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Cast
Alexander Ekman — Choreographer, set designer, Voice-over, Sound Designer
Henrik Vibskov — Costumes
Tom Visser — Lighting designer
Mikael Karlsson — Voice-over, Sound Designer
Jan Gunnar Røise — The Artist
Fridtjov Såheim — The Producer
Elisabeth Teige — The Diva
Camilla Spidsøe Cohen — White Swan
Melissa Hough — Black Swan
Philip Currell — Siegfried
The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet
The Norwegian National Opera Orchestra
Per Kristian Skalstad — Conductor
Program notes
"Why let reality get in the way of a good story?" exclaims one of the characters of this artwork that lies somewhere between stage play and ballet—a fitting question with which to approach A Swan Lake by Alexander Ekman.
In the first act, reworked excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s beloved score mix with scathing, absurd, and witty dialogues to depict the genesis and realization of a ballet (Swan Lake). With bold irreverence and touches of parody, Ekman's brilliant, self-reflective work takes a tongue-in-cheek look at today’s ballet scene.
In the second act, the awe-inspiring dancers of the Norwegian National Ballet perfectly embody all the physicality and energy of this ballet-within-a-ballet. Their artful athleticism is complemented both by Mikael Karlsson’s effective music—alternating between and occasionally mixing humor and darkness—and by a unique scenic feat: an actual onstage lake of 5,000 liters of water that serves as both backdrop and musical instrument. Actors of great magnetism, a stunning soprano, and the Norwegian National Opera Orchestra add their talents to the most surreal Swan Lake you will ever see!
This is just one of many beautiful ballets available on medici.tv, the web's leading classical music streaming platform!
