Swan Lake question

[catherine-rogers]

If you’re playing this part, you’re probably too busy to look, but can anyone tell me what’s happening on stage (in the ballet) when the harpist plays the cadenza in Scene 4?

[Elizabeth Volpé Bligh]

Here are some versions I found on Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcvUHmRfZHA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25-5ksjxGg4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtsrOJcAAYk&feature=related

[Elizabeth Volpé Bligh]

Basically, the cadenza is Odette’s entrance, and she folds up onto the floor gradually in the downward arpeggio. The three broken octaves are steps taken by the prince.
Granted, there may be other choreographies out there, but Petipa was the original choreographer.
Has anyone seen the Ballets Trocadero de Monte Carlo? They’re an all-male dance company that spoofs classical ballet. They dance, hairy chests and all, in tutus and on pointe. They do a hilarious version of Swan Lake that has to be seen to be believed.

[David Ice]

Thanks for the info….I’m playing Swan Lake Suite 1 on Tuesday.

And a big “brava” to the Trocs!

[catherine-rogers]

Thanks, Elizabeth. That was very helpful!

Our orchestra is playing the Suite and I wanted some visualization to help me interpret the cadenza. I found two orchestral performances of it on youtube, but one was (I thought) not very good, and the other, though excellent, was very hard to listen to because of a background noise. It’s also hard to search for “scene 4” when you don’t know which act it’s from.

[Elizabeth Volpé Bligh]

Right! It’s Act 2, Scene 4.

[catherine-rogers]

Thanks, all. The concert was last night and went well. Now I want to see the ballet. I did find this, though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wWmv-thrkg

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