Rating: ★★★★★

Venue: Royal Albert Hall (screener provided for honest review)
Cast: Sangeun Lee, Gareth Haw and James Streeter 

With more live events being broadcast in cinema now than ever, I was thrilled when I heard English National Ballet's in-the-round production of Swan Lake was making its way onto the big screen, and even more thrilled that we were asked to review one of the greatest pieces of ballet ever made. This breath-taking production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake was recorded at the iconic Royal Albert Hall on 22nd June this year.

This particular production of Swan Lake in-the-round is choreographed by Derek Deane and of course, contains all of the notable music from Tchaikovsky. Swan Lake is a love story at its heart and follows the journey of Prince Siegfried who falls in love with the Swan Queen, Odette. Odette carries a curse that only allows her to be human at night, and is a curse our Prince is desperate to break. Each of the four acts is introduced with a brief synopsis which I think helps give newcomers to ballet some context as to what they're watching and help follow the narrative if they're not familiar with the much-loved story.

If there was ever an art form that deserved to be consumed in-the-round, it's ballet. Every move can be devoured the way it should be, and the filmed production gives you the opportunity to witness this stunning piece of ballet in a never-before-seen way, in regards to angles like aerial shots. It's simply a spectacle on stage wherever you look.

Swan Lake is most famous for its music and the English National Ballet Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Gavin Sutherland, bring this ballet to life in a way that's both magical and ethereal. The costumes, designed by Lola Stott, Peter Todd and Whizzy Shawyer are periodic and gorgeous, all whilst enabling the dancers to move freely and graciously. Particularly Rothbart's winged cape is a sight to behold.

Prince Siegfried, played by Gareth Haw, is awe-inspiring and he commands the entirety of the stage with ease, which is no small feat. Odette/Odile, played by Sangeun Lee, is astonishing and moves in a way that almost doesn't feel earthly. The chemistry between the pair is undeniable and the urgency and desperation of their love only intensifies with each of the acts, which is beautiful to witness. Rothbart, played by James Streeter, is theatrical and dramatic; everything a villain should be.

There is something so beautiful about story being told simply through dance and this cast are some of the best I've ever seen at conveying this. A production that will surely never go out of style. From the orchestra, to the dancers, to the creatives behind this performance, this is as close as it gets to perfection in ballet.

You can book tickets to see Swan Lake in-the-round in cinemas here, from 30th October 2024.