Giselle / (Ac3 Dol Dts)

From La Scala comes a new staging of an archetypical Romantic ballet on DVD. Last year's production of Giselle features the original version of the choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot and was danced by outstanding dancers, including two of international ballet?s star dancers - Svetlana Zakharova and Roberto Bolle

First performed at the Acad?e Royale de Musique in Paris in 1841 as a two-act ?ballet-pantomime?, Giselle is hailed by ballet historians as the apotheosis of the Romantic ballet. The ballet was conceived by the influential French poet, author, critic and possibly the greatest champion of the Romantic ballet, Th?hile Gautier, who, together with Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges wrote the scenario that inspired Adolphe Adam?s score.

The ballet is divided into a vivid first act with enchanting country dances, colourful costumes and grand scenes and a ?white? second act with long, symmetric lines of white ballerinas creating a backdrop against which Giselle lures her partner into soulful pas de deux?.

Giselle revolves around the traditional motif of love triumphing over death, an idea that can be traced back to the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice and that was to culminate in the later 19th century in the music dramas of Wagner. Giselle thus takes her place in the long line of female characters so dear to the hearts of the Romantics. Women who, even when driven insane, sacrifice themselves for the sake of their lovers and who include Goethe?s Gretchen, Scott?s Mad Lucy of Lammermoor and Wagner?s Senta and Elisabeth.

In this performance, Giselle is danced by Svetlana Zakharova, a Ukrainian dancer, who grew up in the tradition of St Petersburg?s Maryinsky Ballet and is now one of the youngest ballerinas at Moscow?s Bolshoi Ballet, where her predecessors include Galina Ulanova, one of the most famous Giselles in the history of ballet. Her partner as Albrecht is Roberto Bolle, La Scala?s current star dancer. The filming for this DVD recreates the atmosphere of a night at the wonderful La Scala opera house, while providing the viewer with a closer look at the dancers, their interpretation and their artistic endeavours. The DVD is accompanied by an informative booklet essay by the eminent ballet critic Horst Koegler.