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Mayflower, Southampton The principals and flock are on fine form throughout this revival of Peter Wright and Galina Samsova’s 1981 production
Birmingham Royal Ballet’s entrancing Swan Lake – a revival of Peter Wright and Galina Samsova’s 1981 production – is danced to the hilt, with exceptional principal performances from Céline Gittens and Tyrone Singleton.
As Prince Siegfried, Singleton excels at lonely weltschmerz during Act I’s court festivities, drawing sad lingering phrases even from the briefest solo. Tzu-Chao Chou is an effective foil as the prince’s bouncy pal Benno, with jumps as airy as his billowy blouson sleeves. Despite the merrymaking – with neat, fleet turns from Miki Mizutani and Maureya Lebowitz as two spry courtesans – Philip Prowse’s designs maintain the sense of glowering doom, as the palace’s dark marbled columns give way to a murky lakeside framed by spidery branches. Continue reading...