SWAN LAKE at San Francisco Ballet

Tonight my friend Adam K and I saw San Francisco Ballet's new production of "Swan Lake."

World Premiere

Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Choreographer: Helgi Tomasson after Marius Petipa

Odette/Odile: Vanessa Zahorian

Prince Siegfried: Ruben Martin

Since his last triumphant production of this revered classic debuted over 20 years ago, Helgi Tomasson is proud to unveil a spectacular, all-new production of Swan Lake. Set to one of Tchaikovsky’s most beautiful scores, this completely restaged ballet features elaborate new scenery and costumes by critically acclaimed European designer Jonathan Fensom.

It was wonderful in every way. Adam particularly loved the music. The new sets and costumes are splendid...and the dancing was magical! 

The First Act had an imposing Palladian gate with a broken pediment. It was architectually stunning. The Second and Fourth Acts were set with a massive basalt rock formation, which reminded me of my brief visit to the Black Sea when I visited Umur in Istanbul a year ago last September. Above it was an impressive full moon, also featured at the center of the divided curving staircase in the Third Act. In addition the sets were greatly enhanced by creative projections. 

The costumes were beautifully coordinated in subtle and appropriate hues. The period was the early 19th Century just before the time of Tolstoy's War and Peace. The program notes mentioned that some of the adults were dressed more in the style of the late 18th Century. That was probably true of Prince Sigfried's mother -- slightly anachronistic, but very elegant.

The heart of the production, of course, was the music of Tchaikovsky, Tomasson's choreography and the splendid dancing. The Corps de Ballet was superb. Vanessa Zahorian and Ruben Martin were absolutely marvelous together.

Swan Lake was the last ballet Dennis ever saw before we left for Venice three years ago. That was on a Friday night. I returned by myself that Sunday to stand for the matinee to see Gonzalo Garcia dance the role of Prince Siegfried. He is one of my favorite dancers. Gonzalo is now in New York. I miss him a lot, as I'm sure most of the San Francisco dance community does as well!