Princess Odette is turned into a swan by the sorcerer Von Rothbart.

ACT I

Prince Siegfried celebrates his birthday with the court, under the manipulative gaze of Von Rothbart, now disguised in human form as the Queen's advisor. Siegfried’s mother presents him with a gift, the crossbow of his late father. She decrees that he must choose a royal bride at a palace ball to be held in his honour the following evening. Weighed down by the responsibilities, Siegfried wanders away alone.

ACT II

Alone, Siegfried sees a flock of swans flying high above. To his amazement, one lands and transforms into a beautiful maiden, the Princess Odette. Captivated, he approaches her tentatively with the reassurance that he means her no harm. Odette shares that she is a victim of Von Rothbart’s curse that compels her to live as a swan by day; only at night, by the lake created from her mother’s tears, is she able to return to human form. The curse can be broken only by one who has never loved before and who pledges an oath of undying love to her.

ACT III

Von Rothbart welcomes the royal guests who have travelled from distant lands. Siegfried finally arrives and is ordered by his mother to choose a bride from four beautiful princesses. Reluctantly he dances with each in turn but, still entranced by the memory of Odette, refuses to make a choice.

Von Rothbart seizes his moment. A fanfare signals the entrance of an uninvited guest, Odile. By Von Rothbart’s magic, she appears identical to Odette. Siegfried cannot believe that his beloved has arrived. Siegfried is dazzled by Odile’s beauty and chooses her for his bride. Von Rothbart reveals his true identity and takes control of the palace. Grief stricken, Siegfried returns to the lake.

ACT IV

By the lake, the swans anxiously await Odette’s return. She appears, heartbroken, and tells them of Siegfried’s betrayal. Doomed to remain a swan forever, the only escape is death – to be free from the curse, she must perish in the waves of the lake.

Siegfried’s desperate search through the storm ends at the lakeside. He begs Odette’s forgiveness. With her fate sealed, Odette rushes to the rock and plunges into the lake. Through her sacrifice, the sorcerer’s power is destroyed and Siegfried is left to cradle the lifeless body of the Princess.