Conejo Civic Ballet Company's
Swan Lake
Synopsis
ACT ONE
Scene One: Castle Garden
In the castle garden the jester summons members of the court and children to an impromptu celebration on the eve of Prince Siegfried’s twenty-first birthday. The Queen arrives and presents her son with a crossbow as a birthday gift. She tells him it is time for him to settle down and marry. Tomorrow evening at the grand ball to celebrate his birthday he must choose a bride. The Prince is not happy at the prospect of marriage, but being a dutiful son agrees to her wishes. When the Queen leaves the Jester advises the Prince to enjoy the rest of the day by dancing with the lovely girls who have come to wish him a happy birthday. The dancing distracts him for a time. As darkness falls, the Prince sees a flock of swans flying overhead and decides to go hunting.
Scene Two: A Lake in the Forest
The evil magician, Rothbart, appears and summons the swan maidens. The Prince arrives and is enchanted by the beautiful swans. Suddenly the Swan Queen arrives to protect the swan maidens. Siegfried assures her he will not harm them. The Swan Queen tells the Prince that she is Odette and that she and the other swan maidens are under the spell of Rothbart. By day they must live as swans on a lake formed by her mother’s tears; only during the few hours between midnight and dawn are the swans allowed to take human form. She tells him that the spell can only be broken by a man who will swear undying love to her and only her. Siegfried vows to be that man. He asks her to come to the ball the following evening so that he can choose her as his bride. Rothbart overhears the plan. Sensing his return, the swan maidens try to conceal Odette from him. Rothbart invokes the spell and Odette is forced to once again become a swan and return to his power
ACT TWO
Scene One: Palace Ballroom
The evening of the ball arrives with dancing, merriment and presents for the Prince. When the Queen tells Siegfried he must choose a bride, he can think only of Odette, disappointed she has not arrived. He tells his mother that all the princesses are lovely but he refuses to make a choice. The Queen is angry with his decision. Suddenly the heralds announce the arrival of new guests. A man enters with his daughter, Odile. To Siegfried she appears as the very image of Odette. The Prince tries to approach her but the father intervenes. They are presented to the Queen and she asks the man to sit with her and tell her about his lovely daughter. The man finally allows the Prince to dance with Odile and believing her to be Odette he tells the Queen he wants to choose her as his bride. The Queen agrees, but before he can ask her to marry him the father demands an oath from that he will swear to love her and only her forever. Siegfried swears eternal fidelity only to have Odile spurn his offer. In the distance the Prince sees a lone swan flying away from the castle and realizes he has been deceived by Rothbart. He flees the castle to find Odette and explain the tragedy that has befallen them.
Scene Two: A Lake in the Forest
Siegfried returns to the lake searching for Odette. She forgives him even though she and the other swan maidens are doomed to remain swans forever. Siegfried tries to console her and tells Odette he will never leave her. Rothbart appears. His temper flares when he finds Siegfried and Odette together. The Prince and Rothbart struggle. During their battle, Odette places herself in front of Siegfried and swears that she will not let Rothbart harm him. The power of her love diminishes Rothbart’s strength. He struggles to gain control but the love of Odette and Siegfried is stronger than his magic. Rothbart dies and with his death the spell is broken.
