HBSO brings classical ballet Giselle back to stage

BALLET IN HCMC: The HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera will bring classical ballet Giselle back to the Opera House on October 13 and 14. — Photo courtesy of HBSO

HCM CITY — Giselle, considered one of the ultimate Romantic ballets, will be performed at the HCM City Opera House on October 13 and 14.

The two-act ballet about love and betrayal is directed and staged by French dancer Chloe Glemot and Japanese dancer Omori Yuki.

Both artists collaborated with the HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) on productions such as Cinderella and The Nutcracker.

Glemot has performed with ballet theatres and dance troupes in New York, Montreal, London and Việt Nam, while Omori is a soloist with the New National Theatre Ballet in Tokyo

The production portrays Giselle, a young peasant girl falling for a nobleman, Albrecht, without knowing he is engaged to a woman.

She dies of a broken heart and becomes a member of The Wilis, a group of ghostly spirits of women who punish their betrayed fiancés by dancing with them to death.

The presence of Giselle sends a message of love, saving Albrecht from the death sentence.

Giselle was written by French dramatist and novelist Theophile Gautier and playwright Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges to music by composer Adolphe Adam.

It was first performed by the Paris Opera Ballet in 1841 and quickly appeared on stages around the world.

STAR DANCER: Soloist Đỗ Hoàng Khang Ninh will play the leading role of Giselle. — Photo courtesy of HBSO

The HBSO’s performance will highlight young soloists Đỗ Hoàng Khang Ninh as Giselle, and Lê Đức Anh as Albrecht.

The show will also feature Meritorious Artist Đàm Đức Nhuận, La Mẫn Nhi, and dancers of the HBSO ballet department.

The ballet will begin at 8pm at 7 Lam Sơn Square in District 1. — VNS