March 4 – 7, 2027

Swan Lake

Artistic Director Christopher Stowell’s Swan Lake brings new dimension to Tchaikovsky’s ballet.

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Overview

Location
Centennial Concert Hall
Price starts at
$45
Run Time
2 hours, 22 minutes
Genre
Classical, Story

Christopher Stowell’s Swan Lake reinvigorates Tchaikovsky’s iconic ballet with a blend of classical grandeur and contemporary fluidity. Since its premiere with Oregon Ballet Theatre in 2006, this interpretation has captivated audiences with its emotionally resonant storytelling, intricate choreography, and breathtaking visual beauty. Stowell’s vision emphasizes clarity of narrative while preserving the drama, elegance, and technical brilliance of the traditional ballet, creating a performance that is both timeless and thrillingly fresh.

With sweeping corps de ballet sequences, unforgettable solos, and a heightened theatrical momentum, Swan Lake continues to engage both new and returning audiences, reaffirming its place as one of the most beloved masterpieces in the RWB repertoire.

A new Saturday matinee offers an additional opportunity to experience this dramatic and poignant classic.

Dates & Times

Doors open an hour before curtain. We highly recommend arriving then to soak in the atmosphere before the curtain rises.

Creative Team

  • Choreography
    Christopher Stowell
  • Music
    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
  • Costume and Set Design
    Peter Farmer
  • Lighting Design
    Scott Henderson

Synopsis

Swan Lake is perhaps the best-known classical ballet of all time. The work also enjoys the prestige of being one of Tchaikovsky’s three full-length ballets, with The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty completing the trio. Surprisingly, however, Swan Lake was not a success when it first appeared in Russia in 1877. This 1895 version with choreography by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov fared better.

Swan Lake is the story of Odette, a princess who has been turned into a swan by the wicked von Rothbart. Each night, Odette and her companions enjoy a few precious hours as human beings. On one such occasion she meets and falls in love with Prince Siegfried, who promises to rescue her. Their plans are foiled by von Rothbart who transforms his daughter Odile to resemble Odette in order to trick the Prince. However, not even evil von Rothbart can destroy their love, for Odette and Siegfried are reunited in the hereafter.

Origin

First premiered in 2006 with Oregon Ballet Theatre.

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Ticket Information

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Ticket Information