Swan Lake is the second ballet being performed by the Chisinau National Ballet at the Empire this week and judging by the size of the audience and its reaction on this opening night it is still the most popular. This classic love story with its original choreography by Marius Petipa, first performed in 1877, was superbly interpreted by the dancers of this Russian corps de ballet. Its orchestra, under the direction of conductor Svetlana Popova, accomplishing Tchaikovsky’s score with aplomb. For me the most impressive and moving part was towards the end of Act 2 when the flock of swans, at least forty, arrived on the lake to reproach the Prince for daring to deprive them of their queen. The graceful dancing, perfectly timed and with beautiful flowing movements is breathtaking and guaranteed to impress even the most casual observer, I had a tear in my eye I tell you. After the interval the location is the Great Hall and we witnessed a superb solo performance by Nadezhda Schepachiova as Odile which drew its own applause, followed by sequences of national dances by members of the company. The final act, altered under Stalin’s orders during communist times to produce a happy ending, has been reinstated in its original form, however, I felt the final scene was over just a little too quickly. The entire company, including pupils from the Elliott Clarke School invited as extras, is to be congratulated for bringing this beautiful ballet to Liverpool, together with The Sleeping Beauty earlier this week they are an experience in talent and dedication that those who witness will never forget. | 
