Swan Lake at Cork Opera House

If you’ve never seen Swan Lake now’s the time! Cork City Ballet is back and the company’s full length production of this ballet lays claim to a legacy that extends back to its premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre in 1895. But even if you think you know Swan Lake, arguably the world’s most beloved ballet, few will be familiar with Cork City Ballet’s version, which features six male swans in a corps de ballet of eighteen dancers.

Cork City Ballet’s production promises to be spectacular, from the opulent costumes (from the Mariinsky Ballet) to the alluring sets, especially the opening scene’s gold-tinged, tree-framed park in the shadow of the great castle and lake. All the well-loved elements are still in place including the “white acts”, with the famous cygnets dance for four girls; the exquisite white swan pas de deux; and the Act 3 climatic Black Swan pas de deux complete with thirty two fouettes.

The most surprising thrill is in the corps de ballet where Foley and Demakov have used the male soloists to great effect including a new version of the big swans dance performed by men. They display impressive technical facility and stylistic cohesion, and seem to breathe as one, dancing as if the music is in their bones.