Magic Moments of Music – Rudolf Nureyev's Swan Lake

Synopsis

An incredible 89 curtain calls is testament to the ballet history that was written at the Vienna State Opera on October 15, 1964. The event is a performance of Swan Lake choreographed by Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev, who also took on the male lead role of the Prince. His partner is the British prima ballerina Margot Fonteyn. In his novel interpretation of Swan Lake, Nureyev revolutionises the role of the male dancer, seeking to be her equal counterpart. This great moment in music includes theexcerpts of the legendary ballet recording, while the documentary passages with Nureyev reveal and make tangible this exceptional and fascinating personality. In newly filmed conversations, dancers and companions Michael Birkmeyer and Gisela Cech, who danced alongside Nureyev at the premiere of Swan Lake, share some personal memories of the iconic figure, while new protagonists of today’s ballet world look back at Nureyev and his work from the perspective of our times.

Additional Info

• No: A05051046
• Composer: Peter I. Tchaikovsky
• Artists: Michael Birkmeyer, Gisela Cech, Eric Gauthier, Kirill Serebrennikov
• Production year: 2023
• Run time: 00:52:00
• Director: A film by Anne-Kathrin Peitz
• Producers: ZDF/ARTE, sounding images
• Format: HDTV 16:9