Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake Op. 20

4 July 2026

Background

A ballet composed between 1875 and 1876. Despite its initial failure, it is now one of the most popular ballets of all time.
In two acts, based on Russian and German folk tales of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse.
Premiered by the Bolshoi Ballet on 4 March 1877 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Choreographer: Julius Reisinger.

Recordings

Complete Ballets. Swan Lake — Mariinsky Version

Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre

Cond. Valery Gergiev · DECCA

🏆 Radio 3 Building a Library (2019): Recommended Recording

Swan Lake

State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia "Evgeny Svetlanov"

Cond. Vladimir Jurowski · Pentatone

🏆 Gramophone Magazine (2018): Editor's Choice
🏆 Radio 3 (2018): Disc of the Week

Complete Symphonies. Swan Lake Ballet Suite Op. 20

Philadelphia Orchestra

Cond. Riccardo Muti · Warner Classics

🏆 Radio 3 Building a Library (2017): Recommended

Ballet Suites: Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Cond. Mstislav Rostropovich · Deutsche Grammophon

🏆 Penguin Guide (1996): Rosette

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