TORONTO—Swans often symbolize purity, grace, and perfection. They are linked to feminine beauty and strength. Few other art forms value these qualities as much as classical ballet where strength, purity of form, and the pursuit of perfection are what every dancer strives for.
It is little wonder that the image of the swan has been so closely linked to the image of the ballerina, and “Swan Lake” is the ballet that brought this association most closely to our consciousness.
“Swan Lake” premiered in 1877 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow with music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, now recognized as one of the world’s foremost composers. His music lives on today in three of the most renowned classical ballets: “The Nutcracker,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and “Swan Lake.” Even those who have never seen “Swan Lake” have probably heard the music before, either on the radio, in a film, or in a TV commercial. It is some of the best music ever written.
