Kharkiv National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet (Ukraine) Composer: Аdolfs Charles Adans Libretto: Théophile Gauthier, Jean Coralli, Henri de Saint-Georges Choreography: Jean Coralli, Gilles Perot, Marius Petipa Editing: Leonid Lavrovsky Artist – director: Nadia Shvets
Dance, its relationship with youth, love and death, is the central theme of the Romantic Era ballet “Giselle”. The ballet’s plot sees the first love and betrayal of the naive fifteen-year-old girl Giselle, followed by madness and death, leading to a hauntingly beautiful afterlife, and finally the triumph of love over the doom of death. Be that as it may, this motif became the source of inspiration for the ballet libretto by the French Romantic writer, poet and literary critic Théophile Gauthier. A collaboration between Théophile Gauthier, librettist Gilles Henri Saint-Georges, composer Adolphe Charles Adan, choreographers Jean Coralli and Jules Perrault, the ballet “Giselle” is still widely performed in theatres around the world after its premiere in Paris in 1841. Adan’s highly romantic music creates vivid characters and subtly captures their feelings and emotions. The ballet’s plot sees the first love and betrayal of the naive fifteen-year-old girl Giselle, followed by madness and death, leading to a hauntingly beautiful afterlife, and finally the triumph of love over the doom of death. The value of the production also lies in its choreography. The role of Giselle is a great challenge and for many dancers the pinnacle of their careers in the classical repertoire. Today, “Giselle” is most often seen in the version choreographed at the end of the 19th century by Marius Petipa of the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg. It is airy, light and emotionally saturated. This is the version that the Kharkiv Ballet offers, with Leonid Lavrov’s revision.
Kharkiv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre is one of Ukraine’s most distinguished and oldest musical theatres, working in the best traditions of Ukrainian and world cultural heritage, with a history dating back to 1780. Organised by SIA “Kurzemes filharmonija”, the event is supported by the Ventspils State City Municipality. Tickets for the concerts are available at “Biļešu Paradīze” sales points and www.bilesuparadize.lv.
