“Scene (Lake in the Moonlight)” is one of the most evocative orchestral passages from Swan Lake, Op. 20, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Often associated with the ballet’s second act, the music paints a nocturnal atmosphere of stillness and mystery at the lakeside where the swans appear. Built on a gently flowing melody, soft string textures, and expressive woodwind lines, the scene conveys longing, enchantment, and romantic melancholy. Its lyrical restraint and shimmering orchestration exemplify Tchaikovsky’s gift for emotional storytelling through music. Over time, this scene has become one of the most recognizable excerpts from Swan Lake, widely performed in concerts and frequently used to symbolize moonlit beauty and tragic romance in classical ballet.