• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About WXXI
  • Topics
  • Events
  • Contact Us
WXXI Passport Donate
WXXI

WXXI

Go Public

  • Watch
    • Schedule
    • Watch Live
    • Watch On-Demand
    • Original Productions
    • All Channels
  • Listen
    • WXXI News
    • WRUR The Route
    • WITH The Route
    • WXXI Classical
    • WEOS Finger Lakes
    • All Stations
  • Ways to Give
    • Donate Online
    • Membership
    • Update Payment Info
    • Leadership Circle
    • Legacy Giving
    • Other Ways to Give
    • Corporate Sponsorship
  • News
  • Classical
  • The Route
  • CITY
  • The Little
  • Education
  • About WXXI
  • Topics
  • Events
  • Contact Us
WXXI Passport Donate

Great Performances “The Magic of Nureyev”  • WXXI-TV

WXXI TV

Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn with Vienna State Ballet dancers in “Swan Lake” in 1964. Behind them our ballerinas in white dresses.

Enjoy the behind the scenes of the 1964 stage premiere of “Swan Lake,” choreographed by Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev.

Great Performances “The Magic of Nureyev” airs Friday, April 11 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streaming live on the WXXI app.

On October 15, 1964, Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev’s “Swan Lake” took the stage at the Vienna State Opera. In his novel interpretation of this iconic ballet favorite, Nureyev revolutionized the role of the male dancer in the ballet with his choreography, seeking to be the prima ballerina’s counterpart. With great British ballerina Margot Fonteyn as his partner, Great Performances: The Magic of Nureyev features extensive excerpts from the production that was captured for posterity two years after its 1964 stage premiere. In new interviews, dancers Michael Birkmeyer and Gisela Cech, who danced alongside Nureyev at the premiere of “Swan Lake,” share personal insights on Nureyev’s peerless virtuosity as well as his mercurial off-stage personality. In addition, contemporary experts look back at Nureyev groundbreaking technique from a modern-day perspective. 

Photo: Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn with Vienna State Ballet dancers in “Swan Lake” in 1964. Credit: © UNITEL

Primary Sidebar





Quality Content is made possible by viewers like you. Thank you.

Support Us

sidebar-alt

Keep informed about what’s happening in your community and WXXI by signing up for our newsletters.

Sign Up
The official WXXI logo.
Open facebook in a new window Open twitter in a new window Open instagram in a new window Open youtube in a new window Open linkedin in a new window
In affliation with:
The official PBS logo.The official NPR logo.

WXXI Public Media

280 State Street

Rochester, NY 14614

585-258-0200
wxxi@wxxi.org
  • About WXXI
  • Boards & Management
  • Careers
  • Corporate Sponsorship
  • Our Services
  • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Statement
  • Pressroom
  • Broadcast Coverage
  • Financials & Reports
  • Troubleshooting
Watch
Support
Listen
Contact Us
© 2025 WXXI Public Broadcasting Council FCC Public Files: WXXI-TV, WXXI-FM, WXXI-AM , WXXY-FM, WXXO-FM
  • Closed Captioning
  • Public Files
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright Policy
  • Land Acknowledgement