Enjoy the behind the scenes of the 1964 stage premiere of “Swan Lake,” choreographed by Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev.
Great Performances “The Magic of Nureyev” airs Friday, April 11 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI app.
On October 15, 1964, Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev’s “Swan Lake” took the stage at the Vienna State Opera. In his novel interpretation of this iconic ballet favorite, Nureyev revolutionized the role of the male dancer in the ballet with his choreography, seeking to be the prima ballerina’s counterpart. With great British ballerina Margot Fonteyn as his partner, Great Performances: The Magic of Nureyev features extensive excerpts from the production that was captured for posterity two years after its 1964 stage premiere. In new interviews, dancers Michael Birkmeyer and Gisela Cech, who danced alongside Nureyev at the premiere of “Swan Lake,” share personal insights on Nureyev’s peerless virtuosity as well as his mercurial off-stage personality. In addition, contemporary experts look back at Nureyev groundbreaking technique from a modern-day perspective.
Photo: Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn with Vienna State Ballet dancers in “Swan Lake” in 1964. Credit: © UNITEL