In the room next to the royal chapel, the Duke and Duchess Wolfgang, the Count Benno as chief of the royal guard, and other nobles are standing by for the abdication ceremony of Queen Maria. She then enters following the Crown Prince Siegfried, her son, and Cardinal Gregorius, who is officiating at this ceremony. As she and her son put the huge mantles on, all the prominent nobles enter thechapel.
Act1-2: The royal courtyard Rose Garden
The young nobles are left behind in the garden, praising Maria and welcoming Siegfried's coronation, which is the following day.
The traditional "Rose Ball" is given, which is the high point of the banquet.
Act1-3: The crown prince's room Maria, who has now become the Dowager Queen, comes out of the chapel. She briefly mentions to Siegfried about the next day's ceremony, and adds that the emmissaries from various kingdoms include their own royal princesses."Pay good attention when you grant them an audience" she says adamantly.
Act1-4: Rose Garden
Siegfried and Benno are invited by five other nobles into their dance, and present "Pasde six", The Satan Von Rothbart enters dressed like a nobleman. Intending to trap Siegfied into his scheme, he offers some gifts for the celebration : a splendid jewelry to Maria and a diamond-ornamented crossbow to Siegfried,who is very fond of hunting. Rothbart disappears as if by magic, but no-one notices.Encouraged by Wolfgang, they start dancing to a magnificent polonaise in honour of Maria.Smiling in the sedan chair, she reflects on herkingdom. Unsatisfied with the night festivities, they keep dancing.
Act1-5: The room of the crown prince
Back into his room, the moment Siegfriedseizes the crossbow, the largest flock of swans he had ever seen flies by the window. They seemed to beckon him far into the deep forest.
Thoroughly fascinated, he leaves the room in order to go and chase the swans, accompanied by Benno and the attendants. Rothbart mysteriously appears and chuckles at the Crown Prince, the Count Benno and the attendants.In fact, he has created, with his magic, the flight of swans in order to lure Siegfried into his den of evil, "The Silver Forest".
Act2: "The Silver Forest"
No one has ever stepped foot into this forest.Rothbart clears all obstacles in order to allow Siegfried who has been chasing the swans, to enter. He and his attendants shudder at the frightening atmosphere all around them. The attendants chase after strange birds, Rothbart's shadows, and loose Siefried in the process.Rothbart's aim is to show Siegfried the humanfigure of Ducal Princess Odette and to make him fall in love with her. Left behind at the lake, Siegfried sees her in front of him, made.up to appear like a swan. She gradually takeson a human form. Siegfried, watching this from behind in the dark, at first is struck by her beauty and comes out of hiding as she picks out her last feather. She becomes startled upon seeing him and tries to get away, but he now has hold of her. He introduces himself hoping to talk to her. Siegfried has managed to soften Odette's heart. He learns that Odette is a victim of Rothbart's evil power. Siegfried feels he has to save Odette and the otherprincesses. He pledges to help her by marrying her at the coronation ceremony the next day.
She decides to commit herself to him. When the time has come, they are transformed into swans again and fly away reluctantly. Siegfried follows their flight enthusiastically. Rothbart is content to see them fall in love, but at the same time is determined to destroy their love.
Act3-1: The royal chapel
In the sight of God, Cardinal Gregorius recognizes the Crown Prince Siegfried as the new Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
Act3-2: The room of the Emperor
As Siegfried mounts the throne, the people bless him and Benno leads the celebration ballet. In the following court dance, Siegfried looks for Odette in the crowd, but can not find her. When the emmissaries from various kingdoms arrive, they and their royal princesses take part and in the dance with the new Emperor. Siegfried is thinking only of how or when to visit the Silver Forest again and save Odette and the princesses, while Maria is hoping Siegfried will choose his Empress-to-be from among the assembled princesses. A sudden fanfare announces the arrival of another mission. Rothbart and his shadows arrive with
