Birmingham Royal Ballet’s revival of Sir PeterWright and
Galina Samsova’s glorious journey into Swan Lake comes to Sunderland
For
spring 2023, ballet’s greatest love story returns in Birmingham Royal Ballet’s
revival of Sir Peter Wright and Galina Samsova’s glorious journey into Swan
Lake, a lavish production in which the Royal Ballet Sinfonia performs
Tchaikovsky’s superb music live alongside BRB’s spectacular dancers. This romantic
fable of ill-fated passion has bewitched audiences for generations and will
tour to Sunderland Empire March 2023.
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This treasured production of Swan Lake is the third in a trio of Sir Peter Wright’s exquisite ballets performed by the company this season, following the first revival in five years of the joyous classic Coppélia in October, and the world-famous production of The Nutcracker at the Birmingham Hippodrome.
Prince
Siegfried is out hunting one night when he happens upon a flock of graceful
swans. When one of them turns into a beautiful woman, the Prince is utterly
smitten – but Odette explains that she has fallen under an evil spell cast by
the evil Baron von Rothbart, which keeps her in swan form from dawn to dusk.
Can Siegfried’s love break the spell? Find out
in this exquisite production of a true ballet classic.
We caught up with Momoko Hirata to
discuss the show.
Momoko Hirata as Sugar Plum Fairy,
Birmingham Royal Ballet The Nutcracker
Photo Bill Cooper
Can you tell us a bit about Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Swan Lake and your role in the show?
Swan Lake is an iconic love story between Prince
Siegfried and the Swan Queen Odette, performed in 4 acts. I play the role of
Odette/ Odil so both the White Swan and the Black Swan.
What would you say is the hardest part and what do you enjoy the most?
The hardest part is definitely the technical challenge.
It’s incredibly demanding as you play the two different sides, one as the White
Swan and the other as the Black Swan. Showing two different characters in one
performance is a challenge in itself and Act 3 is especially technically
challenging as you have to famously complete thirty two fouettés. But getting
the chance to play two different people is also what I enjoy the most.
How do you prepare for a big role like this?
We have a very intense rehearsal process but
this part for me is familiar as I last played Odette/ Odil three years ago just
before Covid hit so we had to finish early. It’s weird as my body still kind of
remembers the steps and everything. I’m really excited to pick up where we left
off and push myself even further than three years ago.
Can you tell us a bit about your dance background and history with Birmingham Royal Ballet?
I started dancing when I was five back in Japan
which is where I’m from. I then came to England to study at the Royal Ballet School.
It’s really funny as the first ballet performance that I saw in London was actually
Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Swan Lake, so for me Swan Lake is a
very special ballet that I’ve also dreamt of being a part of. I studied at the
Royal Ballet School for two years and then joined Birmingham Royal Ballet.
Again, Swan Lake was one of the first ballet’s I performed with the
company. I joined BRB back in 2003 and this is now my fifth Swan Lake
with the company. I’ve pretty much done every role as I joined in the Corps de
Ballet and this is my third time playing Odette and Odil.
What made you get into ballet?
I always wanted to wear a tutu! I have two
older sisters who both started ballet before me and I used to go and see their
school performances when I was really young and just fell in love with the
costumes. So that’s how I got into ballet really – I just wanted to be a princess
in a tutu.
Can you describe what a day looks like during the Swan Lake tour?
Once we go on tour it’s slightly different to what
we do here in Birmingham during the rehearsal period. When we’re in the studio
we have a class at 10:30am and then rehearse until 6:30pm five days a week so
it’s pretty full on. Once we go on tour and are performing, principals do one
or two shows a week, so we have a bit more free time but obviously the pressure
is really high.
What are you hoping audiences will take away from Swan Lake?
I always enjoy performing Swan Lake on
stage and the music is so special, so I hope that comes across to audiences.
Everyone on stage is giving their heart out, not just the principles, but the
Corps de Ballet too. You have sixteen swans dancing together all in line and I
know from experience how hard it is to be in sync. I hope audiences appreciate
that as well.
Why should people come and see Swan Lake?
Swan Lake is so iconic – everything that you
think of when you think of ballet is in there – and there’s something for
everyone, from the big numbers to the sets and costumes and beautiful music.
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Momoko Hirata as Sugar Plum Fairy,
Birmingham Royal Ballet The Nutcracker
Photo Bill Cooper
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