One of the world’s most famous Russian ballets, the Swan Lake in the designer and at the same time authentic stage production by Vladimir Burmeister has long become the hallmark of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music State Theatre.

There is hardly any ballet company in the world that has never performed Pyotr Tchaikovsky's famous creation inspired by an old German legend about the bewitched girl and based on the canonic libretto by Vladimir Begichev and Vasily Geltzer. Its first production took place nearly a century and a half ago, and since then the love story of Prince Siegfried and Odette bewitched by Rothbart has been repeatedly interpreted by the choreographers of various ballet schools. 
 
The version of Vladimir Burmeister, staged at the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music State Theatre, along with the choreographic interpretation by great dancer Rudolph Nureyev, is considered to be one of the most radical productions of the legendary ballet. Nevertheless, it is in this stage production that the Dance of Little Swans is most authentic and in addition, Burmeister’s script contains a full version of the 2^nd act, which has happened to be abridged or completely omitted by many other stage directors.
Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece "Swan Lake" staged by the outstanding choreographer Vladimir Burmeister has long become a legend of the Moscow ballet stage. Its premiere took place back in 1953, but time has no power over this masterpiece.
In his production, Vladimir Burmeister preserved the remarkable 2^nd act as staged by Lev Ivanov in the bygone 19^th century. The famous scene of the appearance of white swans, including the popular Dance of Little Swans, has entered the stage production in its original form. In other respects, the Burmeister version is original and still remains unsurpassed. The Swan Lake ballet in his production has acquired clear dramatic art and deep philosophical meaning to it.
In 1956, the Swan Lake was performed on the tour of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music State Theatre in Paris. It was such a resounding success that Vladimir Burmeister was invited to shift his production to the Opera de Paris. Vladimir Burmeister’s version of the Swan Lake was performed on the stage of the Paris Opera from 1960 till the late 1980s.

The Storyline of Swan Lake Ballet
Princess Odette Odette is turned into a swan by the evil sorcerer Rothbart. Only someone who falls in love with Odette, swears an oath of fidelity to her and keeps his oath can possibly save the princess.
Prince Siegfried meets swan-girls when hunting on the lake shore. Odette is among them. Siegfried and Odette fall in love with each other. Siegfried swears that he will be true to Odette all his life and save the girl from the sorcerer's evil spell. 
Siegfried's mother - the Princess in power - arranges a party in her castle, where the Prince should select his bride. In love with Odette, the Prince refuses to select anybody. At this time, the evil sorcerer appears in the castle under the guise of a knight. He has brought his daughter Odile, who looks just like Odette. Deceived by this similarity, Siegfried selects Odile to be his bride. The evil sorcerer triumphs.Having realized his mistake, Prince Siegfried hurries to the shore of the Swan Lake.