Whenever the ballet is in town, vacant seats are usually few and far between at Hull New Theatre, and so it was on Monday night when Varna International Ballet brought its production of Swan Lake to delight theatregoers.
This Bulgarian company will also perform The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty during their stay in the city.
As the curtain rose, we were treated to a video backdrop depicting the turning pages of a huge photo album, showing the life of Odette, offspring of a good fairy – a swan – and a noble knight.
Odette’s parents die by an evil sorcerer’s spell, so she flees to a mountain lake to join other fairy swans.
Alone on the stage sits Prince Siegfried (Vittorio Scolè), engrossed in a book of Odette’s story.
The Prince is about to come of age and his mother, the Sovereign Princess (Giulia Visalli), arranges a ball to which suitable ladies are invited, in the hope her son will choose a bride.
However, on a walk to a lake, Siegfried notices a beautiful crowned swan. It’s Odette, who tells him her story and how the evil sorcerer will lose his power over her if she falls in love with an earthly man.
The pair are both smitten, but Odette warns the prince that if he betrays her, she will die by the dark forces.
Unfortunately, at his coming of age ball, Siegfried thinks he sees Odette and offers her his hand in marriage. He should have gone to Specsavers – the girl he has proposed to is Odile, a black swan.
However, after dramatic scenes, a happy ending is in store for the couple.
Odette and Odile were performed by the wonderful Martina Prefetto, who spent so long en pointe I feared for her ankles. I needn’t have worried, she was faultless – grace and strength personified.
She looked gorgeous, too, firstly in her white swan tutu, and then her black. Stunning.
Scolè’s Prince was gentlemanly, thoughtful, yet powerful and energetic in his ballet dancing.
Equally energetic was his best friend, Benno (Giacomo Ammazini). Both amazed and astounded as they leapt around the stage, sometimes at breakneck speeds.
After a promising start, the aforementioned video backdrop became uninspiring and dull – a brown building by a lake; a moonlit lake with some unrealistic swans and, the backdrop I really disliked, a palace courtyard that depicted brown pillars, a chequered floor, a chandelier and wall lights – with the most uninteresting outdoor scene in the background.
I felt the production deserved crisper, fresher scenery as a backdrop.
Everything else about Swan Lake was glorious – the most amazing, colourful costumes and wonderful ballet dancing by all concerned; all aided and abetted by live, dramatic music from an orchestra conducted by Peter Tuleshkov.
Backdrop aside, there was never a dull moment on the night. Flashes of lightning and rolling mist added to the drama, but it was Odette and the Prince whose love affair surpassed everything else.
Prefetto and Scolè, as the two lovers, left us in no doubt of their angst and passion, all the while entertaining us with the most sublime ballet dancing.
After such outstanding performances by all concerned, a prolonged and loud ovation was always on the cards at the ballet’s end. Bravo.
Swan Lake is the first of three performances this week, including The Nutcracker (Tuesday, January 30th) and Sleeping Beauty (Wednesday, January 31st). Performances start at 7.30pm. Tickets start from £24. Call (01482) 300306 or visit www.hulltheatres.co.uk
Reviewer: Jackie Foottit
Reviewed: 29th January 2024
North West End UK Rating: