By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Spend an enchanting evening with beautiful swans at the Korea National Ballet Company's (KNBC) annual presentation of ``Swan Lake.''
``Swan Lake'' is one of the most popular works in Korea, as well as one of the world's favorite ballets, thanks to its simple storyline and elegant music and stage settings.
The work has been choreographed by various choreographers from around the world, making it hard for some ballet companies to choose which version to stage. However, KNBC has been staging legendary choreographer Yuri Grigorovich's version for the last nine years, which is known to be one of the most dramatic. Adding additional scenes, including the male pas de deux during the first and second act, the Russian dance during the second and the clown's 36-pirouette feat during the first, Grigorovich introduced a challenging work for dancers, both physically and also artistically.
The biggest difference is the role of the ``evil genius,'' Rothbart. In other works, Rothbart is portrayed as an evil magician, but in Grigorovich's version, he appears as the alter ego of prince Siegfried.
``The prince and the swan Odette represent good, while the devil and the black swan Odile represent evil. We believe that these two contradicting characteristics are a part of human nature. It's hard to pinpoint the good and bad in our version of `Swan Lake,''' KNBC said through a statement.
The Grigorovich work is offered with two different endings: the happy and the tragic. According to KNBC, Grigorovich edited the music to bring out the fast-paced elements of Tchaikovsky's music, as the troupe decided to bring the happier version to viewers this year. In the latter version, the prince dies, leaving Odette in dismay.
This year, KNBC is presenting six couples to perform the challenging roles of prince Siegfried and Odette: Kim Ju-won and Kim Hyun-woong; Kim Ji-young and Lee Dong-hun; Park Se-eun and Kim Ki-min; Kim Ri-hoe and Lee Young-chul, Go Hye-ju and Kim Hyun-woong, and Park Seul-gi and Lee Young-chul.
Kim Ju-won and Kim Ji-young are both principal dancers at the KNBC, and also among the most popular ballerinas in Korea. The latter Kim returned to the troupe this year after working as the principal dancer at the Dutch National Ballet.
Along with the dancers, famed conductor Koo Jah-bom will take the helm of the Korean Symphony Orchestra. The 39-year-old maestro was the first Korean to be appointed as the principal conductor at the State Opera House in Hannover, Germany. He returned to Korea and became the conductor for the Gwangju Symphony Orchestra.
KNBC's ``Swan Lake'' will be on stage through Dec. 13 at Seoul Arts Center. Tickets cost from 5,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, visit www.kballet.org or call (02) 587-6181.