A Review: When Swan Lake Soared—and When It Didn’t

At the Met, Gillian Murphy transcends time—even as Rothbart breaks the spell.

By Cynthia Dragoni

Attending a ballet like Swan Lake in a town like New York is like going to a party with friends you’ve never met. The classical ballets are laden with tradition—like attending an opera or a beloved play—and audiences are often there to see a particular dancer in a particular role. True balletomanes (the official term for ballet super-f…