Swan Lake

Act I. A park near the royal castle.  To the jubilant opening strains of Tchaikovsky’s score, Benno, the childhood friend of Prince Seigfried, leads the court and visitors in a celebration of the Prince’s coming-of-age. The Queen Mother offers the Prince his present, a crossbow. She reminds him that as he is to become King, he must choose a bride at the following evening’s ball. Realizing the days of his carefree youth are over, Siegfried leaves the festivities to seek the solace of the woods.

Act II. A clearing deep in the forest. Later that night, in a moonlit clearing by the lake, the Prince meets the mysterious Odette, who explains her fate. The Prince is smitten and vows that he will save her. Von Rothbart suddenly appears and the Prince draws his bow, but Odette shields the sorcerer's body with hers, realizing that should he die before the spell is broken, her destiny would be sealed. Von Rothbart disappears and Odette withdraws, as the awestruck prince looks on.

Act III. The Grand Ballroom of the castle.  At the ball, eligible royal princesses arrive from foreign lands -- Hungary, Spain, Italy, Poland -- all eager to be chosen the Prince's bride and future Queen. They present their native dances, but the Prince's thoughts are only of Odette. Suddenly, Von Rothbart arrives with his daughter Odile, who is disguised as a black swan and appears identical to Odette. The Prince is enraptured and they exit together as Von Rothbart holds the court in thrall, dancing with each of the princesses. Siegfried and Odile return, she beguiles him, and the Prince announces he will marry her. Von Rothbart demands he swear fidelity, and just as he does, the Prince realizes he is the victim of a heinous plot. In a startling moment of clarity, he envisions the woman he truly loves and rushes to join her at the lakeside.

ACT IV. In the forest.  A great storm rages as the Prince arrives and asks Odette for forgiveness. She says she has no choice but to kill herself. The Prince declares he will die with her. Von Rothbart appears and the lovers throw themselves into the lake. Von Rothbart is vanquished, his power destroyed -- but not before he witnesses the lovers' ultimate triumph as their spirits rise heavenward, united at last in life after death.

--paraphrased from PBS