By Steve Schifferes BBC News Online

The Royal Ballet has had a troubled year culminating in the resignation of its director, Ross Stretton. Has it put its problems behind it with the great seasonal shows?

The Royal Ballet is not only presenting Swan Lake, but also showing the two other classic "sugar plum" ballets so popular with audiences - The Nutcracker, also at Christmas, and Sleeping Beauty, at Easter.

Swan Lake gives the company a chance to show off its prima ballerinas, and the season got off to a strong start as rising star Alina Cojocaru danced the part of Odette/Odille on opening night.

Anthony Dowell has added some new choreography

The beautiful Romanian dancer - trained in the classical Russian tradition - has the arm gestures and back extensions to be a convincing swan, even if she lacks the sultry seductiveness in the black swan duets.

Her partner was the Danish star Johan Kobborg, who played Prince Siegfried with style and aplomb - and more dramatic fervour.

Swan Lake starts with a comic touch, as the peasants gather and perform dances for the Prince and his drunken tutor in the opening scene.

And the Royal Ballet company, as usual, excels itself in the group dances, drawing on the rich costumes and set by Yolanda Sonnabend, inspired by Faberge.

Here some of the choreography is by the Royal Ballet's Anthony Dowell, supplementing the main dances created by famous Russian choreographer Marius Pepita - whose close collaboration with Tchaikovsky led to the creation of all three classic ballets in the late 19th century.

Darcy Bussell will play the lead in some performances

Swan Lake's main duets have become so famous they are almost a clich�, and the two stars must have the power and stage presence to overcome the sense of over familiarity in scenes like the dying swan in the last act.

That they do so - especially Ms Cojocaru, who lights up the stage whenever she appears - is a tribute to the depth of the Royal Ballet's star list.

Later in the season we will have a chance to see the Royal Ballet's two biggest stars, Darcey Bussell and Sylvie Guillem, dance some of these roles.

But the future of the company depends on bringing to prominence the younger dancers like Ms Cojocaru, and other promising principal dancers like Marianela Nunez, Mara Galeazzi, (who danced the trio in this production) and Tamara Rojo (who will dance Odette later in the season).

Even more important for its future is the development of fresh choreography.

Only one of the three of the classics presented this year - Sleeping Beauty - will have fresh choreography and design.

And the rest of the Royal Ballet season is concentrating on revivals of ballets by its former head, Kenneth MacMillan, including the sexually charged historical dramas Mayerling and Manon.

One of the reasons Mr Stretton left early was a disagreement over the role of such MacMillan ballets in the repertoire.

Whoever finally takes charge of the Royal Ballet will have to find some new choreographic talents to supplement the classics that are the delight of this season.

Swan Lake is on at the Royal Ballet in London until 17 December.