From his daring defection to his meteoric rise, this portrait of ballet’s first global superstar is as captivating as the man himself.
Nureyev: Lifting the Curtain
Documentary
Rudolf Nureyev's Swan Lake: Magic Moments of Music
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Subscribe NowThis meticulously restored 4K film captures a landmark moment in ballet history: the rise of 20th-century dance icon Rudolf Nureyev.
In 1964, Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake," choreographed by the 26-year-old Nureyev, premiered at the Vienna State Opera. The young Russian also performed the lead role of the prince alongside prima ballerina Margot Fonteyn. The audience demanded a record-breaking 89 curtain calls.
Newly filmed conversations with Michael Birkmeyer and Gisela Cech, who danced alongside Nureyev that night, offer firsthand accounts. Additionally, principal dancer of the Berlin State Ballet, Polina Semionova, and choreographer Eric Gauthier provide a modern perspective on Nureyev's enduring influence.
Cast & Crew
(Director), Rudolf Nureyev (Self), Margot Fonteyn (Self), Michael Birkmeyer (Self), Gisela Cech (Self), Eric Gauthier (Self), Kirill Serebrennikov (Self)