The Forest Song is a legendary ballet, which for over 75 years remains not only the pride of Ukrainian, but also of world choreography and cultural heritage, along with such ballet hits as Giselle, Swan Lake, La Sylphide. The ballet is based on the eponymous drama extravaganza of the great Ukrainian poetess Lesya Ukrainka to the musical motives of Ukrainian composer Mykhailo Skorulsky, whose music gives a real uplifting mood to the audience.

The Forest Song

It is a magical love story full of magic and mysticism.
The performance tells the tale of love between a fantastic forest creature Mavka and a human being, represented by Lukash.
The emotional music immerses the viewer in the mysterious world of mythical creatures with the participation of mermaids, forest spirits, dangerous devils, and water creatures, whose meeting changes a person’s fate.
The ballet is full of mythological images from Ukrainian fairy tales, which the folk imagination has settled in the ancient Volyn forests and endless fields.

The composer subtly conveyed Ukrainian motifs and the peculiarities of Volyn musical folklore.
While working on the ballet, Mikhail Skorulsky created a real hymn to wildlife and pure love, which the main characters strive for.
Their love has its own stages of development, which coincide with certain seasons.
As in Lesya Ukrainka’s work, so in the ballet, spring is the meeting and the beginning of Lukash and Mavka’s relationship.
Summer is the flowering of their love, the fertility of the Ukrainian lands.
Autumn represents Lukash’s betrayal, when he marries another woman.
In winter, Mavka and Lukash die and their souls meet in the other world.

The audience is impressed not only by the fascinating storyline but also by the choreography itself.
The ballet is filled with complex duet supports, numerous jumps, spins, diagonal fouettes and incredible choreographic patterns.
The legends of enchanted forest creatures seem to come to life on stage and are woven into the magical movements of graceful ballerinas.
Every detail in the performance immerses you in the mystical world of fantastic creatures, which helps you believe in the existence of higher forces of nature, where a real fairy tale for adults and children opens on stage.

Music by: Mykhailo Skorulsky

Libretto: Natalia Skorulska

The libretto is based on the same name drama extravaganza «The Forest Song» by the great Ukrainian poetess Lesya Ukrainka