The Dying Swan - Natalia Osipova (The Royal Ballet)

Natalia Osipova performs Michel Fokine's The Dying Swan as part of The Royal Ballet: Live - Within the Golden Hour. Watch On Demand until 13 December 2020 stream.roh.org.uk/packages/th...
Royal Ballet Principal Natalia Osipova is joined by solo piano Kate Shipway and solo cello Christopher Vanderspar. The Dying Swan, which would become Anna Pavlova’s most famous role, was choreographed by Michel Fokine and set to music by Camille Saint-Saëns.
The Royal Ballet: Live - Within the Golden Hour begins with a varied selection of excerpts and set pieces and concludes with Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon’s ballet of shimmering beauty, Within the Golden Hour.
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[@ab-jj2fi]

i rlly hope this is what my ballet teacher meant when she said i looked like a dying swan

[@yunaz7977]

LMFAO

[@semsem6020]

SORRY FOR LAUGHING

[@faithebelebe1104]

Lmfao.....you are really funny

[@kimberlygoodwin8500]

🤣🤣🤣

[@richelle0116]

HAHAHAHA

[@Rose0004]

She keeps trying to fly away, but she can't. The viewer can feel the swan's pain and weakness as her form gives out. Raw, beautiful, PHENOMENAL performance.

[@ivanhajzin3852]

ano nádherně vyjádřené.. Vaše vnímavost a křehkost je jak laskavost ticha pro krásu listu padajícího ze stromu do dlaně krásy země...

[@devashreetripathi5879]

Yes, you are right 💜

[@user-oh6xq8lx3z]

God bless you

[@Rose0004]

@@user-oh6xq8lx3z God bless you, too!

[@InsaneLaughter01]

She went on for 8 minutes, she had the strength to fly, just chose to flap around for drama. 😂

[@maicolacostalemos]

She is not only an incredible ballerina... she is an artist.. her interpretation in this is more important than her technique.. ❣

[@tamei7006]

Yes so true! She could easily do the usual beautiful version, but makes an artistic choice to make it „ugly“. Kudos to Natalia! ❤️

[@al.s.3277]

Well of course, ballet is an art. ♥️

[@dinoie8530]

@@tamei7006 fr and to me it looked like the swan just wanted to fly again with everyone but never got the chance and started accepting death a bit and in the end it finally dies

[@pinkiefinger6402]

why did i think of 'he's not just an athlete, he's an artist!'

[@boltoht]

absolutely agree. I watched this speechless. She is breathtaking.

[@tatianafeitosaaraujo]

My knowledge about ballet is close to zero, but this sure was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen in my whole life!

[@aradhanayadav2927]

Same here.. I am crying and I don't know why...

[@sheusedtosleep]

All you need to know is that it is hard

[@maggiepie765]

Samedt. Crying over this on youtube. I wonder if I can see this performed for reals - I think I’ll be sobbing then, with snot coming out of my nose kind of ugly crying T_T

[@strings-n-keys]

@@maggiepie765 😂😂😂

[@mithulahiri4105]

@@aradhanayadav2927 Because we see don't see a ballerina interpreting a swan's movements; we see a swan. One who is desperately trying to fly but later realises that she is dying. It's quite an emotional performance. I watched Svetlana Zakharova's performance as well where she interprets the swan as trying to fly but soon resigns herself in the knowledge that she is dying. Two different interpretations, but both exquisite and emotional performances.

[@moonlight.z6543]

The agony that she expresses in her movements, the shake of her muscles, the pained look on her face, the tremble of her dress, up to the movement of her fingers... This is a dying swan. Gracefully painful

[@pj7371]

Ok

[@Hello-vw8gc]

ikr

[@shamismuhammad]

Yeah ummmm yea it’s good I think that’s what u meant

[@ivanhajzin3852]

myslím, že to je nejvýstižnější vyjádření.. zasahuje to nejkřehčí, co člověk v duši má...

[@ivanhajzin3852]

snoubení bolesti a krásy.... jako život sám....

[@lenawitteborg7848]

I have no words to express just how truly beautiful, graceful and moving this was! Brava!

[@ramandeepnijjar8281]

Thank you for expressing how I felt about it in such perfect words!

[@theincarnateofkurro]

@@ramandeepnijjar8281 they literally said they had no words to express it lmao

[@trudidixon1995]

Sublime. This performance touches your soul.

[@buturug]

Yes, to speak about îs a sinn. It deserves a profund mute admiration!

[@rebeccas9715]

bruh i have never teared up at at someone's dance 'till now

[@jw771]

My 17 year old cat (who I had since I was 5) became very sick and deteriorated rapidly. I watched her fight so hard to stay alive. This performance broke my heart as it was so accurate to the way animals fight so hard and seem so confused when they are dying and how they just fight and fight. She made it beautiful yet still haunting. It was my 5 year old dream to be a ballerina, and Cuddles would watch me and let me put ballerina tiaras on her head. I never took classes but I am starting to do Lessons on KZbin. It’s a way for me to honour her. I feel like she is still watching me from heaven.

[@ishikawayayoi]

I cried reading your comment. Cuddles is definitely watching you from heaven so good luck with your ballet lessons on KZbin! Dance is such a beautiful art form to transmute sadness into hope.

[@birdyfilovingheart6365]

@@ishikawayayoiI'm crying about the comment too 😢❤️

[@birdyfilovingheart6365]

Oh this has made my tears fall. I also do ballet at home, so like you. Mine is because I am recovering from breast cancer. I had a lump and lymph nodes removed and my arm has suffered. I got the strength back in it from doing ballet moves and it's worked! To top off my joy, I am seeing Natalia dance Odette at the Royal Opera House next week (March 14th 2022) and will say a little prayer for your beloved cat because I will be thinking of you. I'm going to be very emotional that night. God bless ❤️

[@ivanhajzin3852]

láska se neztratí, i když naše blízké bytosti převedou svou duši do laskavosti věčnosti....

[@narizota]

cuddles would be proud of you

[@istvantoth5466]

Natalia Osipova grows more and more as an actress! Its outstanding how she felt the "character" of a dying swan and used the ballet to transmit it. Usually I don't like the Royal Ballet and prefer the Russian Ballet, but it could be that as an actress she got currently more benefits from the British influence.

[@hejhej4441]

Agreed. I really love russian ballet but a lot of times it seems that the dancers are disconnected from their character or too cold as a result of focusing, maybe too much, on technique

[@istvantoth5466]

@@hejhej4441 Yes, I have often the same feelings, but I don't think that this is because they are too much focused on the technique, I think that to live the character intensively, and not just to play it, is more of a western culture.

[@scorpionattitude]

@@istvantoth5466 what’s the point of using this art form if not to embrace and embody the art itself... the issues with a lot of the Russian ballet practices has more to do with their cold unrelenting training methods in my opinion, rather than it being “more of a western thing” there are plenty of countries that display breathtaking art with beautiful techniques that aren’t western. We can agree that most of the Russian ballet can be “known” for the almost flawless technique though. The cold stance/expression is constantly noticed and criticized but it’s seemingly part of THEIR culture. Using art to display perfection rather than expression. To each their own though. Tons of good qualities all around the globe, it’s ok to recognize downfalls especially when they have such strong execution of these works in general! Definitely part of why they seem to flow better individually instead of as a group I think. It’s like watching and hearing a pianist play a perfect piece vs some other pianist that plays that same piece with additional flourish instinctively blending the two without missing a beat. Just a different style. Both beautiful and interesting to experience.

[@istvantoth5466]

@@scorpionattitude Congratulation for the name you choose, indeed all the scorpion girls I met in my life had a unique attitude which always intrigued me, but made me also suffer a lot:) To your point, maybe I was too short in my words and the word "western" mislead. I think that the high performance increase in analyzing the characters came because of the cinema culture, which even if invented mostly by , had later the highest level of studies and development in western Europe and in the USA. With this I don't think that Russian culture is cold, actually it is very emotional indeed. When you look to a class of Vaganova dancers, then they don't smile not because they are cold, they just didn't learn how to express their emotions and hide them by choice.

[@user-hu2em6gd4k]

Osipova became a prima ballerina at the Bolshoi! She has a big soul and a big heart, that's why such a deep and soulful performance of "Swan".

[@autumnnite1803]

I feel tearful watching this. Natalia is pure emotion

[@aradhanayadav2927]

I am crying.....😢

[@SunshineMix101]

It is lovely how the audience's gaze is focused directly on the performer, without the distraction of elaborate costumes, elaborate stage design or any other such plot device.

[@veratolstikhina7928]

It is a truly theatrical version of Dying Swan. You see not only fragile swan with elegant, weightless movements, you see a real dying living creature, fighting for life till last breath. That's Natalia Osipova is all about! I am so impressed how she told us the story with incredible organic unison of all accents in music and exact movements or its traces.

[@Camilaxbarcelos]

This made me cry . The most beautiful interpretation of the Dying Swan I’ve ever seen . Thank you Osipova please do not stop !

[@soniabuxaderassans9671]

Probably never saw Plisetskaya i see

[@davidorr9678]

​@@soniabuxaderassans9671 the dying swan is not supposed to be beautiful, but ugly. the swan is graceful and elegant but death is tragic and sad - it keeps trying to take flight but is slowly dying. Osipova captured this perfectly, this act is truly astonishing/heartbreaking

[@soniabuxaderassans9671]

And also Maya can express that. Both are probably the best at this piece

[@gabriellopez3872]

The expression in her face is just WOW! I don't have words to describe how amazing she is

[@christaj.2581]

Tears. She’s not just a dancer. She’s an artist. I don’t know what else to say. This took my breath away. Wow.

[@siennabay]

This cuts off just before the final pose, disappointing.

[@carmen9330]

Yes, was just thinking the same..

[@nehar.7953]

True

[@anatomia5344]

Just... Epilepsia

[@Mei-wm3xb]

agree I wanted to hear the claps

[@eviejynx4550]

She’s insane those arm movements in the beginning like wings...this is crazy

[@Piper_of_Hamelin]

The quaking at the end with the final flourish... This swan raged at the dying of the light. Heart-breaking performance.

[@thatpianoman4350]

Watching till the end as soon as she did that tears just burst from my eyes. It was an amazing way to end the dance that truly captured the struggle and final gasp for life

[@marcimmanuelisip6561]

I love how she puts more backbends (or spinal extension) in this... she is the only one i see dropping her head back (cambre) while in bourrees. she’s AMAZING!

[@mixhellenah101]

Yes

[@vickiwilson8345]

An extraordinary performance. Will go into the historical records of this beautiful ballet. This is what I imagine a swan feels when she knows that tomorrow will not be hers. XXV

[@darlingxan]

she delivers the emotions so well , like the swan is really struggling to hold on to life and keep flying but at the end had to face it’s fate, this is so sad and heart touching😭

[@deborahwong954]

Am I the only one who teared up when I watched this? ;-; Her dancing was on point and her expression was truly beautiful. She really makes it look so effortless while still conveying the pain and emotion. Natalia is truly a beautiful and graceful dancer.

[@bunnybird9342]

No you're not the only one. As evident from this entire comment section.

[@primalcritters]

I teared up too

[@austindenotter19]

Probably, i know someone passed onions right close to my eyes.

[@juliaricks8698]

WOW!! I love what she does with her hands and fingers, that trembling is just genius. And her arms in certain moments, thhe way they bend!

[@Madi-Math]

at the very end of the video you can hear her last breath. Outstanding!

[@margosargsyan2732]

Never in a million years would I have thought that a speechless performance can being tears to my eyes 😢😢😢😢

[@Nobilangelo]

Oh! That goes to the heart. It is said that swans sing only once, just before they die. She sings in heart-rending dance.

[@lineth1188]

I'm literally hurt in my soul, she is nothing but an absolutely amazing artist, cant explain what her execution made me feel.

[@swampwitchchic]

Natalia is my favorite ballerina at the moment. Not necessarily because of her amazing technique, which many other dancers have, but because of her passion and presence onstage and the way she uses her emotions to tell a story. I aspire to dance like her when I am older:)

[@tammygun1]

Wow. I have just watched this after Svetlana Zakharova's Dying Swan. Both completely different but equally stunning. Osipova nails technically nerve racking things in this - the port de bras backwards whilst keeping a tight fifth en pointe. Zakharova's arms and bourees are impossibly beautiful. Osipova fights her death, Zakharova is fatalistic. I feel privileged to see such dancers.

[@user-em6dv9bh4m]

ВЕЛИКАЯ И НЕСРАВНЕННАЯ НАТАЛЬЯ ОСИПОВА....БОГИНЯ РУССКОГО БАЛЕТА..🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤❤❤

[@clairerubbelke2238]

I'm so glad to see the original choreography! Gorgeous!

[@theghibligirl]

I feel like crying whenever I watch this😭 One of the best🤩

[@naimapetit2580]

I loved the part when Natalia put her hands on her. It seems like she was hugging herself. It’s a very beautiful choreography. I really love it! ❤️She’s the greatest ballet dancer in the world.

[@turkanart]

Every time I watch this masterpiece, I remember a poor pigeon I saw dying on our balcony. A few times she landed on our balcony and my mother fed her. One morning she came again and she died suddenly. The flapping of her wings and sudden exhalation were just like that when she died :'

[@alexconverse4839]

the complete control she had in her arms was just amazing

[@brunagoncalvesarantes706]

I can’t think of something more beautiful than a ballerina. To me it’s the ultimate stage of grace and beauty a human soul can achieve. Natalia Osipova is gorgeous.

[@tankmaster1018]

1:48 - 2:12 Just gave me some the most insane chills I have ever felt in my life. That made me feel like someone literally poured a cup of ice water down my back... I have never been a fan of ballet, but decided to give it another chance and check some of it out again, and I'm glad I did, because that was the most hauntingly beautiful dance I've ever seen in my life. The combination of this piece of music and the performers dance is one of the few things in my life that I'd be willing to truly call magical. Sort of ironic that the first dance performance I've seen that has made me legitimately tear up also happened to be the same style of dance that I wouldn't have even given the time of day 5 years ago. Feeling like an utter moron right here for ignoring ballet at all costs over the past decade or so of my life

[@gucynthia]

this made me cry, she's so into her own emotions besides the dancing, so into it that you can truly see it

[@charondolls]

tears are falling down my face.... the emotions that are being portrayed, can only be shown by a true artist.

[@lind104]

This is ballet at its finest, dancing from her soul, beautiful.

[@nunaab9929]

The swan faces death,, yet it is so graceful

[@user-tk7zf4he9r]

Интересная интерпретация. Осипова поражает всегда, у неё большой лирико - драматический талант, казалось бы Жизель, Лебедь ,не её амплуа, но она и в этих партиях превосходна. Да, невероятная балерина, в каждой роли выкладывается по максимуму и как танцовщица, и как актриса.

[@ruthmariesub]

Her movements are so fluid and dreamy! I'm crying... she's so perfect. Bravo.🌹🩰🦢

[@cormel_h]

it makes me tearing up in an instant moment. love the expression

[@ipekozeren4473]

what an incredible dancer natalia osipova is

[@user-zp4yl1gt5m]

Необичайна версия, браво Наталия! Великолепна!!!

[@angelvanillas444]

words cannot describe how beautiful this is

[@zoeprice798]

I haven’t seen many renditions of this, but the ones I have feel so unbelievably wooden. She does a gorgeous job of keeping the dance intact while also drawing attention to the tone of the piece. Natalia is quickly becoming one of my favorite ballerinas.

[@gailgranberry238]

Brava! Masterful technician and artist. I was so moved. And can I also add that I appreciated the videography! I cannot stand poorly filmed dance stages. Useless zoom-ins and odd angles annoy me to no end-I just scream “WHY?!?” This entire thing was beautiful. Well done!

[@jamien.6906]

I don't know why I'm crying. The emotion is on point. The grace and beauty is just 😭❤

[@user-vu7so1ls4g]

Браво Наталья вы исполнили нежного чувственного лебедя своего не похожего на других ,очень рада за Вас хочется видеть вас ещё

[@dianewalters3101]

Natalia continues to dance the Swan with such gorgeous intimacy like she does to so many other roles in dance. Thank you for giving us a chance to experience such beauty!

[@user-ob9jv1lm4x]

Умирающий лебедь. А сколько любви к жизни в танце Осиповой. Молодец. ❤💐 из России.

[@eg5660]

Osipova is, IMO, one of the only current dancers I’ve seen that has the essence of the ballerinas from days gone by. She has the passion, the speed, the character and personal touches that you see mainly in vintage clips of dancers. Also of course Osipova isn’t going to perform this piece the way that say, Zakharova or Lopatkina do... this is a different company, different continent, completely different artists. Meanings and interpretations change and that’s fine. Some like a more graceful dying swan, others like a grittier interpretation. There’s no right or wrong, it’s just what you like, and there’s art for you! So no need to insult the artists hm?

[@marvel-buff]

And I very much prefer Ms. Osipova's interpretation to SZ or UL's. They are all about beauty and grace and perfect lines, and I don't get the immediacy and urgency and pain of death from either. Natalia is the only one who manages to perfectly capture that angst, in my opinion.

[@darrenashley5292]

Thank you. Am learning so much from you all. No....def no need to insult the artist. Am stunned how ignorant I am. Forsook the Arts for Sciences. Never too late to learn though. Took up painting and drawing again during lockdown and love it, but am tone deaf so a violin or piano is out, though I wud LOVE either. Can appreciate the music when played but cannot hum or sing correctly, the simplest melodies. Sister the same. Another sister brill artist and very musical. But not remotely interested in earth sciences etc. 😁😁😁

[@eg5660]

@@marvel-buff Agreed! I’ll always love the perfection and grace of those classic Russian swan-types but for this particular piece, I think Osipova’s visceral acting makes for such a uniquely passionate and powerful performance.

[@eg5660]

@@darrenashley5292 Welcome to the ballet community! Yes, never too late to discover a love of the arts.

[@darrenashley5292]

@@eg5660 Thank you very much all for the explanations. Look forward to taking my mind off the worlds problems for a while. Wish me luck.

[@etcxc245]

imagine watching this live, I would sob uncontrollably

[@alisoncaspersen]

This is the closest I have seen to the original by Anna Pavlova! Both these ballerinas are absolute legends! Incredible and inspirational!

[@heyryanisonx3141]

I was very fortunate to watch it during the livestream and oh my god! My jaw was on the floor! I'm so happy ROH has posted it on youtube so it can be shared many times more ❤️❤️❤️

[@aranika]

Heart is breaking every time I saw her swan. That's it, that's art

[@mikiberge6427]

Poignant. Outstanding.

[@mariannekabosse7832]

La beauté fait encore partie de ce monde.

[@remaguire]

I admire the artistry of ballet, but it is the sheer athleticism that really draws me to it.

[@tinamarieperry5186]

The sheer pain and emotion she portrays here brings me to tears ...just amazing to watch as a Ballerina myself 😢😢

[@sophiebelaqua5059]

This expressed the pain of the swan better than I’ve ever seen it! Just wow

[@iamintarriagagonzalez16]

OMG I'M A SUPER FAN OF NATALIA THIS IS AMAZING

[@user-qp3vf3nu9l]

Прекрасная короткая жизнь,ощущение светлой грусти,чего- то далёкого,невозвратного...

[@Izzy-nt8dv]

I. Love. Natalia. Osipova.

[@la__belle]

you can literally feel her dying, what an artist

[@rosariacarlostella9105]

Her arms were mesmerisingly beautifully fluid and graceful. I was transfixed. In my eyes, perfect.

[@carmen9330]

Beautifully performed by Miss Osipova..this version is closer to the original I beleive, and she sure looks like a dying swan Brava!! 👏

[@vandanasingh6107]

Her expressions are on an another level

[@bestekaynar]

She’s the best!

[@wagie95]

I would have never of imagined that arm movements would make me feel any emotion let alone the one I’m feeling now.. and that’s just the arm flutters... that with the way she moves as a whole absolutely moved me.

[@ricardomagno9009]

beyond all ballet Technic...she is the magic of dance!

[@oliviabristow5392]

I'm in tears watching this😢. So beautiful for words.

[@faithflores7908]

I don't know anything about ballet but this is truly magnificent. She moves gracefully with so much emotions. I love her already!

[@ASMj16]

I’ve never had so many chills in my body until now. At first I thought ballet was just something you bounced on your toes and twirled to a song. This was such a beautiful interpretation and it’s made me fall in love with ballet. Well, watching ballet anyways. The shaking muscles and facial expressions spoke louder than words and the movement was just a beautiful representation of a swan fighting to fly away.

[@panibabcia7732]

Cudowny występ... Ciężkie lata ćwiczeń, bólu, załamań, wyrzeczeń... Po to, by zachwycić, wzruszyć, wywołać westchnienie podziwu, niedowierzania... i uśmiech. Dziękujmy wszyscy za tę ciężką pracę tancerzom baletu. To są prawdziwi artyści!

[@makopanjia]

I know absolutely nothing about ballet, but this performance was really beautiful. She interpreted it so well and the audience could connect with her, like I could understand what was going on through her way of story telling. I watched this other performance (Svetlana Zakharova) and she was wonderful too but imma be honest, I didn’t know at the end that the swan was dying/couldn’t fly due to wing malfunction or something until I watched this performance. From the other performance, I thought the swan was just tired and was like “aight imma head to sleep now.”

[@user-hu2em6gd4k]

Потрясающе! She has a big soul and a big heart, that's why such a deep and soulful performance of "Swan". Brilliant performance! Natalya Osipova is a true follower of all her great Russian predecessors who performed "Swan": Pavlova, Plissetskaya...

[@Song-Girl-Still-Singing]

Wow, that brought tears to my eyes. Beautiful

[@elsadunand208]

The movements of her arms, she truly had wings ! It was the perfect depiction of a dying swan fighting death until it's last breath, so beautiful

[@racheldompierre107]

I just love her emotion so much. A true artist...

[@TheLunarCecilia]

The "dying" swan. STUNNUNG! No need to mention it's BEAUTIFUL, but very realistic. Love it 💘

[@ivomondini4018]

Além de ser uma bailarina dotada de uma técnica soberba, Natalia possui também uma grande sensibilidade artística. Suas performances como Odete/Odile, Giselle, Nikiya e Kitri são exemplos desse talento. Nesta interpretação de "The Dying Swan", Natalia deposita toda sua bagagem dramática, fazendo uma leitura muito pessoal da coreografia. O resultado é fantástico! BRAVO !!!

[@coni_tz]

It is really sad people underestimate ballet. I mean look at her it is just pure awesomeness

[@renskekoenders2202]

Gorgeous! Not only does she dance it perfectly..but she also shows the emotions...

[@robdeathridge6636]

Absolute sheer perfection, breath-taking, bravo.

[@eduardosousa_ribs4389]

Amazed . Thank u so much Natalia Osipova for your art

[@AthelstanEngland]

Phenomenal! To me her arms and hands are what gives this such beauty. She seems to have found a home with The Royal Ballet too.

[@renatonunes2550]

This piece touches deep inside my heart and almost makes me cry. The Ballerina is FABULOUS and watching her I can sense, feel, the poor swan dying. So very very beautiful. Bravo Camille...bravo Natalia !

[@mikegarcia7986]

I have seen this performed on ice by Olympic Gold Medalist Oksana Baiul...beautiful! Now I have seen it performed by ballerina Ms. Osipova...Spellbinding..brought tears to my eyes from both ♥️♥️

[@Malgosia44]

It is such a joy to be able to watch all these great ballerinas put their own spin on this piece. Everybody probably has their favorite interpretation (Lopatkina's for me), but they are all beautiful and touching.

[@jahajahai6204]

I can't stop watching this. I find myself coming back to this beautiful piece, every day.

[@sheikah3693]

I never seen or understood what beauty in my life until now

[@brisakruspe]

2:03 i couldn’t help it but cry like a baby. this whole performance is heavenly, sad and frustrating at the same time.

[@mercedskurt607]

This is a true masterpiece. Natalia has artistry and indescribable grace like no other.

[@caseyarnaiz5467]

I cried swiftly while watching this, no dance has ever touched my heart like this masterpiece did.

[@tessabessa13]

Don't know much about ballet but that was the most truly majestic dance I have ever seen, moved me to tears

[@tssgssn2581]

Hermosa interpretación

[@brendaannedufaur6244]

So unique. Quivering. Beautiful.

[@anacristinamarcal114]

Wonderfull Natalia.