Mikhailovsky Giselle
London Coliseum
The stage life of Giselle wasn't an easy one. After the premiere of 1841 featuring Carlotta Grisi and Lucien Petipa, the ballet was performed in France till 1863, when it disappeared from the repertoire. Giselle was forgotten in its motherland but became a most frequently shown ballet on the Russian stage. In 1842, the ballet was staged in St.Petersburg. At the beginning of the 20th century during the ground-breaking Diaghilev’s Russian Seasons, the French saw their national ballet, faithfully nurtured in Russia.
The Mikhailovsky Theatre’s 2008 production of Giselle by Nikita Dolgushin, a specialist in historical works, managed to amaze both the public and the critics. Dolgushin, a noble Albrecht in his time as a dancer, inspired the creation of the ballet and delicately united dance and pantomime. The choreographer revealed the essence of the romantic ballet: the story of Giselle is told in the language of ballet classicism. Together with Vyacheslav Okunev, who designed the epitome of romantic settings, Dolgushin created a production that was described by a British critic ‘an exemplary Giselle’.
Please note: there are no surtitles in this production.
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