Giselle at The Norwegian Opera & Ballet

A romantic ballet. “Eternally beautiful on the Main Stage,” wrote Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten following the premiere of Giselle in autumn 2009. “If you are looking for romance, sweetness and sadness, beauty and a sprinkling of spirituality, Giselle has it all.”

But Giselle is more than just a ballet permeated with mysticism, darkness, tulle and on-point dancing. It is also a story of innocence, deceit and the power of love.

Giselle’s love is so strong that it drives her insane and when she discovers her beloved Albrecht’s deceit it sends her to her grave. When the repentant sinner seeks out Giselle’s grave, he is set upon by the Wilis, the spirits of jilted girls. The Wilis rise from their graves at night and take revenge on men by dancing them to death. Is Giselle’s love, in spite of Albrecht’s deceit, so strong that she can save her beloved from this death?

The Norwegian National Ballet’s production of Giselle is based on the original choreography from 1841 and staged by the American Ballet Theatre’s former prima ballerina Cynthia Harvey.