Swan Lake Synopsis

Act 1 Scene 1The castle grounds
Prince Siegfried and his friends are celebrating his coming of age at a private twenty-first birthday party. The guests drink to his health and dance a waltz. The Prince's tutor tries to teach him the virtues of learning over the pleasures of the flesh, but ends up drinking a bit too much himself. The Queen arrives, displeased that her son still has not chosen a suitable royal bride. She is presented with bouquets of flowers and in turn presents her son with a brand new crossbow. After the Queen has gone, the party resumes. Even the tutor is persuaded to take a turn on the dance floor, before relinquishing his place to the Jester. Finally, as twilight falls, the guests depart. Siegfried suddenly sees of a flock of white swans flying overhead. Wishing to hunt them, he seizes his new crossbow and follows them into the depths of the forest.

Scene 2 A lake in the forest. Midnight
White swans glide near the shore. They are actually maidens transformed into swans by the evil magician Rothbart, who is himself half man, half owl. Only at night can they resume their human form, and only the power of eternal love can break the magician's spell. Siegfried appears, drawing his bow to shoot an approaching swan. Suddenly the swan turns into a beautiful young woman - it is Odette, queen of the swan-maidens. Her beauty enthralls the Prince, but she is afraid of the Rothbart, who returns and drives Siegfried away. Siegfried pursues Odette into the forest, and vows his eternal love and fidelity to her. Odette and the other swans celebrate their night of freedom in dance. As dawn breaks, Odette bids Siegfried a tender farewell before rejoining her companions as they turn back into swans.

Act 2 At the castle
A grand ball is being held at the castle to celebrate the Prince's birthday. The Jester dances to entertain the guests. Siegfried's mother urges him to choose a bride, but he, having given his heart to Odette, rejects them all. Suddenly new guests arrive -it is Rothbart and his daughter Odile, whom he has transformed into a black-clad likeness of Odette. He plans to make the Prince love the disguised Odile, thereby breaking his vow of eternal fidelity, and condemning Odette to remain a swan forever. Siegfried is seduced by Odile's dark beauty. But no sooner has he informed his mother that she is his chosen bride than he has a vision of the real Odette and realizes that he has been deceived. In despair, he rushes out to the lakeside to find Odette.

Act 3 The lakeside, later the night.
White and black swans try to amuse themselves by the lakeside. Odette arrives and tells them what has happened at the castle. She is followed by Rothbart, who returns in a rage, amidst thunder and lightning.
Siegfried rushes in. He begs Odette to forgive him and professes his undying love to her. As the enraged Rothbart tries to force Odette and Siegfried apart, the Prince grapples with the magician and tears off one of his wings. His power destroyed, Rothbart collapses and dies. True love has broken the evil spell; the sun rises and shines radiantly on Siegfried, Odette, and all the other swan-maidens he has saved.