Giselle

Production by National Ballet of China

Music by Adolphe Adam

Libretto by Thephile Gautier, Jules- Henri Vernoy de Saint- Georges

Originally Choreographed by Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot ,Marius Petipa & Sir Anton Dolin

New Version Production Conceived & Directed  by Feng Ying

Executive Director: Xu Gang

Stage Designed by Gong Xun

Lighting Designed by Liu Zhao

Costume Designed by Yue Songshan

Make-up and Style Designed by Xu Bin

Chief Répétiteurs: Zhu Yan, Xu Gang

Répétiteurs: Zhang Jian, Li Jun, Wang Qimin, Wang Qi, Wang Hao, Lu Na, Jiang Wei

World Permiere: June 28,1841, Theater of Royal Academy of Music, Paris

First Presented in China: June 13,1960, Tianqiao Theater, Beijing

New Version Staged by NBC: April 3, 2014, Tianqiao Theater, Beijing

Synopsis of Giselle

Act I

The ballet is set in a Rhine Village. Hans, the village gamekeeper, is desperately in love with Giselle. Counte Albrecht, a nobleman, disguises himself as a peasant and hunt in the village. Filled with suspicion and jealousy, Hans becomes enraged when Giselle falls in love with Albrecht.

The hungting party of the Duke comes to the village. Refreshments are served to the hunters, and the Duke's daughter, Bathilde, who gives Giselle a gold necklacce. After the royal party has returned to hunt, Hans emerges from the cottage with a sword, which is the evidence that the supposed peasant is, in fact, a nobleman.

Hans denounces Albrecht as an imposter, and the claim attested by Bathilde's revealing that he is her fiancé. The shock of learning Albrecht's duplicity is too hideous for Giselle's frail constitution. Her mind becomes unhinged and she dies of a broken heart—her love unrequited.

Act II

The scene is laid in a glade in the forest near Giselle's grave.The Wilis are summoned by their Queen, Myrtha.The Wilis are maidens who have been discarded by men before their death. Their spirits are forever destined to roam the earth from midnight to dawn, vengefully trapping any male who enters their domain and forcing him to dance to death.

Myrtha discovers Hans in the forest and orders the Wilis to dance around him until he dies from exhaustion.

Albrecht, laden with feelings of guilt and remorse, visits Giselle's grave.He sees a vision of Giselle and follows it into the forest. Myrtha then discovers Albrecht and demands that he should share the same fate as Hans. At that point , Giselle helps him out of death.

The dawn is heralded; the Wilis and their queen lose their power and retreat to their dwelling place. Called by the grave, Giselle returns with the Wilis. Albrecht, who has sought to grasp her in his arms, falls to the ground with sadness forever.