A Breathtaking Swan Lake Stuns Birmingham

The useful part

September with a stunningly beautiful version of what is arguably the greatest ballet of them all. The Peter Wright/Galina Samsova production of Swan Lake brought all its exquisite beauty, its tragedy and its soaring score, and had moments that left the audience gasping. With the central pairing of Mathias Dingman as Prince Siegfried, and the glorious Mimoko Hirata as Odette/Odile, this is one of ballet's standout moments.

How it works

• The exquisite pairing of Mathias Dingman and Momoko Hirata is at the heart of this performance, and they both dance beautifully, showing clear chemistry.
• However that very night the Prince does meet the princess of his dreams, when he goes hunting for swans to kill, he sees a swan transformed into a beautiful Princess before his eyes, and learns she is...
• The story of Swan Lake is one of love, one of sorcery, one of the most terrible deception, and ultimately one of sacrifice.
• Only an oath of undying love can break the curse, which the smitten Siegfried willingly gives.
• Rothbert's magic is stronger, and at the ball where Siegfied is to chose a Princess, he transforms his own daughter Odile into a mirror image of Odette, a black swan to Odette's white innocence.

What to take from it

Siegfried is tricked and professes his love to Odile, only realising his mistake when Odette appears at a window of the palace as arranged. Resigned to her fate to remain a swan, Odette plans to take the only way out, leading the ballet to its heartbreaking conclusion.

Details worth keeping

Prince Siegfried is about to be crowned king and must be married. Yet he is bored by palace life and has no wish to marry, preferring to carouse with his friends and his equerry Benno (Riku Ito, with a lively, exhilarating performance.) The Queen Mother (Daria Stanciulescu, suitably regal) is shocked and says the Prince must choose a princess the next day to marry.