History of 'Swan Lake' Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1875 - 1876

Tchaikovsky composed 'Swan Lake' in 1875, however it was quite unsuccessful after the first year of performance; conductors, dancers and many members of audience thought that the piece of music was much too difficult to dance to, and therefore rejected the piece. After Tchaikovsky's death, however, the piece was revived and popularised.

Answer: Odette

Odette is a beautiful princess who is turned into a swan by an evil curse, put in place by a sorcerer. She is a swan in the day, but turns back into a human at night. She is not the only one under the spell - all of the other 'swan people' have made her the 'Swan Queen'.

She is destined to stay a swan for eternity unless the power of eternal love breaks the spell - this eternal love is between Odette and her lover. If he ever stops being faithful to her, she will be a swan forever.

Answer: Siegfried

Prince Siegfried is the handsome prince who falls in love with Odette and breaks the spell after eternal love reigns. This character's name varies throughout most of the adaptions of this popular ballet. Prince Siegfried's favourite hobby is hunting with his best friend, Benno.

Answer: von Sommerstern

Benno von Sommerstern is, as I have said, the Prince's best friend. This character doesn't really have much of a role throughout the ballet; however HE does appear often. When the Prince, Benno and some other 'companions' go hunting, the Prince first sees the swan, falling in love instantly. Benno tries to shoot her and her friends, but is soon stopped by the Prince.

Answer: 4th March 1877

On the 4th March 1877, 'Swan Lake' was first released in Moscow, at the Bolshoi Theatre. The Balletmaster was Julius Reisinger; the Conductor was Stepan Ryabov and the Scene Designers were Karl Valts, Ivan Shangin, Karl Groppius.

Answer: Anna Sobeshchanskaya

The role of Odette was originally intended for Anna Sobeshchanskaya. Despite her amazing performance, she was taken out of the production. This is because someone had complained about her - saying that she had accepted some expensive jewellery from them, only to marry and sell the pieces. She was replaced by Pelageya Karpakova. Anna Sobeshchanskaya returned to the role at a later date.

Answer: von Rothbart

When the Prince goes out hunting, he spots the most beautiful swan he has ever seen, floating by with a crown on her head. He asks to be alone, and sits and watches it. When night falls, it transforms into the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. She explains that von Rothbart cast a spell on her, making her a swan in the day time and a beautiful girl at night.

The Prince realises that von Rothbart is posing as his mentor.

Answer: Pierina Legani

The ballerina who originally danced the part of Odette - Pierina Legnani - performed 32 fouettes in a row. She is known as an extremely gifted ballerina, and everyone who has ever danced the part of Odette since has been compared to Legnani.

Answer: Womanhood

Tchaikovsky claimed that Odette the swan represented womanhood - in its purest form. This is also represented by the amazingly pure white of the swan. Tchaikovsky had much of/all of the control over this ballet piece, and therefore he and his colleagues agreed that this is what the swan represented. Stories of the swan-maidens date back to ancient Greek times - when the ancient Greek god Apollo was born with swans flying above his head.

Answer: Lev Ivanov

Petipa and Ivanov are both famous choreographers. Marius Petipa was a very famous French ballet dancer, teacher and choreographer. Lev Ivanov was a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer.