FREDONIA – The 1891 Fredonia Opera House will present the Bolshoi Ballet, performing Piotr Tchaikovsky’s ballet masterpiece, “Swan Lake” on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 1 p.m.

Captured live via satellite from Moscow, this performance is the third of four classical ballets from Bolshoi that the Opera House will present over the winter months. Tchaikovsky’s first ballet, Swan Lake is considered by many to be one of the greatest classical ballets of all time. Its romance and beauty has allowed it to mesmerize audiences for more than 100 years.

In Swan Lake, the tale begins at the palace, where the royal family and their guests are gathered for Prince Siegfried’s birthday celebrations. In a majestic ceremony, Siegfried is made a knight; and young girls try to attract his attention, as he must choose a wife during the ball. Overcome by a sudden awareness of his future responsibilities, he escapes into the night and meets a strange flock of swans by a magical lake. Among them is the beautiful Odette, who – white swan by day, human by night – awaits an oath of true love to break her curse.

This legend of the enigmatic swan/woman is set in the era of courtly romance and characterized by elegance, style and harmony. Bolshoi principals Svetlana Zakharova and Denis Rodkin bring the characters of this romantic ballet to life. The production runs two hours, 35 minutes.

Individual tickets to Swan Lake are $20, ($18 Opera House members, $15 students, $10 children 12 & under). Tickets may be purchased in person at the Opera House Box Office or by phone at 679-1891, Tuesday-Friday, 1-5 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online anytime at www.fredopera.org.

The Bolshoi Ballet broadcasts are made possible by Dr. James M. and Marcia Merrins, who funded the purchase of the satellite transmission and projection equipment used in the series.

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House is a member-supported not-for-profit organization located in Village Hall in downtown Fredonia. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.fredopera.org.