Swan Lake at the Leeds Showcase

Standard YouTube Licence

Royal Ballet Swan Lake  Leeds Showcase, 2 March 2025, 14:00

On 27 Feb and 2 Mar 2025, cinemas across the United Kingdom screened a recording of Liam Scarlett's Swan Lake that had been made at the Royal Ballet and Opera House on 24 Apr 2024.  With Yasmine Naghdi as Odette-Odile, Matthew Ball as Siegfried and Thomas Whitehead as von Rothbart, it was a very polished production.  I saw it at the Leeds Showcase, a multiscreen complex in a shopping and entertainment centre a short distance from the M62. 

Watching images of dancers on a screen reminds me of the prisoners in Plato's cave, but the screen has a few advantages.  One is an opportunity to hear the artists discuss their work.  That was something that the Bolshoi did exceptionally well because they employed the TV journalist Katerina Novikova to interview dancers and others in three languages.  The quality of the Royal Ballet's interviews has improved significantly since Petroc Trelawny was engaged.  Trelawny also brings out the best in Darcey Bussell, who contributes her memories of her performances.

One illuminating interview was with Naghbi.   She discussed Legnani's 32 fouettés in the seduction scene, which is the most spectacular bit of the ballet.  She likened the movement to that of a plane and herself to a pilot.  Naghdi was a powerful Odile but also a sensitive Odette.  Not every ballerina can carry off the two roles equally well, but Naghdi was one who did.

Naghdi was supported gallantly by Ball, a strong but graceful dancer. The role of Rothbart has been greatly extended by Scarlett in that he is head of the royal household as well as an evil magician.  His appearance reminds me of President Putin, whoever dances the role. This is a great character role, which Whitehead performs well.

Swan Lake has divertissements throughout the show.  I particularly liked the cygnets (Mica Bradbury, Ashley Dean, Sae Maeda and Yu Hang), the older swans (Hannah Grennell and Olivia Cowley), the national dances and especially the Neapolitans (Isabella Gasparini and Leo Dixon).

Sadly, the producer of this version of Swan Lake is no longer with us, but Gary Avis, Laura Morera and Samantha Raine have implemented Scarlett's vision. Often overlooked is the orchestra which is one of the strengths of the Royal Ballet. It was as impressive as ever conducted on this occasion by Martin Georgiev. 

Should this recording ever be screened again or otherwise made available it is well worth watching.