Quintessential romantic ballet premiered by Ballet de l'Opéra national de Paris

Photo: Svetlana Loboff / OnP

The pretty village girl Giselle falls in love with a young man who turns out to be Duke Albrecht. When she learns the truth about Duke Albrecht, she dies of a broken heart and is welcomed to the world of shadows by Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis (spirits of young maiden who have died before wedding day). When Albracht arrives to Giselle's grave, the Wilis lead him to a fatal dance.

It was the Ballet de l'Opéra national de Paris in the 19th century that had the honor of premiering Giselle, which remains a quintessential romantic ballet in the repertoire not only of the Ballet de l'Opéra national de Paris but of the ballet companies around the world. The authorship of Giselle is generally attributed to the poet and writer Théodore Gautier who had first wanted to write a ballet based on the Wilis as evoked by the German writer Heinrich Heine.

Sets and costumes are traditional ones from the revival production by the Ballets Russes. Don't miss the authentic Giselle by the Ballet de l'Opéra national de Paris.

Photos: Svetlana Loboff / OnP、Sébastien Mathé