[ 08.2014 | Stratford upon Avon ]

when I was in Stratford-upon-Avon two years ago being invited to an English wedding, I was surprised to find a cute market town in Warwickshire that is William Shakespeare’s birthplace. thanks to the English playwright and poet (1564-1616) it is a popular tourist destination – with the original half-timbered houses being preserved by the Shakespeare organisation. but not only history and literature make this town attractive. between the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Europe’s largest butterfly farm the river Avon meanders gently along the valley which contributes to the romantic atmosphere.

this atmosphere was intensified by a large group of swans majestically gliding on the Avon. the white birds with their characteristic long necks are the largest members of the waterfowl family Anatidae. unlike other species in the animal kingdom, swan couples establish strong bonds and often mate for years. and as any social behavior involves communication, we watched them grunting and barking as if their life depended on the degree of loudness. but it’s the content that counts. and the contents of that part of the water were swans. Swan Lake, Op. 20, is the first of ballet scores written by Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky in 1875/76. the story of the ballet – which today is one of the most popular ones – originates from a German fairy tale.

sources:
stratford-upon-avon.co.uk | a-z-animals.com | en.tchaikovsky-research.net