Swan Lake (1967)
Bruhn’s Swan Lake was a fascinating psychological drama that departed from traditional versions, which proved controversial and ground-breaking. He enhanced the role of Prince Siegfried, whom he occasionally performed, with more dancing and depth, saying he wished to tell the story of the Prince rather than the Swan Queen. He also changed the role of Von Rothbart, the evil sorcerer, to the Black Queen (initially played by Franca). His telling changed the story from a struggle between good and evil to focus on the Prince’s relationships with the women in his life – his mother, the Black Queen, the Swan Queen and the Black Swan – each representing a different form of control or influence. To emphasize the powerful emotion of the story, Bruhn reinstated the tragic ending, with the Prince driven to his death by the swans.
Cast
- Erik Bruhn - Prince
- Lois Smith - Swan Queen/Black Swan
- Celia Franca - Black Queen
- Yves Cousineau - Tutor
- Olga Makcheeva - Queen Mother
- Joysanne Sidimus - Prince's Friend
- Leeyan Granger - Leading Swan
- Vanessa Harwood - Leading Swan
- Elizabeth Keeble - Leading Swan
- Charmaine Turner - Leading Swan
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Swan Lake about?
- Bruhn’s Swan Lake was a fascinating psychological drama that departed from traditional versions, which proved controversial and ground-breaking. He enhanced the role of Prince Siegfried, whom he occasionally performed, with more dancing and depth, saying he wished to tell the story of the Prince rather than the Swan Queen. He also changed the role of Von Rothbart, the evil sorcerer, to the Black Queen (initially played by Franca). His telling changed the story from a struggle between good and evil to focus on the Prince’s relationships with the women in his life – his mother, the Black Queen, the Swan Queen and the Black Swan – each representing a different form of control or influence. To emphasize the powerful emotion of the story, Bruhn reinstated the tragic ending, with the Prince driven to his death by the swans.
- Who stars in Swan Lake?
- Swan Lake stars Erik Bruhn, Lois Smith, Celia Franca, Yves Cousineau, Olga Makcheeva, Joysanne Sidimus.
- How long is Swan Lake?
- Swan Lake has a runtime of 1h 18m (78 minutes).