Giselle (2)

The second Act takes place in a world of ghostly fantasy at the graveside of Giselle. The Wilis are the spirits of girls who have died of a broken heart after being jilted by their fiancés at the altar. Led by their merciless Queen, Myrtha, they take their revenge by finding men in the forest at night and dancing them to death. Hilarion has come to mourn for Giselle at her graveside, but he is frightened off by the Wilis, who rouse Giselle and induct her into their host, then leave. Albrecht arrives to mourn for Giselle, and encounters her spirit. He begs her forgiveness. Meanwhile, the Wilis have tracked down Hilarion. They dance him to exhaustion and throw his body in a lake, then return to take their vengeance on Albrecht. Giselle tries to intercede on his behalf, but the Wilis will show no mercy. They try to dance Albrecht to death, but he is sustained by Giselle’s love. As he finally collapses, dawn breaks, and the Wilis return to the shadows. Giselle is free of the Wili’s spell and she returns to her grave to rest in peace. Albrecht is left alone to pine for his lost love.

Giselle is unusual in that there are only two Acts, and the second Act features the whole corps of female dancers, who are all on stage for much of the Act, but only two male dancers appear – Hilarion and Albrecht. As a mime role, Hilarion does very little dancing, and he is disposed of rather quickly and easily when he is danced to death by the Wilis. In reality this means that Albrecht is the only male role of any significance, which leaves the Second Act a little unbalanced, but the setting is so atmospheric and the choreography so compelling that this is a minor issue.

For a media preview the occasion was very well-attended, and the audience, as well as being numerous, were both knowledgeable and appreciative. This must have provided extra motivation for the dancers, who were almost perfect. There was only one tiny mis-step apparent in the whole evening, but it would be unfair and ungentlemanly to single out the dancer involved, as it was a slip rather than mistake. It will be easily remedied, and I am quite certain that for the public performances, the dancing will be flawless