International Festival Ballet & Festival Orchestra
A Fairy Tale of Beauty, Elegance and Grace — “Swan Lake”
The greatest work of classical ballet of all time

Music: P. I. Tchaikovsky
Choreography: L. Ivanov and M. Petipa
Edited by: Elena Antsupova
Set Design and Costumes: V. Okunev
The Ballet Dream: “Swan Lake”

The International Festival Ballet presents a magnificent, elegant and graceful production. A complete work of art accompanied by a live orchestra.

The International Festival Ballet presents one of the world’s most famous ballets, “Swan Lake”, set to the music of Pyotr Tchaikovsky.

For many, “Swan Lake” is synonymous with ballet itself. The romantic fairy tale of the young Prince Siegfried, who falls in love with the Swan Princess Odette and seeks to free her from the evil sorcerer Baron von Rothbart, is a story about the power of true love.

This ballet is part of the standard repertoire of all major ballet companies. In particular, the Allegro Moderato of Act II, choreographed by Lev Ivanov, has been the subject of countless parodies and is therefore known even beyond the world of ballet enthusiasts as the “Dance of the Little Swans.” In short: a genius work of a genius composer that has captivated audiences for generations.

On stage, “Swan Lake” is performed by one of the finest classical ballet companies — the International Festival Ballet. The grandiose stage design and magnificent costumes created by the brilliant theatre designer Vyacheslav Okunev, who has worked, among others, at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg and La Scala in Milan, combined with the effortless elegance and graceful lightness of the ballet company, create a dreamlike and enchanting version of this classical masterpiece that continues to fascinate audiences more than 100 years after its creation.

International Festival Ballet Company
Artistic Director: Elena Antsupova

The International Festival Ballet was founded in 2009 to represent the finest traditions and spirit of classical ballet.
The International Festival Ballet is a truly international company that transcends national borders, bringing together dancers from 20 different countries and promoting understanding and coexistence through the poetry of art, music and dance. Artistically, the company represents the Russian classical ballet school in its purest form. Strict elegance is combined with modernist influences and the spirit of the 21st century, creating dance performances of the highest calibre — all enhanced by magnificent costumes and sumptuous sets.

In the new season, the International Festival Ballet once again presents a special gem of classical ballet: “Swan Lake.”
The immortal masterpieces of classical ballet by Pyotr Tchaikovsky are known throughout the world and enchant audiences of all ages. Everyone knows the romantic story of “Swan Lake”, with its White and Black Swans, which has become synonymous with the elegance of classical ballet at its highest level. The timeless fairy tale of the princess trapped in an enchanted sleep, from which only the Prince’s love can awaken her, has captivated generations of audiences. And the story of the ballet “The Nutcracker” offers the perfect magic of winter and Christmas for the whole family. The unique productions of the International Festival Ballet bring these beloved ballets to life with enchanting beauty and perfection.

Classical ballet has a long and distinguished tradition in Eastern Europe, which continues to this day. Renowned ballet schools are known for their high standards and discipline, while their students are recognised for their determination, ambition and exceptional talent. The 42 dancers of the International Festival Ballet have also undergone this rigorous training, whether at the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg, the Moscow Choreographic Academy, the ballet school in Ufa or the Perm Ballet Academy in Russia, the ballet schools of Kyiv or Kharkiv in Ukraine, or at Italy’s La Scala and the Paris Opera Ballet School. All of them have performed at major ballet theatres across Europe and have won numerous awards at international ballet festivals and competitions.

Together, they have become one of the most aesthetically and technically accomplished ballet companies not only in Europe, but, as part of the International Festival Ballet, on the world stage as well. In addition to absolutely precise dance technique, the company is distinguished by its harmonious and cohesive overall performance and elegant lightness. The International Festival Ballet captivates audiences with performances of such perfection that they leave spectators holding their breath.

FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
Artistic Director and Conductor: Normunds Vaicis
The Festival Orchestra was founded by talented musicians from Moldova, Ukraine and Latvia. Its Artistic Director and Principal Conductor is the renowned conductor Normunds Vaicis.

The orchestra’s repertoire includes works by Ravel, Debussy, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, Massenet, Fauré, Albéniz, Gounod and many other composers. Music from classical ballets such as “Swan Lake,” “The Nutcracker,” “The Secret Princess,” “Giselle,” “Don Quixote” and many others forms a central part of its repertoire.

The orchestra has collaborated with renowned ballet companies from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. The Festival Orchestra has performed with great success in France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and other European countries and, despite its relatively small size, has established itself as one of the finest ballet orchestras in Europe.

In the near future, it will perform at prestigious international ballet festivals, presenting Russian ballet season programmes in Scandinavia, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Germany and Austria.