A Tradition of Dance: "Giselle"

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Parent Category: Film and the Arts

Category: Reviews

Published on Saturday, 23 October 2021 13:45

Written by Jack Angstreich

Katherine Williams in Giselle. Photo: Rosalie O’Connor

On the evening of Friday, October 22nd, I had the great privilege of seeing a superb, moving presentation by American Ballet Theater of Giselle, “the oldest continually-performed ballet,” with choreography after that of Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot, and Marius Petipa, in a staging by Kevin McKenzie, the Artistic Director of the company. The fantastical libretto is by the eminent, 19th-century French writer, Théophile Gautier, on a theme by the major German Romantic poet, Heinrich Heine. The melodious score is Adolphe Adam. The scenery was designed by Gianni Quaranta, with costumes by Anna Anni, and with lighting by Jennifer Tipton, which was especially effective in the mysterious, supernatural second act.

The title role was magnificently played by Gillian Murphy, one of the finest ballerinas in the company, dazzling throughout the evening. Her excellent partner, as Count Albrecht, was Thomas Forster, exhibiting a rare emotional power in his final scene. Katherine Williams was outstanding as Myrta, the queen of the wilis, while Jarod Curley was impressive as Hilarion the Village Huntsman. The secondary cast was also extraordinary, featuring the wonderful Luciana Paris and Gabe Stone Shayer as the dancers of the Peasant Pas de Deux, and, in the second act, the roles of the two wilis, Moyna and Zulma, were performed by the splendid Sierra Armstrong and April Giangeruso, respectively. The admirable corps de ballet was in characteristically marvelous form. The company’s fall season continues for another week, with several intriguing mixed programs.

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