© 2024 Texas Public Radio
Real. Reliable. Texas Public Radio.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Swan Lake Set To Glide Into The Tobin Center

courtesy of Ballet San Antonio
Swan Lake

The San Antonio Symphony and Ballet San Antonio are teaming up for another big project. That project is one of of the most popular ballets in dance history—Swan Lake, wherein a maiden’s been turned into a swan by way of a spell. Stager Dominic Walsh picks the story up there.

"The only way this spell can be broken is by an act of true love, and so she must find a prince who will love her and be faithful."

She finds one but then an evil player creates a costly deception.

"The only way to break the spell at that point is for the lovers to take their own lives. And then they are re-united in spirit."

Walsh says Swan Lake’s complexity and subtlety are perfect for the medium.

"A story that can be told so beautifully through the art of Ballet."

Given Swan Lake's long enduring popularity, one wonders--what is its magic?

"Wow. That’s a tough one. Obviously the score is brilliant and iconic, but it’s a beautiful and powerful story and I think that it can touch us on the human level."

Tchaikovsky wrote that score that the symphony will play with Akiko Fujimoto conducting.  Walsh says the time is now for Ballet San Antonio.

"This is a very important moment for the Ballet company and a very important moment for classical culture in San Antonio I think. And it’s really wonderful to see these dancers rise to the occasion.  It’s incredibly demanding, but that’s what makes this art form so special."

It’s being staged at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts.

"The opening night will be Friday, October 9th with a second performance on Saturday night and a third performance on Sunday matinee" he said. "If you have not been to see Ballet San Antonio thus far, maybe you’ve never been to the ballet or have never had a chance to get to Ballet San Antonio, I think that this is the production you don’t want to miss."

For more on this production go here.

Jack Morgan can be reached at jack@tpr.org and on Twitter at @JackMorganii