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The Ballet Herald®
Home Famous Ballets

Giselle

Cherilyn J. LeebyCherilyn J. Lee
May 21, 2019 - Updated on March 21, 2025
in Famous Ballets
Reading Time: 3 mins read

Giselle
 

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • ★ Who are the characters in Giselle?
  • ★ What is the story of Giselle?
    • ACT I: A Village in the German Rhineland
    • ACT II: The Forest
  • ★ Who composed the music for Giselle?
  • ★ Find Giselle Performances Near You
  • ★ Recent Giselle Stories
  • ★ Watch Giselle Online
  • ★ List of Classical Ballets

★ Who are the characters in Giselle?

The roles in the ballet are based on Heinrich Heine’s De lÁllemagne and Victor Hugo’s “Les Orientales”.

(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


★ What is the story of Giselle?

The original choreography for the ballet Giselle was created by Jean Coralli & Jules Perrot.

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 his love 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.

(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 above is intended to provide general information; for details on different versions, click on each of the performances below.)

 

★ Who composed the music for Giselle?

The musical score for Giselle was composed by Adolphe Adam, reportedly 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.

 

★ Find Giselle Performances Near You

May 24 - 25
National Taichung Teather

English National Ballet: Giselle

May 30 - Jun 8
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre

Hong Kong Ballet: Giselle

Jun 6 - 9
Bavarian State Opera

Bavarian State Ballet: Giselle

Jun 21 - 28
Metropolitan Opera House

American Ballet Theatre: Giselle

Jul 15
Bavarian State Opera

Bavarian State Ballet: Giselle

Jul 24 - 27
Royal Opera House

National Ballet of Japan: Giselle

Load More

 

★ Recent Giselle Stories

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The Latest Ballet News

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byBallet Herald News Desk
September 25, 2023 - Updated on October 23, 2023
Joshua Beamish @giselle Review - May 2023
Ballet, Contemporary, and Modern Dance Performance Reviews

Joshua Beamish @giselle Review: Giselle Gets Ghosted

byNadia Vostrikov
May 22, 2023 - Updated on May 23, 2024
Joshua Beamish's @giselle NYC Premiere Features Star-Studded Cast
The Latest Ballet News

Joshua Beamish’s @giselle NYC Premiere Features Star-Studded Cast

byBallet Herald News Desk
May 4, 2023 - Updated on October 24, 2023
Load More

Find more news on The Ballet Herald YouTube Channel.

 

★ Watch Giselle Online

Giselle (Paris Opera Ballet)
$2.99

Choreography by: Jules Perrot and Jean Coralli

Directed by: François Roussillon

CAST

  • Giselle: Laëtitia Pujol
  • Albrecht: Nicolas Le Riche
  • Myrtha: Marie-Agnès Gillot
  • Hilarion: Wilfried Romoli
Giselle (Paris Opera Ballet)
Watch Paris Opera Ballet's Giselle
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
03/02/2025 05:00 am GMT

★ List of Classical Ballets

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Cinderella

Coppélia

Don Quixote

Giselle

La Bayadère

La Sylphide

Romeo and Juliet

Swan Lake

The Nutcracker

The Sleeping Beauty

Cherilyn J. Lee

Cherilyn J. Lee

Cherilyn's lifelong passion for ballet has opened the door to the next chapter of her journey. Her strong foundation includes training at the School of American Ballet, being a featured dancer with Hartford Ballet and Carolina Ballet, and being co-director/owner of City Ballet Raleigh. She was granted the Affiliate Teacher Award after successfully completing the ABT National Training Curriculum®. A professional career in the industry along with extensive global travel provide her with a unique set of experiences to draw upon as a journalist and audience member. Cherilyn is excited to be sharing her insight and news about ballet around the world.

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