Swan Lake in Salzburg. International Festival Ballet & Festival Orchestra 16 December 2026
The International Ballet Festival presents one of the most famous ballets set to music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, *Swan Lake*.
For many, “Swan Lake” is synonymous with ballet. A romantic fairy tale about the young Prince Siegfried, who falls in love with the swan princess Odette and wants to free her from the evil spell cast by Duke Rothbart—this is a story about the power of true love.
This ballet is part of the standard repertoire of all major companies. In particular, the Allegro Moderato from the “Swan Dances” in Act 2, choreographed by Lev Ivanov, has been the subject of countless parodies and is therefore known far beyond ballet circles as the “Dance of the Four Little Swans.” In short, this is a brilliant work by a brilliant composer that has captivated audiences for centuries.
On stage, “Swan Lake” is brought to life by one of the finest classical ballet companies—the International Festival Ballet. The magnificent set design by the brilliant theater artist Vyacheslav Okunev—who has worked, among others, for the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg and La Scala in Milan—along with the exquisite costumes, boundless elegance, and the carefree lightness of the ballet ensemble come together to create a magical, dreamlike version of this classic ballet, which continues to enchant audiences even after more than 100 years.