Revival at the Paris Opera of the famous ballet in the version by Rudolf Nureyev. Created in Moscow in 1877 with the music of Tchaikovsky, the Soviet dancer revived it in Paris in 1984.
So why does the Paris Opera Ballet always sell out, both when it dances contemporary works and when it performs works from the repertoire, as at the start of this summer with the Swan Lake ? Simply because everything he does is sublimely danced. France is, in fact, lucky to have one of the best companies in the world and it proves it in this revival of the Nureyev version of this ballet.
Three hours of uninterrupted dancing. Despite an uninteresting set, the company excels in the ensembles – and those of the girls in Acts 2 and 4 are incredible, but also in the drums for the boys, in the pas de deux… In short, an incredible level of accuracy that perfectly marries all the nuances of the music with its popular airs by Tchaikovsky, brilliantly conducted by the Estonian conductor Vello Pähn at the head of the Opera orchestra.
Several casts follow one another, but at the opening of this series of only 15 shows, we saw it with Sae Eun Park in the role of Odette, all finesse and technical prodigies. Paul Marque, in the role of the prince, seems to dance in slow motion even when he rises into the air with incredible jumps and an immense purity of gesture. Finally, Pablo Legasa, in the difficult role of Rothbart, perfectly responds to the two difficulties of this score: the actor’s composition and the dance technique.
Your servant, for having seen for the Figaro magazine dozens of Lacsfrom the worst to the best, assures you that this one holds the top of the podium. As proof: the public gives it a real and deserved triumph! Another very beautiful show on the bill at the moment Blue Beard by Pina Bausch.