ACT I
Outside the Palace, preparations have been made to celebrate Prince Siegfried’s coming of age. The tutor to the Prince greets the ladies and gentlemen of the court as the Queen and Prince Siegfried enter, and the entertainment commences. During the celebrations, the Queen presents the Prince with a crossbow, a gift for his birthday. She also reminds him that soon he will be king, and it is time for him to marry. Foreign envoys arrive, each presenting a portrait of a Princess from his country. The Prince must choose a bride from among these four women whom he will soon meet at the ball. Siegfried becomes introspective as he contemplates his future. The tutor tries to brighten Siegfried’s mood, encouraging him to enjoy the festivities. In the evening sky, a flock of swans flies overhead, and Siegfried is persuaded to finish the day with a hunt.

ACT II
The scene opens at the lakeside, the domain of the evil Von Rothbart. He conceals himself and watches as the huntsmen arrive. The Prince, preferring to hunt alone, waits by the water. He sees a flight of swans approach and is about to shoot until he realises that their leader has turned herself into a beautiful maiden, the Swan Queen, Odette. She is at first frightened by Siegfried who gradually gains her trust. Odette then explains that she and her companions are under a spell cast by Von Rothbart. By day they must remain swans, but by night they take on human form. This spell can only be broken by the sworn true love of a mortal. Siegfried falls deeply in love with Odette and vows to do so. The evil spirit appears, Siegfried tries to shoot him but is stopped by Odette, for if Von Rothbart is killed, the spell will last forever. With dawn about to break, Odette and her companions change back into swans, leaving the lake under the watch of the brooding Von Rothbart.

ACT III
The master of ceremonies greets the guests as the four princesses arrive, each with her entourage. Siegfried and the Queen Mother enter and one by one the princesses dance for the Prince. The Queen Mother asks which bride he will choose and Prince Siegfried is about to answer when trumpeters announce the arrival of two uninvited guests, Von Rothbart and Odile. Odile is seductive as she dances with the Prince, and Siegfried becomes convinced that Odile is his beloved Odette. He swears to marry her. Triumphantly Von Rothbart reveals the pleading vision of Odette at the window and vanishes. A distraught Siegfried rushes from the Palace to the lake.

ACT IV
The swans return to the lake and are joined by a heartbroken Odette who tells them of Siegfried’s betrayal. They console her, but she is resigned to death so that she may be free from this evil power. Von Rothbart conjures up a storm to detain the Prince but still he finds Odette. He begs for her forgiveness, explaining how he was bewitched into believing Von Rothbart’s daughter was Odette. Odette forgives him and they re-affirm their love for each other. Von Rothbart appears and declares that Siegfried must fulfill his vows to marry Odile, thus condemning Odette to remain a swan forever. The lovers decide that death is their only option and resolve to die together. Von Rothbart desperately tries to stop them, knowing that if they succeed he too perishes. He dies as the lovers unite in death.