This is a spectacular finale to Swan Lake by the American Ballet Theater will Gillian Murphy and Angel Corella. The Sorcerer is played by Issac Stappas.
“We all know the story. Virginal girl, pure and sweet, trapped in the body of a swan. She desires freedom, but only true love can break the spell. Her wish is nearly granted in the form of a prince. But, before he can declare his love, the lustful twin, the Black Swan, tricks and seduces him. Devastated, the White Swan leaps off a cliff, killing herself and, in death, finds freedom”.
This is just about the best version out there. Them dying in the end to break the spell, like an opera tragedy, destroying the sorcerer in the process, the corps floating like angels to the harp sequence, then love springing eternal - it's all just utter perfection.
I cannot believe no one has mentioned the orchestra. Who was the conductor? Who did the arrangement for the score? The soloist at the beginning? This is the most touching orchestral performance I have ever heard for this scene.
I looked it up by theninfo in the description. It's ABT Swan Lake with Gillian Murphy and Angel Corella. The orchestra is Kennedy Center Opera House orchestra conducted by Ormsby Wilkins.
I'm glad you brought that up, @@ilovelegos2000. Because the original story is way different from the New Line Cinema film a lot of us probably know and love.
Last year I missed Swan Lake due to a snowstorm in Philadelphia. I adore this ballet. I could see it over and over again. Tchaikovsky was a genius who never wrote a bad note.
I love the bravery the swans choreography in the end shows. Their queen has given her life to cast a spell of protection, and they know the warlock can no longer harm them.
Mesmerising finale - full of drama and fabulously choreographed, from 3:45 a pure celebration of the female form - If there were one thing i would change it would be the sorcerers outfit in black instead of green.
I like the way it appears here. Anyone else see a marked resemblance here between Rothbart's death pose and a bloated, sick toad? And I have to hand a laurel that direction, too. Without his sick charade, how much less might we appreciate the corps' sublime grace now that his power's been broken?
i love 3:45 to 4:25 its so amazing! all the swans are finally free to live there own lives, and as they feel the sunshine on there faces, they also feel the promise of tomorrow. and the music is SO great!
I love how they are able to stay true to the ballet as fully possible while still making a beautiful happy ending. In the original tale Odette jumps in, the prince (Siegfried) goes in after, unable to live without her. They do that, but make sure it is understood they find each other in some other after life-which ever you believe in is okay. But it's beautiful, the sets, the choreography, the music, the dancers.
this almost brought tears to my eyes, and i never cry for movies, or ballets this is just so enchanting, sad but beautiful, im hoping to see this in real life one day
I absolutely love this version of Swan Lake - perfect to the music. It is an ending of tragedy, but with such hope! The lovers are reunited in the afterlife. I think this is how Tchaikovsky intended it...
Why do I cry when ever I see this performance? Am I nuts, or is it that beautiful? To me, it is one of the most moving experiences among the countless versions of Swan Lake--from the swans and from the principle dancers. Thank you who ever is responsible for allowing us to see it.
The best Lake's finale?? All of them! This is the Gioconda of the ballets and its soooooo good to see so many different aproaches to a single master piece! Of course Id like them to he happy forever!
Best staging ever. The way the clouds fill the stage and the swans gather . . . I am remembering that many years ago I saw a version with Makarova and seems like she posed in arabesque before the throwing herself off the cliff. That was stunning too.
Me too!!!!! I was 7 years old when i first heard it. Didnt even know what tonality was but i noticed the shift. Felt it inside and thought that was the most beautiful thing i ever heard. I am middle aged now and i know music theory and i know why. But back then..i just felt it and i never forgot it..and still feel it every time. This must be the best moment in the music of the swan lake. Hats off to you Mr Tchaikovsky
I just don't know how to express at the end of the act. I know there are several versions about this finale, but the music is just one and I don't find words to describe the feelings that Tchaikovsky music produces, it's visceral, it's perfect, it's talked music.
Oh man, this finale (and most others) are beautiful peanuts compared to Nureyev's version from the '60s. He took a ballet that already ended with a double suicide and managed to alter the ending so there is no glimmer of hope for anyone. The sorcerer takes back Odette and floods the lake, drowning the prince as he watches Odette flying away. The spell isn't broken, and we can assume that Odette and the other swanfolk go back to having a miserable enslaved life. Because who needs joy. right?
(The corps ballerinas here are ridiculously good.) The "tragic" ending is definitely more in line with the hedonisticly self-destructive character of the music. The last 16 measures are the most astonishing when they encompass the apotheosis occurring when the stainless heroes pass beyond the earthly world of hunters and demonic possession into the heavenly sphere to which all souls endeavor to return. Love and death at the precipice of a lost womb. A redemption story hinging on the death of the heroes. Problematic narrative.
This video provides the CONPLETE music to the finale starting at 3:17, a substantial section which is usually cut from most recordings and performances. We're fortunate to have it in such a fine performance by the ABT.
Here I am, dancing since I was 13 and still moved to tears by this finale. Excellent ensemble, orchestra and the art and lighting is beautiful as well...Bravo Tchaikovsky!
my mam had the album, now bear in mind im 54 , from a council estate and have never seen this till youtube,i used to pretend to ballet dance to this exact piece, i love this to this day as i did then, on my bucket list to experiance in real life
The most beautiful Swan Lake ending I've ever seen was what I saw in Ballet West's production. It was very much like this, but after the deaths of the swan and her love, the evil sorcerer dies and the fog becomes very high. Suddenly the swans are gone, and in their place are beautifully dressed young maidens, awestruck that they now have arms and hands, and are so grateful to be in human form. True love has broken the spell, and they are now free. It gives me chills to think about it!
@VampsAreLovee I am a balletlover myself, I have danced ballet for more than ten years, and I love Black Swan. I love how it explores the darkness of the balletworld, the crazyness that goes with it, because ballet is not just swans and princesses, it is tough competition that can drive you crazy. It is also an art, ofcourse, but that shows as well in the movie. I can understand your frustration, but it's not justified.
This has to be one of my favourite pieces of music of all time. This last scene never fails to bring me to tears, good old Tchaikovsky. Ballet is such an amazing art form...and I find it tragic that the only time things like this are televised are at christmas. I only wish ballet had more popularity.
this is the first time i've seen swan lake and i have to say that this ending is very beautiful. very poignant and touching. costumes, dance, set...all are visually pleasing and of course tchaikovsky's music is nothing short of amazing. i would love to see this live.
Me encanta esta versión, tengo años buscando una mejor que esta y aun no encuentro alguna que cubra mis espectativas. Es una historia muy triste, muy trágica, muy poética, muy sublime, siempre me hace llorar por la muerte de los príncipes.
Francesc Tuto Mi amor, he visto aproximadamente 20 versiones distintas del cascanueces con distintas orquestas, ballets y directores. Por supuesto que es hermosa, pero El Lago De Los cisnes es una obra magnífica mucho más sublime, que por lo menos a mi, me mata de pasión. Tiene, por lo menos para mí, un mayor significado.
***** La gran tradición rusa con los ballets del genial compositor Tchaikovsky, hacen de estos un espectaculo único en todos los sentidos, empezando con el Bolshoi.
+Olivia VanDuzer The Russians always demanded a happy ending to all the stories ballets (my Russian music and ballet teachers told me living in Russia in the late 1880s-1960s was hell), because life was so horrible. So all their ballets, however tragic, ended happily. But we are a little more prepared for sad (sometimes also referred to as realistic) endings here in the US. Personally, I prefer the ending where both Odette and Prince Siegfried kill themselves. Then again, I have a pretty happy life.
+Dennis Fleming Your music teachers are full of it! Also people living in a sad environment tends to make and like sad stuff, so you got that one backward!
I stand by what I said. I trust my Russian born ballet and music teachers, as well as dance history teachers from Europe more than I would someone I don't even know.
i'm not great at ballet or my instruments, and though i like music more, ik that the life of a ballerina is so much harder than a musician. can we have more ballet fanatics on this comment thread please
i am awed...it does something to your soul...when enormous talent and love produces such beautiful powerful performances...thanks u for posting it, from where i come from...theatre world never collide with mine...
I do like happy endings for The swan lake, but it isn't the same for me, because when they sacrifice their lives for being togheter and free is truly romantic and pure. I'm not sure how can I explain that, is just an emotion :-9
it made me cry! i dont no why but the ending music was just so.........BEAUTIFUL! it makes me remember WHY i started dancing and why i STILL love it SO much
It's Gillian Murphy ABT 2005 on I can't remember Siegfrieds name. Here on RU-vid there must be at least 15 different versions of swan lake and I've seen parts of most of them… I have seen the Black SwanPas de deux from ALL of them and IMHO Gillian is far and away the best as Odile...I think her acting skill /storytelling is much higher then many of the Russian ballerinas who may technically perfect but almost clinical they don't inhabit the character anywhere near as well. I'm not a dancer nor associated with ballet in any way....i'm just a retired teacher who has developed a passion for ballet in my later years.
+Warrendoe I'm not an expert of ballet, I just love it. I haven't seen all black swans version, but from most of it, ABT Gillian who has me chilled. Yes, Russian ballerina has perfect technique, but their dances never touch my heart. And ABT Corps dé Ballet (is this correct one to spell?), is wonderful. I always thought the corps ballet disturbing, but no, this one...gosh, give me chills everytime
Ottima la regia ideativa del coordinamento del collettivo danzante e della narratio.Inquesta riuscita metafora che vede alfine la sconfitta di chi si oppone alla bellezza ed all'armonia che resiste come baluardo alla inane belligeranza vi è un messaggio di universale respiro.Brave nell'inestricabilita' delle positure figurali le ballerine.Ottima narratio ed ottimi i protagonisti in proscenio.Bighin GIULIO RENZO
