SWAN LAKE to Play at Seoul Arts Center

See the classic ballet, Swan Lake, at the Seoul Arts Center Aug. 28 through Sept. 1.

In an old German Castle, Prince Siegfried's birthday is being celebrated: today he comes of age. In a majes­tic ceremony, Siegfried became a knight. From this day, on a sense of duty and valor will be the guiding principles in his life. The last toasts are pronounced in his honor and young girls of his age try to attract his attention, but Siegfried is overcome by emotions of a different order: he dreams of a pure, ideal love. Siegfried in conscious of the presence of a shadow at his side, it is as if some mysterious force is beckoning to him. It is the Evil Genius, of Fate itself, who has come to reveal some perturbing secrets to the prince. Submitting to the powerful pull of his invisible companion's presence and full of anxious foreboding, Siegfried succumbs to the ideal world of his dreams.

Lured by the Evil Genius, Siegfried finds himself on the banks of a mysterious lake. In the shimmering patches of moon­light on the water, visions of bewitched swan maidensrise up before him. Siegfried catches sight of Odette, the most beautiful of the maidens: he is spell-bound, deeply struck by her beauty. He swears to Odette he will love her forever and be faithful to her.

Prospective brides-to-be are arriving at the Princess Moth­er's castle. The Prince must choose one of them to be his wife. He dances in an offhand way with the well-born maidens-not one of them can compare to Odette. Suddenly, a mysterious knight arrives at the ball ac­companied by a ravishingly beautiful young girl and a suite of black swans. It is the Evil Genius and Odile, Odette's dou­ble. Struck by their resemblance, Siegfried hurries towards Odile. The perfidious Odile who manages to disarm him of all his doubts enchants Siegfried: he announces Odile to be his chosen bride. At this very moment, the throne room is plunged in darkness and a vision of the beautiful Odette appears before the assembled company. Siegfried realizes that he has become a plaything in the hands of Fate. Hop­ing to atone for his betrayal, he rushes in despair after the receding image of the white swan.

Odette brings the tragic news: the Prince has broken his vow of faithful­ness to her. Siegfried's conscience is deeply troubled: he hurries towards Odette begging for her forgiveness. The Evil Genius summons up a storm, which disperses and plays have with the heroes of our tale, making it impossible for them to unire. Made weak by his single combat with Fate, Siegfried tries in vain to hold on to the vanishing image. The Evil Genius is about to do away with the Prince when Odette throws herself between them just in time to save Siegfried. Instantly, their love triumphs over the Evil Genius, to finally bring him down.

Swan Lake's creative team includes Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Music), Yuri Grigorovich (Choreography), Simon Virsaladze (Set Design), Mikhail Sokolov (Lighting) and Kang Suejin (Artistic Director).

For more information and tickets to Swan Lake, tap here.

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