Ballet West's Swan Lake

Last night I got to see a glorious production of my very favorite ballet, Swan Lake, and I got to see my favorite dancer with Ballet West, Christopher Ruud, perform for the final time on the Capitol Theatre stage as Prince Siegfried.  Needless to say it was a lovely evening!  The ballet begins when Princess Odette (Katherine Lawrence) and her handmaidens are transformed into swans by the Baron von Rothbart, an evil sorcerer.  Many years later Prince Siegfried (Ruud) is celebrating his 21st birthday with friends.  His mother, the Queen, presents him with a crossbow and reminds him that he must soon take a bride which fills him with dismay.  He decides to go hunting with his friends and follows a flock of swans to a lake where he captures one of them.  The swan struggles and then transforms into a beautiful woman.  It is the Princess Odette and she begs Siegfried to spare the other swans.  She is a swan by day but becomes a human in the moonlight and only the true love of a human man can break the spell she is under.  Siegfried is captivated by her and they dance the most beautiful pas de deux, which is filled with such longing and emotion, as they fall in love.  Before Siegfried can declare his love, the dawn comes and Odette is transformed back into a swan.  At Siegfried's birthday ball he is introduced to princesses from around the world but he is not interested until the Baron von Rothbart appears with his daughter Odile, who has been enchanted to look exactly like Odette.  Thinking that she is Odette, Siegfried dances a pas de deux with Odile, which mimics many of the same movements with his pas de deux with Odette but is more powerful and seductive, and he declares his love to her.  Rothbart then reveals his treachery.  Siegfried returns to the lake in despair and begs Odette for forgiveness, which she grants, before they hurl themselves onto the rocks breaking the spell.  Tchaikovsky's magnificent score was performed brilliantly and there were moments when the music was so heart-wrenching that it brought tears to my eyes.  The choreography is exquisite and the artists of Ballet West performed so passionately.  Ruud gave one of the best performances I've ever seen in the iconic role.  Lawrence was alternatively demure as Odette and provocative as Odile and I loved many of the swan-like mannerisms that were incorporated into her portrayal.  The opulent sets and lavish costumes transport the audience into another world and I was absolutely riveted throughout the whole performance.  My very favorite moment came when all of the swans emerged one by one from the mist.  It was magical!  I'm so glad that I was able to see my favorite dancer end an incredible career in such a beautiful production and I highly recommend getting a ticket to his final performance tonight (go here).