Tchaikovsky’s ‘Swan Lake’ (1876) is one of the most famous ballets of all time, and dear to lovers of dance and classical music all over the world. What exactly is the relevance of this iconic work? While one might be tempted to simply point out the elegance of its choreography or its enchanting score, there is in fact much more to explore.
Music historian Rutger Helmers (University of Amsterdam) will discuss how ‘Swan Lake’ is connected to broader cultural and social histories, ranging from old and widespread folk stories about alluring swan maidens, the culture of the nineteenth-century Russian empire, and the gender politics of classical ballet. By recognizing its connections to culture and society at large, we can get a better idea of what ‘Swan Lake’ might mean to us.
The lecture will include a general introduction to ‘Swan Lake’, and that might just come in handy, because this very week we offer you a chance to see this ballet classic with a twist: a remix in the form of a parallel online and offline event at three locations at the Parktheater. Please find more information here.
Dive into the ‘Swan Lake’ and emerge with new insights!
Watch this lecture and discussion via livestream
This program will be streamed live to our Facebook page and YouTube channel. Follow us on Facebook or subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive a notification when we go live. You do not need to book a ticket to view the livestream.
SG & USE registration
You can only register for SG&USE if you watch the entire program live (so not watching it at a later time) and if you complete an online SG&USE registration form within five minutes after the end of the program. During the lecture we will explain where and when you can find the link to the registration form. Keep your student ID number at hand, because you'll need to fill it out in the form.
Please make sure your registration is done properly, otherwise we cannot verify that you were present.
More information about SG & USE can be found here.