The ballet, Giselle, is on a par with Hamlet in terms of its historical importance. Audiences go to see it time and again just for the opportunity of viewing the interpretation of the role by different ballet dancers. They comment that each time it is different and they see something new.
A unique take on the theme of the love triangle, Giselle is the story of a young peasant country girl who perishes of a broken heart upon learning that the wealthy Albrecht, with whom she has fallen in love, was bethrothed to another woman. Hilarion, a commoner who is in love with the peasant girl, is seen mourning at her grave when he is surprised by the Wili, the ghosts of young women who had not lived to see their wedding days. They fill their nights for eternity by torturing men to death.
It is the normal practice of the Wilis to use their beauty to capture the attentions of young men and them force them to dance until they drop dead. Hilarion, they chase relentlessly until they toss him to his death in a lake. Moving on to serve a similar fate to Albrecht, they are thwarted by the ghost of the peasant girl. She forgives Albrecht, who is spared by the Wilis at dawn when they return to their graves until the following evening. Giselle may now rest eternally in peace.
The ballet was first shown in Paris in June 1841. It came to London in 1842 and travelled to Russia, Italy and the USA. It has been released as a film in 3D.
The role is a coveted one for young ballerinas. It requires grace and acting skills and is also demanding technically. Dramatist Theophile Gautier wrote it especially for his girlfriend, Carlotta Grisi. It has since been portrayed by Anna Pavlova, Svetlana Zakharova, Alicia Markova and many other accomplished ballet dancers.
It was Henrich Heine' tale of the Wilis that inspired Gautier, who imagined it as a ballet. He worked with the composer, Adolphe Adam and Jules Perot, choreographer.
A unique take on the theme of the love triangle, Giselle is the story of a young peasant country girl who perishes of a broken heart upon learning that the wealthy Albrecht, with whom she has fallen in love, was bethrothed to another woman. Hilarion, a commoner who is in love with the peasant girl, is seen mourning at her grave when he is surprised by the Wili, the ghosts of young women who had not lived to see their wedding days. They fill their nights for eternity by torturing men to death.
It is the normal practice of the Wilis to use their beauty to capture the attentions of young men and them force them to dance until they drop dead. Hilarion, they chase relentlessly until they toss him to his death in a lake. Moving on to serve a similar fate to Albrecht, they are thwarted by the ghost of the peasant girl. She forgives Albrecht, who is spared by the Wilis at dawn when they return to their graves until the following evening. Giselle may now rest eternally in peace.
The ballet was first shown in Paris in June 1841. It came to London in 1842 and travelled to Russia, Italy and the USA. It has been released as a film in 3D.
The role is a coveted one for young ballerinas. It requires grace and acting skills and is also demanding technically. Dramatist Theophile Gautier wrote it especially for his girlfriend, Carlotta Grisi. It has since been portrayed by Anna Pavlova, Svetlana Zakharova, Alicia Markova and many other accomplished ballet dancers.
It was Henrich Heine' tale of the Wilis that inspired Gautier, who imagined it as a ballet. He worked with the composer, Adolphe Adam and Jules Perot, choreographer.
