how synced the corps was with their arms and heads.
Might be the norm, but it was interesting that BB added a short PDD into the finale. Partnering was beautiful. The actual ending slightly anticlimactic (the classic visual is Odette going off the cliff but again not sure this is something companies actually do?) but so beautiful nonetheless.
March 1, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Might be the norm, but it was interesting that BB added a short PDD into the finale. Partnering was beautiful. The actual ending slightly anticlimactic (the classic visual is Odette going off the cliff but again not sure this is something companies actually do?) but so beautiful nonetheless.
Finally, Act IV: breathtaking. It was almost comical the way the audience gasped and immediately broke out into applause when the swans began to rise out of the foggy mist. Just so visually stunning and gut-wrenching.
March 1, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Finally, Act IV: breathtaking. It was almost comical the way the audience gasped and immediately broke out into applause when the swans began to rise out of the foggy mist. Just so visually stunning and gut-wrenching.
The dancing was top tier - Kapitonova’s fouettes were so strong, and Lee quite literally defied gravity with his jumps. side note: I’d never seen a tour en l’air en de dans and I think I actually gasped when Lee did a double.
March 1, 2025 at 11:36 PM
The dancing was top tier - Kapitonova’s fouettes were so strong, and Lee quite literally defied gravity with his jumps. side note: I’d never seen a tour en l’air en de dans and I think I actually gasped when Lee did a double.
Boston Ballet’s performance did not disappoint! Kapitonova played Odile SO well, and Lee’s Siegfried was the perfect amount of eager and excited (and then of course, absolutely devastated and heartbroken once von Rothbart and Odile’s trickery was revealed).
March 1, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Boston Ballet’s performance did not disappoint! Kapitonova played Odile SO well, and Lee’s Siegfried was the perfect amount of eager and excited (and then of course, absolutely devastated and heartbroken once von Rothbart and Odile’s trickery was revealed).
In my opinion, the Black Swan Pas De Deux is hands down the best part of the entire ballet. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched the youtube videos of Gillian Murphy (ABT) & Marianela Núñez (ROH) performing this, but suffice to say I know the choreography very well & the score even better.
March 1, 2025 at 11:36 PM
In my opinion, the Black Swan Pas De Deux is hands down the best part of the entire ballet. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched the youtube videos of Gillian Murphy (ABT) & Marianela Núñez (ROH) performing this, but suffice to say I know the choreography very well & the score even better.
As a diehard Black Swan Pas De Deux fan, I was so excited for act III. Odile’s entrance was so grand, and her costuming was phenomenal! Just glittering from every angle, sophisticated and elevated yet impossible to look away from. Loved the costume change for Siegfried - very regal and stately.
March 1, 2025 at 11:36 PM
As a diehard Black Swan Pas De Deux fan, I was so excited for act III. Odile’s entrance was so grand, and her costuming was phenomenal! Just glittering from every angle, sophisticated and elevated yet impossible to look away from. Loved the costume change for Siegfried - very regal and stately.
Act III: I really enjoyed all of the dances leading up to the PDD, especially the Spanish Dance. I was kind of surprised that many of the dancers were in character shoes rather than en pointe - not sure if this is the norm or specific to Boston Ballet but I found that interesting.
March 1, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Act III: I really enjoyed all of the dances leading up to the PDD, especially the Spanish Dance. I was kind of surprised that many of the dancers were in character shoes rather than en pointe - not sure if this is the norm or specific to Boston Ballet but I found that interesting.
Musically, there is a tension between the violin and cello that is reflected onstage in the choreography — Siegfried is presenting himself to Odette with so much warmth and affection, while Odette is still trying to protect herself and her vulnerability because she knows they can’t be together.
March 1, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Musically, there is a tension between the violin and cello that is reflected onstage in the choreography — Siegfried is presenting himself to Odette with so much warmth and affection, while Odette is still trying to protect herself and her vulnerability because she knows they can’t be together.
It starts with solo violin (representing Odette) and harp, showing Odette’s hesitation to open up to Siegfried, who’s absolutely captivated by her. As the piece goes on, the cello (representing Siegfried) takes over the violin’s tune & the violin adds a gorgeous, heartbreaking melody over the top.
March 1, 2025 at 11:36 PM
It starts with solo violin (representing Odette) and harp, showing Odette’s hesitation to open up to Siegfried, who’s absolutely captivated by her. As the piece goes on, the cello (representing Siegfried) takes over the violin’s tune & the violin adds a gorgeous, heartbreaking melody over the top.
The White Swan Pas De Deux is my 2nd favorite dance in the ballet. I’m very familiar with the music from the first half of the PDD, but I think because I’d never seen the entire piece performed, I didn’t realize how beautifully the choreography and the score work together to tell a story.
March 1, 2025 at 11:36 PM
The White Swan Pas De Deux is my 2nd favorite dance in the ballet. I’m very familiar with the music from the first half of the PDD, but I think because I’d never seen the entire piece performed, I didn’t realize how beautifully the choreography and the score work together to tell a story.
Act II: to DIE for! The audience collectively gasped when the curtain lifted and the stage was filled with fog. The corps de ballet did such a beautiful job. I was continuously impressed with how seamless and tight every formation was, especially given there were 24 dancers on stage.
March 1, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Act II: to DIE for! The audience collectively gasped when the curtain lifted and the stage was filled with fog. The corps de ballet did such a beautiful job. I was continuously impressed with how seamless and tight every formation was, especially given there were 24 dancers on stage.
Act I: loved the costuming from the get go. The soft pastels + the way the skirts absolutely floated in turns were all so gorgeous. Act I is all exposition so it was less exciting IMO but I did love seeing the classic dances like the waltz (one of the best pieces in the ballet musically).
March 1, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Act I: loved the costuming from the get go. The soft pastels + the way the skirts absolutely floated in turns were all so gorgeous. Act I is all exposition so it was less exciting IMO but I did love seeing the classic dances like the waltz (one of the best pieces in the ballet musically).
I also played a selection from the Swan Lake Suite in orchestra last year and loved it. All in all, I’ve easily spent hundreds of hours listening to the Swan Lake score. Despite this, I’d never actually seen the ballet performed until this week, and let me say it absolutely exceeded my expectations.
March 1, 2025 at 11:35 PM
I also played a selection from the Swan Lake Suite in orchestra last year and loved it. All in all, I’ve easily spent hundreds of hours listening to the Swan Lake score. Despite this, I’d never actually seen the ballet performed until this week, and let me say it absolutely exceeded my expectations.
unfortunately I didn't quite get to the playlist, saw your spotify profile pic and had to immediately close the app
December 3, 2024 at 4:10 AM
unfortunately I didn't quite get to the playlist, saw your spotify profile pic and had to immediately close the app
dodger blue - felt like futuristic funk in the best way, once again loving the instrumental and synth embellishments
gloria - again love sza, very into the beat and production, and paints a real picture lyrically
honorable mentions:
- man at the garden
- tv off
- heart pt. 6
gloria - again love sza, very into the beat and production, and paints a real picture lyrically
honorable mentions:
- man at the garden
- tv off
- heart pt. 6
December 3, 2024 at 3:32 AM
dodger blue - felt like futuristic funk in the best way, once again loving the instrumental and synth embellishments
gloria - again love sza, very into the beat and production, and paints a real picture lyrically
honorable mentions:
- man at the garden
- tv off
- heart pt. 6
gloria - again love sza, very into the beat and production, and paints a real picture lyrically
honorable mentions:
- man at the garden
- tv off
- heart pt. 6
will have to do a proper second listen with the lyrics in front of me, but on first impression:
luther - love the harmonies, sza's voice is gorgeous, plus I love the strings in the back
reincarnated - great bass line and piano, loved the string embellishments, lyrics and rhythm really just flowed
luther - love the harmonies, sza's voice is gorgeous, plus I love the strings in the back
reincarnated - great bass line and piano, loved the string embellishments, lyrics and rhythm really just flowed
December 3, 2024 at 3:30 AM
will have to do a proper second listen with the lyrics in front of me, but on first impression:
luther - love the harmonies, sza's voice is gorgeous, plus I love the strings in the back
reincarnated - great bass line and piano, loved the string embellishments, lyrics and rhythm really just flowed
luther - love the harmonies, sza's voice is gorgeous, plus I love the strings in the back
reincarnated - great bass line and piano, loved the string embellishments, lyrics and rhythm really just flowed
I figured it out - it's Jeux d'Eau by Ravel.
(very impressionist, parts of it remind me of Stravinsky's Petrushka)
open.spotify.com/track/0Gef57...
(very impressionist, parts of it remind me of Stravinsky's Petrushka)
open.spotify.com/track/0Gef57...
Jeux D'Eau
Maurice Ravel, André Laplante · Ravel: Miroirs, Jeux D'Eau, Pavane Pour Une Infante Défunte · Song · 1994
open.spotify.com
December 1, 2024 at 7:14 PM
I figured it out - it's Jeux d'Eau by Ravel.
(very impressionist, parts of it remind me of Stravinsky's Petrushka)
open.spotify.com/track/0Gef57...
(very impressionist, parts of it remind me of Stravinsky's Petrushka)
open.spotify.com/track/0Gef57...