GISELLE
London Coliseum, St Martin's lane, WC2
ENGLISH National Ballet's revival of Giselle has been widely acclaimed as the best of the Christmas season at The Coliseum, and it's easy to see why.
This is a magical, story of a peasant girl who falls in love with a duke. The trouble is, Albrecht, Duke of Silesia is masquerading as a peasant himself, and when his true identity is uncovered, his beautiful beau loses her mind and dies of a broken heart.
The first act is full of joy, with the lovers dancing themselves into each other's affections at the festival of the vines. It is upbeat and fun, and the music is breathtaking, but the frivolities lack the majestic beauty that makes the best ballets so special.
It is not until the second act that the performance truly comes to life, with the arrival of the vengeful spirits of virgin brides who have been abandoned before their wedding night.
These spirits haunt the forest seeking revenge on young men by forcing them to dance to their deaths, and the beauty of their performances is bewitching. Their ghostly movements delivered in perfect unison bring an eerie vengeance to the arena and a depth of feeling that carries over into the relationship between Giselle and Albrecht. The painful separation between the pair in the second act is far more engaging than their initial courtship dances, and their solos are far easier on the eye. Overall it is a production of majestic beauty. - ROB BLEANEY
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