Swan Lake, Op. 20
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Work background
Researched classical background
Swan Lake was Tchaikovsky's first full-length ballet commission. Its score connects the human world of Prince Siegfried with the enchanted world of Odette and the swans through recurring orchestral ideas and contrasting dances. The initial Moscow staging preceded the influential Petipa-Ivanov revival of 1895. Productions differ in choreography, ordering, and ending, so this entry represents the ballet score rather than one stage version.
A listening guide
Listen for the returning swan theme and how its orchestral setting changes as the drama develops.
Listening suggestions are editorial guides to the music.
Forces: Orchestra
Premiere: 1877 (first staging)
The score was commissioned in 1875; 1877 is the first staging, not the composition year.
This entry describes the musical work or cycle. Composition, premiere and publication dates describe different events. Performers and recordings can be explored through the external listening search.
Date, title and version notes
Ballet productions and concert suites can alter the order, selection, and ending.
Selections from Swan Lake, Op. 20 - LA Phil
Work identity, chronology where stated, and the specific musical or historical context summarized in this entry. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Sources for this work
Selections from Swan Lake, Op. 20 - LA Phil
Work identity, chronology where stated, and the specific musical or historical context summarized in this entry. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Browse by year
1960-2025. Each year contains 150 selections.