Film & TV

Film/Ballet Review: Bolshoi Ballet’s Giselle

Much-loved ballet, Giselle, has launched a season of Bolshoi Ballet productions, captured on film and screening exclusively at the Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas.

Giselle has always been one of my favourites. It is ballet in the grand style and who better to dance it than the Bolshoi Ballet.

Giselle or Les Wilis premiered at the Paris Opera on 28 June, 1841. The ballet was immediately declared not only a worthy successor to La Sylphide but also “the greatest ballet of its time”. It remained in the Paris Opera repertoire until 1849. When it became outmoded the ballet was completely dropped (after 1868); it would only be seen again in Paris decades later as part of the Ballets Russes’ second Paris season.

Following its success in Paris, Giselle toured around Europe, traveling as far as the Imperial Theatre in St Petersburg. But in 1848 a new Russian version was staged with Marius Petipa as Albrecht. This Giselle stayed in repertory until 1859. Next came Marius Petipa’s 1862 version, with several alterations to cater for the Italian virtuoso ballerinas of the time. Subsequent stagings of the ballet are linked by some degrees of separation to the St Petersburg production.

The ballet is about a peasant girl named Giselle who dies of a broken heart after discovering her lover is betrothed to another. The Wilis, a group of supernatural women who dance men to death, summon Giselle from her grave. Giselle begs them to spare him but to no avail, and she returns to her grave.

The Bolshoi artists are known for their precision and this cast is no exception.

Svetlana Zakharova as Giselle displayed amazing technique and characterisation. From her love-sick peasant girl in Act 1 to a Wili determined to save her lover in Act 2 she is consistent and exacting. I particularly enjoyed her solos and pas de deux with Albrecht in Act 2 where she seemed to float on air (very suitable for a Wili), and her stamina in the more technical sections was amazing.

Sergei Polunin was an outstanding Albrecht. His elevation was amazing as was his balon (light footed when jumping). His solos seemed effortless. His first appearance in a cloak carrying lilies in Act 2 was memorable. Together with Zaharova they made a perfect pas de deux couple.

Ekaterina Shipulina, in the difficult role of Myrta (the Queen of the Wilis), was suitably cold and imperial. This role demands endurance with many pirouettes and jetes (jumps).

Of the two acts, Act 2 is undoubtedly the most beautiful. The sea of white tutus and technical ensemble work was impressive. There was an audible gasp from the audience around me when Giselle rose from her grave!

Atmospheric sets, sumptuous costumes and a massive orchestra completes a filming of one of the classic ballets of all time.

Along with an introduction to Act 1 and Act 2, Giselle is an experience for every ballet lover, or someone who is a first timer!

Reviewed by Barry Hill
Twitter: @kinesguy

Rating out of 10:  10

Giselle screened as part of the Bolshoi Ballet season of filmed stage productions exclusively at the Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas.

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