Swan Lake (Pyotr Tchaikovsky)
Program Notes
Composed by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, arranged by Ian Deterling.
The ballets of Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) are among the most beloved works in Western classical music. He composed the music for Swan Lake with great speed; partially due to his enthusiasm for the ballet and partially due to his desire to start on an opera. He began writing in the spring of 1875 and completed the score in April the following year. The ballet premiered in March of 1877. Swan Lake is based on a Russian folktale (“The White Duck” bears many resemblances), and over the course of two acts, tells the story of a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer. Even though Swan Lake was an initial failure, it is now one of the most popular ballets of all time - and it continues to be influential both inside and outside of the ballet world.