Witness the birth of a legend in a painstakingly restored film that captures Rudolf Nureyev's electrifying 1964 performance of "Swan Lake."
Rudolf Nureyev's Swan Lake: Magic Moments of Music
Documentary
Nureyev: Lifting the Curtain
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Subscribe NowEssential viewing, this meticulously crafted biography captures the power, spirit, and heartbreak of ballet’s most captivating star.
From Rudolf Nureyev's dramatic Cold War defection to his meteoric rise as a global sensation, complete with adoring fans, to his iconic partnership with Margot Fonteyn, this documentary traces an extraordinary career. Nureyev’s magnetic stage presence—marked by panther-like grace and fierce intensity—comes alive through newly unearthed footage of his collaborations with legends Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, and Murray Louis. With an evocative original score by Alex Baranowski and mesmerizing dance tableaux by Russell Maliphant, Nureyev’s performances are vivid and spellbinding.
Offstage, intimate moments reveal the poignant reunion with his mother after years in exile and his complex relationship with fellow dancer Erik Bruhn. Nureyev lived as he danced—boldly, passionately, and without limits.
Cast & Crew
(Director), (Director), Rudolf Nureyev (Self), Margot Fonteyn (Self), Siân Phillips (Self), Dick Cavett (Self)