Creating Swan Lake

Donald Macleod explores Tchaikovsky’s first ballet with Sir Matthew Bourne and Dame Monica Mason

Tchaikovsky is responsible for some of the world’s best loved and best known ballets. His music for Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker has become so popular and ubiquitous that we’re as likely to hear it in the concert hall, or accompanying a TV ad, as in the theatre. But this week, Donald Macleod is on a mission to take Tchaikovsky back to his dancing roots, in the company of two of British ballet’s brightest stars. Dame Monica Mason joined the Royal Ballet as the age of sixteen, becoming the youngest dancer in the company at that time. She went on to dance many principal roles, eventually becoming Director of the Royal Ballet in 2002, before her retirement in 2012. Sir Matthew Bourne has been hailed as the most popular and successful British choreographer and dancer, with a string of awards for his many productions, not least his ground-breaking production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. Both guests bring their expertise to the series, sharing with Donald Macleod their views on Tchaikovsky, and their experience of performing and choreographing his works.

Today, Monica Mason shares her thoughts on why Tchaikovsky’s music remains so popular, and talks about her experience of performing the lead roles of Odette and Odille in Swan Lake. Matthew Bourne discusses his own unique production of Swan Lake and how he used Tchaikovsky’s music to inspire his creative decisions – including exchanging female dancers for men, in the role of the swans.

Swan Lake was Tchaikovsky’s first ballet, composed in the mid 1870’s while he was still forging a career for himself, including teaching duties at the Moscow Conservatoire. This was a period of highs and lows for the composer, including some upsetting reactions to his newly completed his Piano Concerto. His friend, the pianist Nikolai Rubinstein, judged it to be worthless and unplayable! Fortunately the concerto went on to became a hit and a commission from the Bolshoi Theatre for Swan Lake soon followed.

Swan Lake, Op 20 (Act 2 excerpt)
The New London Orchestra
David Lloyd-Jones, conductor

The Seasons, Op 37b No 6 (June: Barcarolle)
Mikhail Pletnev, piano

No reply, no word, no greeting, Op 28 No 5 (Six Romances)
Ljuba Kazarnovskaya, soprano
Ljuba Orfenova, piano

String Quartet No 3, Op 30 (Allegretto vivo e scherzando)
The Heath Quartet

Swan Lake, Op 20 (Act 2 excerpt)
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Mark Ermler, conductor

Swan Lake, Op 20 (Act 3 excerpt)
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Mark Ermler, conductor

Swan Lake, Op 20 (Act 4 excerpt)
The New London Orchestra
David Lloyd-Jones, conductor

Produced by Luke Whitlock