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Home Famous Ballets

Giselle

Learn about the characters, plot, music, interesting facts, and upcoming performances of Giselle, one of the most famous classical ballets.

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  • Who are the characters in Giselle?
  • What is the story of Giselle?
  • What is the music for Giselle?
  • Where is Giselle performed?
  • Related Stories
  • Original Choreography: Jean Coralli & Jules Perrot
  • Musical Score: Adolphe Adam
  • Based on: Heinrich Heine's "De lÁllemagne" and Victor Hugo's "Les Orientales"

Giselle Plot & Roles

*Classical ballets have evolved over time, lending themselves to different interpretations as choreographers and directors create works that reflect their visions of the story. The following is intended to provide general information; for details on different versions, click on each of the Giselle performances below.

  • PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS IN GISELLE (in alphabetical order)

 
Albrecht: Count of Silesia, Betrothed to Bathilde, Love of Giselle


 
Bathilde: Betrothed to Albrecht


 
Berthe: Mother to Giselle


 
Giselle: A peasant girl, Love of Albrecht, Love of Hilarion


 
Hilarion: A gamekeeper


 
Myrtha: Queen of the Wilis


  • GISELLE SYNOPSIS
⊙ ACT I: A VILLAGE IN THE GERMAN RHINELAND

On an autumn day, a peasant girl named Giselle – who loves to dance but suffers from a weak heart condition – is pursued by Albrecht, the Count of Silesia; she is unaware of his noble status as he disguises himself as a peasant and thus sees no harm in their flirtation. She initially denies his advances but upon plucking the petals of a daisy, his love for her is confirmed. The gamekeeper Hilarion is suspicious of Albrecht and tries to warn Giselle, with whom he is also in love. She ignores his warnings while he continues to investigate.

The villagers are visited by the Duke of Courland and his daughter Bathilde who is betrothed to Albrecht. When it is realized that both young ladies are engaged to the same man and that indeed Albrecht is a nobleman, Giselle is heartbroken. She attempts to kill herself with Albrecht’s sword but upon failing, goes mad. This frenzy of despair is too much for the girl’s heart and she dies.

⊙ ACT II: THE FOREST

Between midnight and dawn, the Wilis of the forest – led by their Queen Myrtha – appear to avenge the grief they suffered while alive from the betrayal of men they had loved. They force any man who enters their territory to dance until their death. Hilarion comes to mourn Giselle and is victim to the Wilis’ malice.

When Albrecht enters the realm, Giselle pleads with Myrtha to forgive him. She denies the young girl’s request and orders her along with the other Wilis to dance with him until his death. Giselle manages to keep him alive until the light of dawn, thus sparing him the same fate as Hilarion.

★ INTERESTING FACT ★
Adolphe Adam, the composer of GISELLE’s score, is reported to have written the music in about two months! His use of leitmotifs for the principal characters as well as for the famous “he loves me, he loves me not” flower test that Giselle uses in Act I helps the audience recognize recurring themes. Representative of the relationship between Giselle and Albrecht, this letimotif is repeated throughout the ballet in different ways, helping to convey the characters’ emotions to the viewer.

Giselle Music Playlist

Upcoming Giselle Performances

27 February - 14 April
Vienna State Opera
Vienna State Ballet Giselle

Vienna State Ballet: Giselle

Opernring 2, 1010 Wien, Austria

View Details
10 - 13 March
Place des Arts
English National Ballet - Giselle

English National Ballet: Giselle

Montreal, Quebec H2X 1Y9, Canada

View Details
11 March
Teatro Campoamor
Compañía Nacional de Danza de España - Giselle

Compañía Nacional de Danza de España: Giselle

Teatro Campoamor, Calle Pelayo, 3, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias

View Details
19 - 21 March
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Atlanta Ballet - Giselle

Atlanta Ballet: Giselle

2800 Cobb Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30339, United

View Details
09 - 18 April
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Colorado Ballet - GIselle

Colorado Ballet: Giselle

1385 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80204, United States

View Details
17 - 18 April
Teatro Arriaga
Compañía Nacional de Danza de España - Giselle

Compañía Nacional de Danza de España: Giselle

Arriaga Plaza, 1, 48005 Bilbo, Bizkaia

View Details
25 April
Bavarian State Opera
Bayerisches Staatsballett - Giselle - Munich

Bavarian State Ballet: Giselle

Max-Joseph-Platz 2, 80539 München, Germany

View Details
12 - 15 May
Wellington Opera House
Royal New Zealand Ballet - Giselle

Royal New Zealand Ballet: Giselle

113/111 Manners Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand

View Details
19 May
Regent on Broadway
Royal New Zealand Ballet - Giselle

Royal New Zealand Ballet: Giselle

53 Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North 4440, New Zealand

View Details
22 - 23 May
Napier Municipal Theatre
Royal New Zealand Ballet - Giselle

Royal New Zealand Ballet: Giselle

119 Tennyson Street, Napier South, Napier 4110, New Zealand

View Details
27 - 29 May
Aotea Centre
Royal New Zealand Ballet - Giselle

Royal New Zealand Ballet: Giselle

50 Mayoral Drive, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

View Details
04 - 05 June
Isaac Theatre Royal
Royal New Zealand Ballet - Giselle

Royal New Zealand Ballet: Giselle

145 Gloucester Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand

View Details
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Famous Ballets
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  • Don Quixote
  • Giselle
  • La Bayadère
  • La Sylphide
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  • The Nutcracker
  • The Sleeping Beauty
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