Giselle

Chan Hon Goh and Nehemiah Kish in Giselle
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Chan Hon Goh and Nehemiah Kish in Giselle

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Choreography:
Sir Peter Wright
After Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot, and Marius Petipa
(Based on the book by Vernoy de Saint-Georges, Gautier and Coralli)
Music:
Adolphe Adam
Revised by:
Joseph Horovitz
Set and Costume:
Desmond Heeley
Lighting Design:
Gil Wechsler
Giselle was produced as a memorial to the late William P. Walker and was made possible through the courtesy of many generous friends of the National Ballet.

About the Ballet

Since its premiere with the company in 1970, Sir Peter Wright's Giselle has been a mainstay of the National Ballet's classical repertoire. Successive generations of female principals have risen to the enormous and complex emotional and technical challenges the title role poses, locating in its rich dramatic subtext a splendid array of interpretive possibilities.

At the same time, successive generations of audiences have responded to the work's haunting and evocative story, its ethereal ballet blanc effects and its sheer unfettered emotionalism. Giselle's luminous, spectral vision, so deeply imbued with suggestions of the supernatural and its preoccupation with madness, betrayal, forgiveness and the conflict of the physical and the spiritual, make it the Romantic ballet par excellence and one of the most unforgettable of all theatrical experiences.

 

Download 2008/09 Brochure PDF

Reviews

"... there's a reason why Giselle is still popular today. The classic ballet, which is brimming with exciting duets and corps de ballet turns, tells a story of transporting passion, cruel deceit and sweet redemptive love. The National Ballet of Canada's performance at the Royal Theatre last night showed off the 61 dancers' meticulous technique and music of a 32-piece orchestra..."

- The Victoria Times-Colonist, 2007

"When Giselle's underlying themes of love, betrayal, forgiveness and redemption are told through the poetry of dance, they take on a power that is almost epic in its ability to stir the emotions... a show to remember."

- The National Post, 2000

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Ballet Notes


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Ballet Talks

The National Ballet invites you to attend Ballet Talks 45 minutes before every show. These informative, engaging talks are hosted by a roster of ballet experts and offer interesting insights on the performance you are about to see. The talks are free to all ticket holders and take place in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre in the City Room of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

Ballet Talks throughout Giselle will be hosted by dance critic Michael Crabb. He will be joined by the following guests:

  • Wed May 27 at 6:45 pm – Choreographer Sir Peter Wright
  • Thurs May 28 at 6:45 pm – Artistic Director Karen Kain
  • Friday May 29 at 6:45 pm – Principal Dancer Zdenek Konvalina
  • Sunday May 31 at 1:15 pm – Principal Dancers Guillaume Côté & Heather Ogden

Ballet Talks are videotaped on opening night and can be watched on the website the following day.

Casting

Giselle Chan Hon Goh (May 27 at 7:30 pm/ May 31 at 2:00 pm)
Bridgett Zehr (May 28 at 2:00 pm)
Xiao Nan Yu (May 28 at 7:30 pm/ May 30 at 2:00 pm )
Sonia Rodriguez (May 29 at 7:30 pm/ May 30 at 7:30 pm)
 
Albrecht Zdenek Konvalina (May 27 at 7:30 pm/ May 31 at 2:00 pm)
Aleksandar Antonijevic (May 28 at 2:00 pm)
Guillaume Côté (May 28 at 7:30 pm/ May 30 at 2:00 pm)
Ruben Martin* (May 29 at 7:30 pm/ May 30 at 7:30 pm)
 
Hilarion Piotr Stanczyk (May 27 at 7:30 pm/ May 31 at 2:00 pm)
Etienne Lavigne** (May 28 at 2:00 pm/ May 30 at 7:30 pm)
Jonathan Renna** (May 28 at 7:30 pm)
Kevin D. Bowles (May 29 at 7:30 pm/ May 30 at 2:00 pm)
 
Queen of the Wilis Heather Ogden (May 27 at 7:30 pm/ May 28 at 7:30 pm/ May 29 at 7:30 pm)
Stephanie Hutchison (May 28 at 2:00 pm/ May 30 at 7:30 pm)
Juri Hiraoka** (May 30 at 2:00 pm)
Xiao Nan Yu (May 31 at 2:00 pm)

* Guest Artist
** Debut
Casting is subject to change.

Running Times

Act I 52:00
Intermission 20:00
Act II 47:00
Total (approx) 2 hours