Swan Lake at the Milton Keynes Theatre Review

Swan Lake
English National Ballet
Milton Keynes Theatre

11-15 November 2014

www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes

Reviewed by Hilary Whates

Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performed by the Orchestra of English National Ballet
Conducted by Alex Ingram
Artistic Director: Tamara Rojo

The story of Swan Lake is well known and loved and like everyone else who had made their way to the wonderful Milton Keynes Theatre on a wet and windy night I was looking forward to a fabulous evening.

I certainly wasn’t disappointed. Seeing ballet of this calibre without having to travel to London is an absolute joy and not to be missed. It doesn’t matter whether you are a ballet aficionado or not – the elegance, beauty and utterly brilliant dancing cannot fail to captivate.

I admit to being a somewhat novice attendee of ballet – a grave omission I have latterly been giving attention to. My I was very much focused therefore on how this performance made me feel, rather than comparing it with others.

For those who are not aware Swan Lake is essentially a love story with the Prince falling in love with Odette who has been turned from a Princess to a Swan by the evil half-man half-bird Rothbart – danced superbly and terrifyingly by James Streeter – his extraordinary costume was just brilliant too. The curtains opened to his electrifying performance which literally had me on the edge of my seat.

Who couldn’t be captivated too by the wonderful stage set a perfect backdrop for the astonishing performances. Alina Cojocaru was sensational as Odette/Odile – you felt her pain and her joy – brilliant. Alejandro Virelles likewise was just outstanding as Prince Siegfried – wonderful expressive passion.

For me the most memorable dance of the night (and there were so many) as the fantastic dance of the cygnets – on the night I was there performed so incredibly by Shiori Kase, Katja Khaniukova, Adela Ramirez, Anjuli Hudson – breathtaking timing saw four people dancing as one.

How beautiful the swans were – so delicate and enchanting.  All danced to the most amazing music performed to perfection by the Orchestra of the English National Ballet.

I came away wanting to dance. Take your children to see this and fire their imaginations with the possibilities of what can be achieved in the expressive arts. This was ballet of the highest calibre and it was a privilege to have seen it.

Running time – 3 hours including 2 intervals.

Rating: 5/5 

Tickets cost from £11.90 to £48.90 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).

Swan Lake by the English National Ballet is at the Milton Keynes Theatre until 15 November 2014. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0844 8717652.

Milton Keynes Theatre, 500 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes, Bucks, MK9 3NZ