Bruhn’s Swan Lake was a fascinating psychological drama that departed from traditional versions, which proved controversial and ground-breaking. He enhanced the role of Prince Siegfried, whom he occasionally performed, with more dancing and depth, saying he wished to tell the story of the Prince rather than the Swan Queen. He also changed the role of Von Rothbart, the evil sorcerer, to the Black Queen (initially played by Franca). His telling changed the story from a struggle between good and evil to focus on the Prince’s relationships with the women in his life – his mother, the Black Queen, the Swan Queen and the Black Swan – each representing a different form of control or influence. To emphasize the powerful emotion of the story, Bruhn reinstated the tragic ending, with the Prince driven to his death by the swans.
Erik Bruhn
Lois Smith
Celia Franca
Yves Cousineau
Olga Makcheeva
Joysanne Sidimus
Leeyan Granger
Vanessa Harwood
Elizabeth Keeble
Charmaine Turner
Hazaros Surmejan
Daniel Seillier
Elaine Werner
Howard Marcus
Andrew Oxenham
Karen Bowes
Barbara Sherval
Glenn Gilmour
Gunter Pick
Kristina Sealander
Lawrence Adams
Veronica Tennant
Jeremy Blanton