MODIFICATION

Living and working conditions in Kiev, which have deteriorated further in recent weeks, have made rehearsals for the new Snow Queen’s ballet difficult or impossible. Therefore, the Ukrainian National Opera is forced to abandon this project. Nevertheless, in order to maintain the commitment and support for the Ukrainian National Opera Ballet, and to allow it to perform for the first time since the beginning of the war outside its borders, Sarfati Productions and the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, with the Ukrainian National Opera management, have decided by mutual agreement to present one of the great classical ballets of their repertoire GISELLE which the Etoiles and corps de ballet have mastered to perfection.

GISELLE

National Opera Ballet of Ukraine
Orchestre Prométhée
Conductor, Dmytro Morozov

CHOREOGRAPHIE MARIUS PETIPA
based on Jules Perrot and Jean Coralli

Libretto | T. Gautier, J. Saint-Georges, J. Coralli, d’après De l’Allemagne d’Heinrich Heine.
Music | Adolphe Adam
Balletmaster | Kostyantin SERGIEIEV
Original sets and costumes | Tetiana Bruni
Costumes new design : Malva Verbytska de la maison Malva Florea
Staging | Kseniia Ivanenko

Ballet in two acts
Live music

ABOUT THE SHOW

A few seasons ago, the Parisian audience discovered the dancers of the Ukrainian National Opera Ballet at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, and enjoyed a triumph. The company will be back in Paris especially for the holiday season with Giselle, a ballet in two acts, in Marius Petipa’s version.

Giselle, the quintessential Romantic Era ballet, embodies fantasy, etherealism, and supernaturalism. Initially choreographed in 1841 by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, to a score by Adolphe Adam and a libretto by Théophile Gautier, this ballet was inspired by a Germanic legend, De l’Allemagne, narrated by Heinrich Heine. Marius Petipa choreographed it again sixteen years later, revisiting the beginning of the white act, a real jewel immersing the spectator in the fairytale and immaterial world of the Willis. All the themes of Romanticism are addressed: a historical scene in bucolic colours, a tragic pastoral love story, the appearance of a spectral world and then redemption through love. It is this classic version by Marius Petipa that the Ukrainian National Opera Ballet will be performing.

Giselle, a young peasant girl,, falls in love with Albrecht, a mysterious young man, for whom she dances passionately. When she finds out that he is a duke and already engaged to a noble girl, Giselle loses her mind and falls lifeless. The next night, Myrtha, the leader of the Willis (vengeful forest spirits who sweep away the men they meet in a frenetic dance) urges Giselle to join them. A magnificent Pas de deux between Giselle and Albrecht begins. Will Giselle be able to save Albrecht from the Willis?

Between charming scenes with a country atmosphere and a fantastical imagination, vaporous tutus, classical vocabulary on point, Giselle is THE classical ballet to be (re)discovered in family!

Coproduction Productions Internationales Albert Sarfati / Théâtre des Champs-Elysées