Swan Lake Studies 10
10. “Swan Lake” research continues. Leslie Hurry first designed “Swan Lake” for the Sadler’s Wells Ballet in 1943 at the New (today’s Noël Coward) Theatre. This photograph, by Russell Sedgwick, shows the romantically and correctly mediaeval look for the opening scene, Act I. Robert Helpmann was Prince Siegfried; Joy Newton was the Princess Mother.
There are two particular points of interest here. One: The makers of “Swan Lake”, as this photograph shows, intended their ballet to belong to the mediaeval Age of Chivalry, in which knights departed from the world they knew on quests for mythical beasts and/or love. To update this scene to the nineteenth century or later is to reduce much of its quasi-mythical aura. (The latest era that can work is the French Renaissance. One theory has it that the Princess Mother is based upon Catherine de Medici, mother of three successive kings of France and crucial figure in the history of ballet, which she did much to establish at the French court.) To put it another way: to update the ballet can bring it vividly near, as in Matthew Bourne’s production, but by deliberately cancelling its mythic dimension.
Two: the Princess Mother does not give her son a crossbow. Quite the opposite: he is already spending too much time in irresponsible pursuits, whereas she requires him to devote himself to the cares of state, in particular the choice of a bride. In Cyril Beaumont’s words in 1943: “The Princess Mother arrives, attended by her ladies. Siegfried greets her with filial respect, which she acknowledges with a certain hauteur, and for a few moments they engage in earnest conversation. It is clear; however, from Siegfried’s expression, that the subject-matter is not to his taste. Indeed, the Princess has not only upbraided her son for the company he keeps, but has reminded him that now he has come of age, he must turn his mind to serious things and be prepared at to-morrow ‘s Court Ball to choose a wife and begin to devote himself to affairs of state. On this note of stern reproof she takes her departure, followed by her ladies.”
Long after she has gone, he spots swans in the air and calls for his crossbow. Despite her admonishment, he chooses to go hunting, not knowing that - as so often in Romantic drama - the illicit hunt will lead to love.
Thursday 9 July
