Swan Lake
Theatre Royal
Two nights ago, Varna International Ballet and Orchestra, on their first visit to the UK, performed Adolphe Adam’s Giselle at Theatre Royal. Adam’s score for that ballet, and his use of the leitmotif technique, where recurring musical phrases correspond to particular characters or ideas, was an influence on Tchaikovsky’s score for Swan Lake, the ballet which the company performed twice on their final day in Norwich.
I attended the excellent evening performance to a packed Theatre Royal. As with my previous trips to the ballet, I soon gave up trying to pay much attention to the story and was instead mesmerised by the incredible artistry of the dancers, and the enduring strength of the uncanny, bittersweet score, performed magnificently by the orchestra, under the direction of conductor Peter Tuleshkov.
As the action moved from the opulence of the palace ballroom to a moon-lit lake, the dancers and musicians were consistently magnificent. My only slight complaint was that some of the sets and the lavish costumes distracted me, to an extent, from the performers. But it’s a minor point, and for every person in the audience who would prefer a more minimalist approach to these things, I’m sure that there is someone who thinks the opposite.
I had a fantastic evening at a venue perfectly suited to a stunning performance of professionalism and grace. Varna International Ballet continue their tour of the country, which concludes next month. It is to be hoped that before too long they will return to Norwich, where, as the strength of the ovation they received at the conclusion of tonight’s performance demonstrated, they will be enthusiastically welcomed.
