In the best examples of French ballet music, three natural qualities always especially delight the ear: melody, endowed with clarity of outline and grace of turns - everything in moderation, everything is figurative, everything is plastic; rhythm - on the one hand, flexibly responding to human gait, revealing characters and movements, and on the other - deeply rooted in the French folk dance culture with its realistic reflection of centuries-old life - life, morals and customs; the third property is the colorfulness of the music, the ability to give the movements of the orchestra the impression of a living change of phenomena in their color and light.
Three or four composers of France of the last century, with a particularly poetic feeling and refinement of skill, combined in their leisure time devoted to ballet musical theater (all three were not composers only of ballets), a keen understanding of the laws of combinations of plasticity and weight of sounds with the laws of human dance. They managed to create undeniably convincing images of musical and choreographic works of various genres, but mainly in the field of romantic legend and poeticized everyday comedy.
I mean, of course, the composer of “Giselle” and “Corsair” - Adolphe Adam (1803-1856), a particularly excellent master in the field of French comic opera, then Leo Delibes (1836–1891), composer the finest taste and the poetic feeling of man as a plastic phenomenon, the author of lyrical operas (including “Lakme”) and unsurpassed ballets: “Coppelia” (1870) and “Sylvia” (1876), as well as an outstanding
French symphonist Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) with his most colorful and cheerful “Javotte” (1896) and, finally, Georges Wiese (1838-1875), who so sensitively felt the vital nerve folk dance in the music for “Arlesienne” and in the melody and rhythm of “Carmen”.
Among all the ballets mentioned above, Adam's Giselle is the oldest, and all of the above qualities are felt in this timeless score every time the ballet is revived with the same vivacity and courage. And in the first everyday-dramatic stage of the legend, and in the second - its romantic stage, in such a touching, yet another version of folk tales about “love” stronger than death“- the composer achieves the simplest, but that’s the point, with a deep, thoughtful selection, as if by honed means, of bright, powerful impressions (for example, the drama of Giselle in the finale of the first act). How masterfully convex the characters are, how laconic the situations are, how flexible the tunes of the dances are in their simplicity and unpretentiousness and at the same time how elastic they are, giving support to the movements, how sincerely sensitive the lyrical moments are, but with what sense of proportion they are formed, and how strict the design of these melodies with all their tender responsiveness!..
However, the best praise that can now be expressed to the skill of the composer of “Giselle” and the music is to recall one remarkable entry in the diaries of P. I. Tchaikovsky. In the midst of his work on the composition of the ballet “The Sleeping Beauty” in May 1889, on the 24th, he finds it necessary to note: “I diligently read the score of the ballet “Giselle” by Adam...”. And Tchaikovsky was one of the finest experts and connoisseurs of French musical culture and ballet.
B. Asafiev
About the content of the ballet
The ballet “Giselle” is based on the ancient poetic legend about the “Willis” - brides who died before the wedding, retold by Heinrich Heine.
At midnight, the legend says, the Willis come out of their graves and dance, as if trying to prolong their maiden dances and games, which were so cruelly interrupted by death. Woe to the traveler who meets them - possessed by a vengeful feeling, the Willis involve him in their round dance and dance until exhaustion until he falls dead.
The theme of this legend served as the basis for the libretto of the ballet “Giselle”, composed by T. Gautier and J. Saint-Georges. The premiere of the ballet "Giselle, or Willys" took place on June 28, 1841 at the Grand Opera.
"Giselle, or Willys"
Ballet in two acts
Libretto by J.-A.-V. Saint-Georges and T. Gautier. The ballet was staged by J. Coralli, J. Perrot, M. Petipa
Characters
Duke (Prince) of Silesia Albert, dressed as a peasant
Prince of Courland
Wilfried, Albert's squire
Hilarion, forester
Old peasant
Bathilda, the Duke's bride
Giselle, peasant girl
Bertha, Giselle's mother
Myrtha, Lord of Willis
Zulma and
Monna - Mirta's friend
Retinue, hunters, godmothers, peasant women, Willis
Act one. The scene depicts one of the sunny valleys of Germany. In the distance, along the hills, are vineyards. The mountainous road leads to the valley.
Scene one. The grape harvest is underway in the hills of Thuringia. It's getting light. Peasants head to the vineyards.
Scene two. Hilarion enters and looks around as if looking for someone. He looks lovingly towards Giselle's hut, then angrily at Lois's hut. His rival lives there. If it were possible to take revenge on him, that would be happiness! The door to Loyce's hut mysteriously opens. Hilarion hides to watch. What will happen?
Scene three. The young Duke Albert of Silesia, hiding in the clothes of a peasant under the name Lois, leaves the hut, accompanied by his squire Wilfried. It can be seen that Wilfried is trying to persuade the Duke to abandon his secret plans, but he resists. He points to Giselle's hut; Under this thatched roof lives the one he loves, to whom all his tenderness belongs. He orders Wilfried to leave him alone. Wilfried hesitates, but the Duke's commanding gesture - and he, bowing respectfully, leaves.
Hilarion is amazed to see that the well-dressed nobleman is so respectful to the simple peasant, his rival. Suspicions arise in Hilarion’s head, which he will try to find out.
Scene four. Lois - Duke Albert - approaches Giselle's hut and knocks softly on the door. Hilarion is still watching. Giselle immediately comes out and hurries to hug her lover. Delight, happiness of both lovers. Giselle tells Loyce her dream: she was tormented by jealousy of the beautiful lady whom Loyce fell in love with and preferred to her. Confused Lois reassures Giselle: only she loves him, only she will love her forever.
“If you had deceived me,” says the girl, “I would have died, I feel it.” - And she puts her hand to her heart, as if saying that her heart often hurts.
Lois again calms her down with hot caresses.
Giselle picks daisies and guesses from them about Lois's love. Fortune telling is happy, and she is again in the arms of her beloved.
Hilarion cannot stand it - he runs up to Giselle and reproaches her for such behavior. He was here and saw everything.
“What do I care,” Giselle answers cheerfully, “I’m not blushing for myself: I love him and will love him forever...” She laughs in Hilarion’s face and turns away from him.
Lois pushes the forester away and threatens him, forbidding him to pursue Giselle with his love.
“Okay,” says Hilarion, “we’ll see whose will take it...
Scene five. The girls, heading to the vineyards, call Giselle to work. It's completely dawn, it's time to go. But Giselle is delirious only about dancing, having fun and keeping her friends. More than anything else, after Loyce, she loves dancing. Gisele suggests that the girls have fun instead of going to work. She starts dancing. Her gaiety, liveliness, fascinating and dexterous dance, interspersed with caresses for Lois, are irresistible. Soon the girls join Giselle. They abandoned their baskets, and their dance quickly turned into unbridled noisy fun. Bertha, Giselle's mother, leaves the hut.
Scene six.
- Are you going to dance forever? - she says to Giselle. - In the morning... In the evening... It’s just some kind of misfortune... Instead of working, think about the household...
- She dances so well! - Lois says to Bertha.
“This is my only joy,” Giselle answers, “and he,” she adds, pointing to Lois, “is my only happiness!”
- Here! - says Bertha. “I am sure that if this girl died, she would become a Wilisa and would continue to dance even after death.”
- What do you want to say? - the girls exclaim in horror and huddle together.
Then, to the sounds of gloomy music, Bertha begins to depict the appearance of the dead, rising from the coffin and starting a general dance. The girls' horror reaches the limit, only Giselle laughs. She cheerfully tells her mother that it is impossible to fix her - alive or dead, she will dance forever.
“But this is very harmful for you,” says Bertha. “Not only your health, maybe your life depends on it!.. She is very weak,” Bertha turns to Loyce. - Fatigue and anxiety are very harmful to her; the doctor said they could be fatal.
Lois is embarrassed by Bertha's words, but calms his kind mother. And Giselle takes Lois’s hand and presses it to her heart, as if saying that with him she is not afraid of any danger.
A hunting horn blows in the distance. Lois is concerned about this and quickly gives a sign - it’s time to go to the vineyards. He drags the girls along with him, while Giselle, at the insistence of her mother, goes home. She blows a kiss to Lois, who leaves with everyone else.
Scene seven. Left alone, Hilarion ponders his intentions. At all costs, the forester wants to unravel the secret of his rival, to find out who he is... Making sure that no one sees him, Hilarion secretly sneaks into Loys's hut. At this moment the sound of the horn approaches, and huntsmen and beaters appear on the hill.
Scene eight. Soon, on horseback, accompanied by a large retinue of ladies, gentlemen and hunters, with falcons on his left hand, the prince and his daughter Bathilda appear. The hot day has tired them, they are looking for a comfortable place to rest. The huntsman points the prince to Bertha's hut; he knocks on the door, and Giselle appears on the threshold, accompanied by her mother. The prince cheerfully asks for shelter; Bertha offers to enter her hut, although it is too squalid for such a nobleman.
Meanwhile, Bathilde calls Giselle over; she examines it and finds it charming. Giselle tries her best to be a hospitable hostess; she invites Bathilda to sit down, offers her milk and fruits; Bathilda is captivated by her cuteness, removes the gold chain from her neck and gives it to the girl, completely embarrassed, but proud of such a gift.
Bathilde asks Giselle about her work and entertainment. Oh, Giselle is happy! She has no grief, no worries; Work in the morning, dancing in the evening.
“Yes,” Bertha says to Bathilda, “especially dancing, she is obsessed with them.”
Bathilde smiles and asks Giselle if her heart has spoken, if she loves someone.
“Oh yes,” the girl exclaims, pointing to Lois’s hut, “the one who lives here!” He is my lover, my fiancé! I'll die if he stops loving me!
Bathilda is keenly interested in the girl... Their fate is the same: she also marries a young and handsome nobleman! She promises to give Giselle a dowry: she likes the girl more and more... Bathilde wants to see Giselle's groom and goes with her to the hut, accompanied by her father and Bertha, and Giselle runs to look for Lois.
The prince gives a sign to his retinue and asks them to continue the hunt; he is tired and wants to rest a little. When he wishes everyone to return, he will blow the horn.
Hilarion appears at the door of Lois's hut, sees the prince and hears his orders. The prince and his daughter go to Bertha's hut.
Scene nine. While Giselle is looking at the road and looking for her lover, Hilarion comes out of Lois's hut, holding a sword and a knight's cloak in his hands; he finally found out who his opponent was! Nobleman! Now he was convinced that this was a seducer in disguise! Hilarion holds a sword in his hands and wants to expose his opponent in the presence of Giselle and the entire village. Then he hides Loyce's sword in the bushes, waiting for the villagers to come to the holiday.
Scene ten. Lois appears in the distance. Looking around carefully, he makes sure that the hunters have left.
Giselle notices him and runs towards him. At this moment, cheerful music is heard.
Scene eleven. The procession begins. The grape harvest is over. A carriage decorated with vines and flowers moves slowly. Behind her are the peasants and peasant women of the entire valley; in their hands are baskets full of grapes. According to the old custom, little Bacchus is solemnly carried astride a barrel. Everyone surrounds Giselle. She is elected queen of the holiday and wears a wreath of grape leaves and flowers. Lois admires the girl's beauty even more. Crazy fun soon takes over everyone.
Vintage festival. Giselle drags Lois into the middle of the crowd and dances with him enthusiastically. Everyone is dancing. In the finale, Lois kisses Giselle. At the sight of this kiss, the rage and jealousy of the envious Hilarion reach their limit. The forester rushes to the center of the circle and announces to Giselle that Lois is a deceiver, a seducer. A nobleman in disguise! The frightened Giselle answers Hilarion that he dreamed it all and does not know what he is saying.
- Oh, I dreamed it?! - continues the forester. - So see for yourself! - And he shows those around Lois’s sword and cloak. - This is what I found in his hut... I hope this is convincing evidence.
Albert rushes at Hilarion in a rage; he is hiding behind the peasants.
The sudden news struck Giselle with a terrible blow. Staggering with grief, ready to fall, she leans against a tree.
The peasants froze in amazement. Lois runs to Giselle, thinking that he can still refute the accusation, and tries to calm her down, assuring her of his love. She is being deceived, he claims, for her he will always be Lois, a simple peasant, her lover, her fiancé.
The poor girl is so glad to believe... Hope returns to her heart; trusting and happy, she allows the treacherous Albert to hug her. But then Hilarion remembers the prince’s order to his retinue to return at the sound of the horn. He grabs the horn of one of the prince’s associates hanging on a tree and blows it loudly. Hearing the prearranged signal, all the hunters come running, and the prince leaves Bertha’s hut. Hilarion points them to Albert, kneeling before Giselle.
The retinue, recognizing the young duke, respectfully greets him. Seeing this, Giselle can no longer doubt the truth and understands the grief that befell her.
Scene twelve. The prince approaches Albert and, immediately recognizing him, asks what the Duke’s strange behavior and unusual attire mean.
Albert rises from his knees, shocked and ashamed by the sudden meeting.
Giselle saw everything! She no longer has any doubts about the betrayal of her beloved. There is no limit to my grief. She makes an effort and retreats from Albert in horror. Then, completely destroyed by the falling blow, Giselle runs to the hut and falls into the arms of her mother, who comes out of the door along with young Bathilda.
Scene thirteen. Bathilde, touched and sympathetic, quickly approaches Giselle and asks about the reason for her excitement. Instead of answering, she points her to Albert, embarrassed and killed.
- What do I see? The Duke in a similar outfit! This is my fiance! - says Bathilda, pointing to her wedding ring.
Albert approaches Bathilda and tries in vain to delay the fatal confession; but Giselle heard everything, understood everything. Incredible horror is reflected on the poor girl's face; Everything in her head is clouded, a terrible and gloomy delirium takes possession of her - she is deceived, she is lost, she is dishonored! The girl loses her mind, tears flow from her eyes... She laughs with an unnatural laugh. Then he takes Albert’s hand, puts it to his heart, but immediately pushes it away in horror. Grabbing Royce’s sword lying on the ground, she first mechanically plays with it, then wants to fall on the sharp blade, but the mother snatches the weapon. All her soul can still hold on to is dance; she hears the tune to which she danced with Albert... She begins to dance with fervor, with passion... But unexpected grief, cruel shocks have exhausted the girl’s fading strength... Life leaves her... Her mother bends over her...
The last breath escapes from the lips of poor Giselle... She casts a sad glance at the shocked Albert, and her eyes close forever!
Bathilda, generous and kind, bursts into tears. Albert, who has forgotten about everyone, wants to revive Giselle with hot caresses... He puts his hand on the girl’s heart and feels with horror that her heart no longer beats.
He grabs the sword and wants to hit himself. The prince restrains and disarms Albert. Bertha supports the body of her unfortunate daughter. Albert, distraught with grief and love, is taken away.
Peasants, the prince's retinue and hunters crowd around the dead girl.
Act two. The scene depicts a forest and a lake shore. Among the dampness and coolness, reeds, sedges, forest flowers and aquatic plants grow; All around are birches, aspens and weeping willows, bending their pale foliage to the ground. On the left, under the cypress tree, is a white marble cross on which Giselle’s name is inscribed. The grave is buried in thick grass and flowers. The blue light of the bright moon illuminates this cold and foggy picture.
Scene one. Several forest rangers converge along remote paths; they are looking convenient place, where to waylay game, and are heading towards the shore when Hilarion comes running.
Scene two. Hilarion is horrified.
“This is a damned place,” he says to his comrades, “it’s in the circle of Wilis dances.”
Hilarion shows them the grave of Giselle... Giselle, who danced forever. He calls her name, pointing to the wreath of grape leaves that was given to the girl during the holiday and which now hangs on the cross.
At this moment midnight strikes in the distance - an ominous hour when the Wilis, according to folk legends, gather for their night dances.
Hilarion and his comrades listen in horror to the clock striking; trembling, they look around and wait for the ghosts to appear.
- Let's run! - says Hilarion. - The Wilis are merciless; they seize the traveler and force him to dance until he dies of fatigue or is swallowed up by this lake.
The music sounds fantastic; The forest rangers turn pale, stagger and, gripped by panic, scatter in all directions. They are pursued by will-o'-the-wisps that suddenly appear.
Scene three. The reeds slowly move apart, and the light Myrtle, the queen of the Wilis, flutters out from the wet plants - a transparent and pale shadow.
With her appearance, a mysterious light spreads everywhere, suddenly illuminating the forest, dispersing the night shadows. This always happens as soon as the Wilis appear. On Myrta’s snow-white shoulders tremble two transparent wings, with which the Vilisa can cover itself like a gas blanket.
The ghostly vision does not remain in place for a minute, flying up onto the bushes, then onto the branches of the willow, fluttering here and there, running and inspecting its kingdom, which it takes possession of again every night. She bathes in the waters of the lake, then hangs on the branches of a willow and swings on them.
After the steps performed by her, Myrta picks a branch of rosemary and touches every bush and tree with it.
Scene four. At the touch of the flowering Wilis wand, all the flowers, bushes, and herbs open, and Wilis fly out of them one by one, surrounding Myrta, like bees their queen. Myrta spreads her azure wings over her subjects and thus gives them the signal to dance. Several wilis take turns performing dances in front of their mistress.
First, Monna, an odalisque, dances an oriental dance; behind her is Zulma, a bayadère, performing a slow Hindu dance; then two French women dance a minuet; two German women waltz behind them...
In the finale, two Wilis dance - girls who died too early, not having time to quench their passion for dance. They frantically indulge in her in their new, so graceful appearance.
Scene five. A bright ray falls on Giselle's grave; the flowers growing on it straighten their stems and raise their heads, as if opening the way for the white shadow they were guarding.
Giselle appears, wrapped in a light shroud. She heads towards Myrta; she touches her with a branch of rosemary; the shroud falls... Giselle turns into a Wilis. Her wings appear and grow... Her legs glide along the ground, she dances, or rather flutters, through the air, like her sisters, remembering and joyfully repeating the dances that she performed before (in the first act) before her death.
Some noise is heard. All the Wilis run away and hide in the reeds.
Scene six. Several young peasants are returning from a holiday in a neighboring village. An old man is with them. They all happily walk across the stage.
Almost everyone has already left when strange music is heard - the music of the Wilis dance; The peasants are overcome against their will by an irresistible desire to dance. The Wilis immediately surround them and captivate them with their blissful poses. Each of them, wanting to hold and charm, dances her own national dance... The captive peasants are already succumbing to the charm, ready to dance to death, when the old man rushes among them and warns with horror of the impending danger. The peasants are running away. They are pursued by the Wilis, who watch with anger the disappearance of their victims.
Scene seven. Albert comes out, accompanied by Wilfried, his faithful squire. The Duke is sad and pale; his clothes are in disorder; he almost lost his mind after Giselle's death. Albert slowly approaches the cross, as if concentrating his elusive thoughts. Wilfried begs Albert to leave, not to stop at the fatal grave, with which so much grief is associated... Albert asks him to leave. Wilfried tries to argue, but Albert orders him to leave so firmly that the squire can only obey. He leaves, but with the firm intention of again trying to lead his master away from these unfortunate places.
Scene eight. Left alone, Albert gives in to despair; his heart is torn with grief; he bursts into bitter tears. Suddenly he turns pale; his attention is attracted by the strange vision that appears before him... Albert is amazed to recognize Giselle, who is looking at him with love.
Scene nine. Seized by madness, in extreme anxiety, he still doubts, not daring to believe his eyes. Before him is not the old sweet Giselle, but Giselle the Vilisa, a girl in a new, terrible appearance.
Giselle-Willis stands motionless in front of him and beckons him with her gaze... Confident that this is just a deception of the imagination, Albert quietly, carefully approaches her, like a child wanting to catch a butterfly on a flower. But as soon as he reaches out his hand, Giselle runs away from him. Like a timid dove, she flies away and, falling to the ground, again looks at Albert with a look full of love.
These transitions, or rather flights, are repeated several times. Albert is in despair; he tries in vain to catch the wilsa, which sometimes flies over him like a light cloud.
Sometimes she sends him affectionate greetings, throws him a flower plucked from a branch, blows him a kiss. When he thinks that he already holds her, he disappears and melts away like fog.
Full of despair, Albert kneels near the cross and begins to pray. As if drawn by this silent grief, breathing such love for her, Vilisa flies to her lover. He touched her; intoxicated with love, happy, he is ready to hug her, but she slips away and disappears among the roses; in Albert's arms there is only a grave cross.
Extreme despair takes possession of the young man; he gets up and wants to leave these sad places, but then a strange sight catches his eye. Unable to tear himself away from him, Albert is forced to witness a terrible scene.
Scene ten. Hiding behind weeping willow, Albert sees the appearance of the unfortunate Hilarion, pursued by the Wilis.
Pale, trembling, half-dead with fear, the forester falls under a tree and begs his distraught pursuers for mercy. But the queen of the Wilis, touching him with her staff, forces him to rise and repeat the dance, which she begins to perform. Hilarion, under the influence of a magical spell, dances against his will with the beautiful Vilisa until she passes him on to one of her friends, who passes him on to everyone else in turn. As soon as the unfortunate man thinks that the torment is over and his partner is tired, she is immediately replaced by another, full of strength, and he has to make new inhuman efforts to dance to the beat of the accelerating music. At the end he staggers and feels completely exhausted from fatigue and pain. Having collected last strength, Hilarion strives to break free and run away; but the Wilis surround him with a wide round dance, which then gradually narrows, and whirl in a fast waltz. Magic power makes Hilarion dance. And again one partner replaces another.
The legs of the unfortunate victim, imprisoned in these thin deadly networks, begin to weaken and buckle. Hilarion's eyes close, he sees nothing else... but continues to dance wildly. Queen Wilis grabs him and spins him around in a waltz last time; the unfortunate man again waltzes with everyone in turn and, having reached the shore of the lake and thinking that he is reaching out to his new partner, flies into the abyss. The Wilis, led by Myrta, begin a joyful bacchanalia. But then one of the Wilis discovers Albert and leads him, stunned by what he has seen, into the middle of a magical round dance.
Scene eleven. At the sight of a new victim, the Wilis are delighted; They were already rushing around their prey, but at the moment when Myrta wants to touch Albert with a magic wand, Giselle runs out and holds the queen’s hand raised above her lover.
Scene twelve. “Run,” Giselle says to the one she loves so much, “run or you will die, you will die like Hilarion,” she adds, pointing to the lake.
At the thought of his impending death, Albert freezes in horror. Taking advantage of his indecision, Giselle takes his hand; movable magical power, they head towards the cross, and Wilisa points to sacred symbol as the only salvation.
Myrta and the Wilis pursue them, but Albert, under the protection of Giselle, reaches the cross and grabs it. At the moment when Myrta wants to touch Albert with the magic wand, the rosemary branch breaks in her hand. Both she and her friends freeze in horror.
Embittered by the failure, the Wilis circle around Albert, trying to attack him, but each time they are thrown back by an unknown force. The queen wants to take revenge on the one who stole her booty. She extends her hand over Giselle. Her wings open and she begins to dance gracefully and passionately. Standing motionless, Albert looks at her, but soon the beauty and charm of the Wilis dance involuntarily attracts him, and this is what Mirta wanted. Albert leaves the cross - salvation from death - and approaches Giselle; she stops in horror and begs him to return, but the queen touches her with her hand, and Giselle is forced to continue her enticing dance. This is repeated several times. Finally, carried away by passion, Albert leaves the cross and rushes to Giselle... He grabs a magical branch of rosemary and dooms himself to death in order to unite with the Wilis and never leave her!
It was as if Albert had grown wings; he glides along the ground, flutters around the Wilis, which sometimes tries to stop him.
However, Giselle's new essence soon wins, and Vilisa joins her lover. They begin a fast aerial dance; partners seem to be competing in lightness and dexterity; sometimes they stop and hug each other, but the fantastic music gives them new strength and new passion.
The Wilis join their dances and surround them in groups exuding bliss.
Albert is beginning to feel mortally tired. He is still fighting, but his strength is gradually leaving him. Giselle approaches him, her eyes full of tears; however, by a gesture from the queen, she is again forced to fly away. A few more moments - and Albert will die from fatigue and exhaustion... And suddenly it begins to get light. The first rays of the sun illuminate the silvery waters of the lake.
The night disappears, and the stormy, fantastic round dance of the Wilis subsides. Seeing this, Giselle is again full of hope for Albert's salvation.
Under the clear rays of the sun, the entire round dance of the Vilis seems to melt and fade away; first one or the other bends over to the bush or flower from which it appeared in the first place. So with the dawn of day the night flowers wither.
Giselle, like her sisters, experiences the ill effects of the day. She quietly leans into Albert’s weakened arms and, carried away by inevitable fate, approaches her grave.
Albert, realizing that Giselle is waiting, carries her away from the grave. He lowers her onto a mound covered with flowers. Albert kneels down and kisses Giselle, as if wanting to give her his soul and bring her back to life.
But Giselle points him to the already shining sun, telling him that he must submit to his fate and part forever.
At this time, loud sounds of a horn are heard in the forest. Albert listens to them with apprehension, and Giselle listens to them with quiet joy.
Scene thirteen. Wilfried runs in. The faithful squire leads the prince, Bathilda and a large retinue. He brought them to Albert in the hope that they would be able to take the Duke away.
Seeing Albert, everyone freezes. He rushes to his squire and stops him. But the moments of a Wilis' life are running out. Flowers and herbs have already risen around her and almost covered her with light stems...
Albert returns and stands stricken with surprise and grief - he sees Giselle slowly sinking deeper and deeper into her grave. Giselle points Albert to Bathilde, who is kneeling and stretching out her hands to him in supplication.
Giselle seems to be asking her lover to give his love and loyalty to this meek girl... This is her last wish, her request.
With a final sad “goodbye,” Giselle disappears among the flowers and herbs that completely hide her.
Albert is heartbroken. But the order of the Wilis is sacred for him... He plucks several flowers that have just hidden Giselle, lovingly brings them to his lips, presses them to his heart and, weakening, falls into the arms of his retinue, extending his hand to Bathilda.
Ballet in 2 acts.
Duration: 1 hour 50 minutes, with one intermission.
Composer: Adolf Adam
Libretto: Théophile Gautier and Henry Saint-Georges
Choreography: Georges Coralli, Jules Perrot, Marius Petipa, edited by L. Titova.
Production designer - Yuri Samodurov
Lighting designer- Nikolay Lobov
Costume designer— Olga Titova
About ballet
“Giselle” is one of the best creations of French romanticism, incredibly beautiful and sad, playing on the strings of the soul. Idyll and tragedy, selfless love and cruel deception, revenge and selflessness, the real and fantastic world - everything is intertwined in this performance, encouraging the viewer to empathize with the characters.
The premiere of the ballet “Giselle” took place on June 28, 1841 at the Le Peletier theater in Paris. In December 1842, this performance was first staged in Russia. Since then, the choreography of Georges Coralli and Jules Perrault has undergone many changes, but the deadly dance of the Willis in the ancient cemetery is just as airy and beautiful, and in the duet of Count Albert and the ghost dead girl Giselle still sounds remorse and forgiveness, despair and reassurance. The bewitching music of A. Adam, the play of light and shadow, the flight of white slippers in the night fog creates a mystical atmosphere, the illusion of contact with a fantastic afterlife.
True love lives beyond the line of death - this is the main message of “Giselle”.
Libretto
Act I
Quiet mountain village in the south of France. Bertha lives with her daughter Giselle in a small house. The neighboring hut is rented by Albert, Giselle's lover. Dawn came, the peasants went to work. Meanwhile, the forester Hans, in love with Giselle, watches her meeting with Albert from a secluded place, and is tormented by jealousy. Seeing the passionate hugs and kisses of the lovers, he runs up to them and condemns the girl for such behavior. Albert sends him away. Hans vows revenge. Soon Giselle's friends appear, and she dances with them. Bertha tries to prevent the fun, noticing that her daughter has a weak heart, fatigue and excitement are dangerous to her life, but the girl does not listen to her.
The sounds of hunting are heard. Albert is afraid of being recognized and runs away. The forester appears and is tormented by the stranger's secret. Hearing the approaching hunt, Hans penetrates the window of Albert's hut.
A magnificent procession appears, led by the Duke, Albert’s father. Giselle and her mother warmly welcome the guests, including Bathilde, Albert’s fiancée. Seeing how Giselle admires her dress, Bathilda wonders what the girl is doing and whether she is in love. Giselle's modesty and shyness endear her to nobles. Bathilda gives the girl a precious necklace for her wedding day. The Duke retires with Bathilda to rest in Giselle’s house and leaves his horn to blow if necessary. Everyone leaves. An alarmed Hans appears. Now he knows the stranger’s secret: in his hands is Albert’s stolen sword with the family coat of arms.
Young people gather. The peasants are dancing. Giselle and Albert join in the general fun. Everyone joyfully greets the happy young couple. Outraged by Albert's deception and Giselle's trusting love for him, Hans interrupts the dancing and shows everyone his sword. Giselle does not believe Hans, she begs Albert to say that this is a lie. Then Hans blows the horn left by the Duke.
Noble guests appear, accompanied by courtiers. Everyone recognizes their young count in Albert in disguise. Convinced of the deception, Giselle realizes that Bathilda is Albert’s fiancée. In despair, Giselle tears off the necklace and throws it at Bathilde's feet. Her consciousness becomes clouded. Exhausted by grief, she falls unconscious. The mother rushes to her daughter, but Giselle does not recognize her. She's gone crazy. Scenes of fortune telling, vows, and a gentle dance with Albert flash by.
Accidentally bumping into a sword, Giselle takes it in her hands and begins to spin around unconsciously. The sword, like an iron snake, pursues her and is ready to plunge into the chest of the unfortunate girl. Hans pulls out the sword, but Giselle’s sick heart can’t stand it and she dies. Albert, distraught with grief, tries to kill himself, but is not allowed to do so.
Act II
At night among the graves of the village cemetery in moonlight Ghostly Willis appear - brides who died before the wedding. The Willies notice the forester. Tormented by remorse, he came to Giselle’s grave. By order of their inexorable mistress Myrta, the Willis circle him in a ghostly round dance until he falls dead.
But Albert cannot forget the deceased Giselle. In the dead of night he also comes to her grave. The Willies immediately surround the young man. Albert also faces the terrible fate of the forester. But the shadow of Giselle that appears, preserving love, protects and saves the young man from the wrath of the Willis. Giselle is just an elusive shadow, but responding to Albert’s pleas, she allows herself to be touched.
With the first rays rising sun and with the sound of a bell the jeeps disappear. Giselle says goodbye to her lover forever, but she will remain in Albert's memory as an eternal regret for his lost love.
The production of “Giselle” appeared on the stage of the ballet theater during the heyday of romanticism. Her role in the formation of this direction in art is very significant. T. Gautier, J. Coralli and J. Saint-Georges are the creators of the libretto of the ballet “Giselle”, summary which we will look at in this article. The production demonstrates the authors' appeal to a favorite romantic theme - mysticism. Adolphe-Charles Adam - French composer. He is also one of the creators of the romantic ballet.
Exhibition of images
The article will present a brief summary of the ballet “Giselle”. The plot is based on events taking place in the village. It is located among the mountains, surrounded by forests and vineyards. Peasants gather to harvest grapes. They pass by the house where the peasant woman Bertha lives, and her friends greet her daughter Giselle. Prince Albert and his squire Wilfried appear. They head to the hunting lodge and hide there for a while. From there the prince comes out already in peasant clothes. The unnoticed forester Hans witnesses this scene.
Love affair
Albert heads to Bertha's house. The squire tries in vain to dissuade his master from some intentions. The prince dismisses the servant and knocks on the door, then hides. Giselle, having come out to the knock and not finding anyone, dances, then gets ready to leave. Albert appears, but the girl, as if not noticing him, walks towards the house. The prince touches her hand and hugs her tenderly. Their subsequent dance turns into a love scene. Albert confesses his love, but Giselle, jokingly, expresses her doubts about it. She tells fortunes on the petals of a flower. As a result, when she receives the answer “she doesn’t like”, she is very upset. Then Albert tells fortunes on another flower. The fortune telling ends with the answer “loves”. The girl is calm and happy. They dance enthusiastically again.
Next, briefly retelling the content of the ballet “Giselle”, we will mention the forester Hans. He appears unexpectedly, asks the girl not to trust Albert’s words and assures her of his devotion. Hans has no doubt that Albert will only bring her grief and disappointment.
Albert is furious. He drives the forester away. The girl justifies Hans's action with jealousy. Then, even more tenderly and passionately, she continues her dance with Albert.
The next scene begins with the return of Giselle's friends from the vineyards. General fun and dancing ensues. Albert watches the girl in admiration. Flattered by his attention, she invites him to take part in this fun, which he does with pleasure.
Bertha comes out of the house and reminds her daughter that she has a heart condition. Therefore, it is not healthy for her to dance so much. The fun is over.
Noble guests
The sounds of hunting can be heard in the distance. The appearance of new characters makes the action more intense. Smartly dressed ladies and gentlemen appear. Among them are the Duke of Courland with his daughter Bathilda, Albert’s fiancée. The hunt has made everyone hot and tired, and they dream of rest and food. The Duke chooses Giselle's house for relaxation. Bertha and her daughter came out to meet the guests. Bathilda is fascinated by beauty and spontaneity main character. She, in turn, admires the guest’s elegant toilets. A dialogue takes place between them, in which Bathilda asks the girl about her favorite pastime. She replies that she loves to dance. As a sign of her sympathy, Bathilda gives the simpleton a gift. This is a luxurious gold chain. Giselle is very happy, but this makes her confused. The noble guests disperse to rest. Bathilda's father also went to Bertha's house.
Exposure
Giselle and her friends persuade Berthe to let them dance. Bertha reluctantly agrees. Giselle is happy. She performs her most best dance. Albert joins her. Suddenly the forester Hans appears. Roughly pushing them aside, he accuses Albert of dishonesty and deceit. Everyone around is perplexed, they are outraged by the forester’s action. Then, as proof of his accusations, Hans shows everyone Albert’s weapon, which he found in the hunting lodge. It is decorated with jewels, which testifies to his noble origin. This shocked Giselle. She demands an explanation from her new acquaintance. The prince tries to calm the girl down, and then snatches the sword from Hans’s hands and rushes at him. Wilfried arrived in time and prevented his master from committing the murder. Forester Hans begins to blow the hunting horn. Alarmed by the signal, noble guests leave Bertha's house. Among them is the Duke and his daughter Bathilda. Dressed up as peasant clothes Albert leaves them bewildered. He, in turn, tries to justify his action.
Tragic ending
Giselle sees how respectfully noble guests greet Albert, and how respectful the Duke’s servants are with him. She has no doubt that she was deceived. The prince then turns to Bathilda, kissing her hand. Giselle runs up to her rival with the words that Albert swore allegiance to her in his love. Bathilda is outraged. She shows Giselle her wedding ring, indicating that she is the prince's real bride. Giselle is in despair. She tears off and throws away the gold chain given by Bathilda. Sobbing, she falls into her mother's arms. Not only her friends, but also noble guests sympathize with her.
Albert tries to calm Giselle down. He says something to her. However, the girl does not listen to him, her mind is clouded with grief. She remembers his vows, promises, fortune-telling, dancing. Seeing Albert's sword, she tries to kill herself. But Hans takes the weapon from her hands.
Her last memory is fortune telling with daisies. Giselle dies.
Instead of an epilogue
We continue our acquaintance with the content of the ballet “Giselle”. Next, the action takes place on rural cemetery. Hans came here, but, frightened by mysterious sounds, he ran away.
Willis - brides who died before the wedding, lead their own round dance. At a sign from their mistress Myrtha, they surround Giselle’s grave, from which her ghostly figure appears. With a wave of Myrta's hand, she gained strength.
Albert appears at the cemetery, accompanied by his squire. He is looking for where the girl is buried. Suddenly he saw her figure and rushed after her. Several times this vision appeared and disappeared, as if melting into thin air.
Meanwhile, the Willis are chasing Hans and, having overtaken them, vengefully push him into the lake.
Albert should be their next victim. He unsuccessfully begs the ruthless Myrtha for mercy. Giselle appears. She intends to protect her lover and save him from certain death. Together they dance their last dance. Then the ghost of the girl disappears into her grave, and the round dance of the Willis surrounds Albert. The ringing of the clock signals the end of the night. At dawn the jeeps disappeared. The prince's retinue appears, sent to search for their master. The ghost of Giselle appears for the last time. Albert's return to real world completes the ballet "Giselle".
"Giselle" in Russia
The premiere of this ballet in Russia took place in 1842. On stage Mariinsky Theater it was staged in 1884. The production of the ballet “Giselle” at the Mariinsky Theater, the content of which makes everyone empathize, was a huge success.
The main meaning of the plot is the idea eternal love which is stronger than death.
These days huge amount spectators visit Russian theaters, including the Mariinsky, and the content of the ballet “Giselle” arouses interest among people of different generations.
« Giselle, or Wilis"(French Giselle, ou les Wilis) - “fantastic ballet" in two acts by composer Adolphe Adam to a libretto by Henri de Saint-Georges, Théophile Gautier and Jean Coralli, according to a legend retold by Heinrich Heine. Choreography by Jean Coralli with participation of Jules Perrot, scenery by Pierre Ciseri, costumes Fields of Lormier.
Further editions
In Paris
- - renewal by Jean Coralli (sets by Edouard Desplechin, Antoine Cambon and Joseph Thierry, costumes by Albert).
- - staging Joseph Hansen (Giselle- Carlotta Zambelli).
- - performance of “Diaghilev’s Russian Ballet” (staged by Mikhail Fokine, set design by Alexandre Benois, Giselle- Tamara Karsavina, Count Albert- Vaslav Nijinsky).
- - production by Nikolai Sergeev based on the recordings of the performance of the Mariinsky Theater, scenery and costumes by Alexander Benois (especially for Olga Spesivtseva).
- - a renewal of the 1924 version as edited by Serge Lifar. In this performance, Marina Semyonova performed with him in 1935-1936. New scenery and costumes - Leon Leyritz(1939), Jean Carzu (1954).
- - Edited by Alberto Alonso (sets and costumes by Thierry Bosquet).
- April 25 - editorial Patrice Bara and Evgenia Polyakova, dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the performance, design by Loïc le Grumellec ( Giselle - Monique Loudiere, Count Albert- Patrick Dupont).
- - resumption of the ballet designed by Alexandre Benois.
In London
- - edited by Mikhail Mordkin for Anna Pavlova.
- - performance of “Diaghilev’s Russian Ballet” (staged by Mikhail Fokin, set design by Alexandre Benois, Giselle- Tamara Karsavina, Count Albert- Vaslav Nijinsky).
- - edition by Ivan Khlustin, ballet troupe of Anna Pavlova.
On the Russian stage
- - Bolshoi Theater, edited by Leonid Lavrovsky.
- - Gorky Opera House; 1984 - renewal (conductor-producer Vladimir Boykov, production designer Vasily Bazhenov).
- - Bolshoi Theater, edited by Vladimir Vasiliev.
- - Rostov Musical Theatre, Rostov-on-Don ( musical director Andrei Galanov, choreographers Elena Ivanova and Oleg Korzenkov, production designer Sergei Barkhin).
- - Mikhailovsky Theater, St. Petersburg (choreographer Nikita Dolgushin)
- 2007 - Krasnodar Musical Theater (choreographer - Yuri Grigorovich, production designer - Simon Virsaladze)
- - Samara Opera and Ballet Theater (conductor-producer Vladimir Kovalenko, choreographer-producer Kirill Shmorgoner, production designer Vyacheslav Okunev.
- - Moscow regional state theater"Russian Ballet"
In other countries
- - Roman Opera, edited by Vladimir Vasiliev.
- 2019 - National academic theater Opera and Ballet of Ukraine named after T. G. Shevchenka, Kyiv
Original versions
- - “Giselle”, choreography by Mats Ek ( Giselle- Ana Laguna, Count Albert- Luke Bowie). The action of Act II is transferred to a psychiatric hospital. In the same year, it was filmed by the director himself with the same cast.
- - « Creole Giselle", choreography Frederick Franklin, Dance Theater of Harlem.
Prominent Performers
On the Russian stage in the party Giselle Nadezhda Bogdanova, Praskovya Lebedeva, Ekaterina Vazem performed. On April 30 of the year, Anna Pavlova made her debut in this role at the Mariinsky Theater. In the year Agrippina Vaganova prepared the role Giselle with Olga Spesivtseva: according to existing opinion, this part became fatal for the ballerina’s mental health. In the year, one of the most soulful and lyrical creators of the image of Giselle in the 20th century, Galina Ulanova, made her debut in this role, in the year - Marina Semyonova, in 1961 - Malika Sabirova.
“This made me understand that France recognizes my Giselle as one of the best,” the ballerina believed.
In Great Britain, Alicia Markova was considered an outstanding performer of the role. Alicia Alonso, who replaced Markova in New York on November 2, began her ballet career with this performance. In France, Yvette Chauvire, who made her debut in “Giselle” in the year, is considered the standard performer. During the Paris Opera's tour in the USSR, spectators and critics were impressed by the interpretation of another French ballerina,
Act I
A small, quiet village drenched in sunshine. Simple, simple-minded people live here. The young peasant girl Giselle rejoices in the sun, the blue sky, the singing of birds and most of all the happiness of love, trusting and pure, that has illuminated her life.She loves and believes that she is loved. In vain does the forester, who is in love with her, try to assure Giselle that Albert, whom she has chosen, is not a simple peasant, but a nobleman in disguise, and that he is deceiving her.
The forester sneaks into Albert's house, which he rents in the village, and finds there a silver sword with a coat of arms. Now he is finally convinced that Albert is hiding his noble origin.
In the village, after a hunt, noble gentlemen with a magnificent retinue stop to rest. The peasants warmly and warmly welcome guests.
Albert is embarrassed by the unexpected meeting with the newcomers. He tries to hide his acquaintance with them: after all, his fiancée Bathilda is among them. However, the forester shows everyone Albert’s sword and talks about his deception.
Giselle is shocked by her lover's deceit. The pure and clear world of her faith, hopes and dreams was destroyed. She goes crazy and dies.
Act II
At night, among the graves of a village cemetery, ghostly Willis appear in the moonlight - brides who died before the wedding. "Dressed in wedding dresses, crowned with flowers... the irresistibly beautiful jeeps dance in the light of the moon, they dance the more passionately and quickly the more they feel that the hour given to them for dancing is running out, and they must again descend into their ice-cold graves..." ( G. Heine).
The Willies notice the forester. Tormented by remorse, he came to Giselle’s grave. By order of their inexorable mistress Myrta, the Willis circle him in a ghostly round dance until he falls, lifeless, to the ground.
But Albert cannot forget the deceased Giselle. In the dead of night he also comes to her grave. The Willies immediately surround the young man. Albert also faces the terrible fate of the forester. But the shadow of Giselle appeared, preserving selfless love, protects and saves Albert from the wrath of Willis.
With the first rays of the rising sun, the white ghost jeeps disappear. Giselle’s light shadow also disappears, but she herself will always live in Albert’s memory as an eternal regret for lost love - a love that is stronger than death.