Javier Torres – Adolphe Adam
Giselle
The crown jewel of Romantic ballet
Giselle is the glittering crown jewel of French Romantic ballet. It’s a quintessential work in which the elegance of classical dance meets the mystical movement language of the spirits, all set against a cloud of delicate tulle. The story explores themes of love, betrayal, death and forgiveness, with an emotional depth that has resonated across generations. Since its premiere in 1841, the ballet’s timeless beauty has continued to enchant audiences around the world.
Artistic Director of the Ballet, choreographer Javier Torres brings the story of the ballet from the Middle Ages to 1950s Italy. The result is a production that honours the traditions of the genre, enriching Act I with alluring new visuals and a stronger narrative, before returning to the familiar, cherished aesthetics of Act II.
Giselle is a compelling choice for both classical dance enthusiasts and those experiencing ballet for the first time.
“Societally, the 1950s was an era when gender roles were still highly conservative, despite women gaining more freedom with the emergence of modern household appliances, for example. Women were still expected to be respectable girls, good wives, or devoted mothers – and always subordinate to men. This hypocritical ideology, combined with the fashion of the time, provided the perfect framework for keeping the ballet’s original elements while introducing new dramaturgical contrasts to the story.”
– Javier Torres
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Southern Italy, 1950s…
synopsis
Dawn breaks on the central square of a town in southern Italy. Alberto, the son of a wealthy magnate, has disguised himself as a villager in order to court Giselle, a young waitress working at her mother Stella’s café. Their romantic moment is interrupted by Ilario, the café’s cook, who is also in love with Giselle. Threatened by Alberto, Ilario withdraws. Giselle and Alberto then join the preparations for the town’s cherry festival. When Alberto is left alone, Ilario spies on him and discovers that he is the son of a rich magnate.
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At midday, wealthy visitors arrive in the square. They are led by Batilde, Alberto’s fiancée and the daughter of Il Duca, another influential magnate. Alberto slips away before anyone sees him. Il Duca joins Batilde on the café terrace, where they order drinks. Giselle meets Batilde, who soon begins to feel unwell and is taken inside the café. The wealthy group disperses.
At sunset, the cherry festival begins. Giselle and Alberto dance joyfully in the crowd until Ilario challenges Alberto for Giselle’s affections. Enraged by defeat, Ilario exposes Alberto’s background. Batilde, Il Duca and Stella emerge from the café. On realising that Alberto has betrayed her, Giselle loses her mind. After a moment of shock, she tries to run into Alberto’s arms, but the jealous Ilario shoots her dead.
It is midnight. The Wilis, spirits of grieving women, roam the ghostly landscape, hunting down men. Stella and her secret lover, Il Duca, mourn their daughter Giselle’s tragic death. Frightened by eerie sounds, they flee.
Ilario, now on the run, secretly comes to grieve for Giselle but is driven off by the same unearthly noises. The Wilis rise under their leader, Mirtha. They summon Giselle, who is now one of them, and disappear. Crushed with sorrow, Alberto arrives and sees Giselle’s spirit. They dance enraptured by love, but Giselle fears for Alberto’s safety and urges him to leave before the Wilis appear. Ilario returns, pursued by the Wilis. He manages to escape but is doomed to a life of grief. When the spirits turn their attention to Alberto, Giselle’s love protects him. The two dance together through the night, hoping for dawn to break and spare Alberto from eternal sorrow. As the sun rises, he is saved. He walks towards the light, leaving Giselle’s fading silhouette to disappear into the darkness.
Gallery
Creative team
- Choreography (partly after Coralli-Perrot-Petipa)
- Javier Torres
- Music
- Adolphe Adam, Friedrich Burgmüller, Ludwig Minkus
- Set Design
- Annukka Pykäläinen
- Costume Design
- Erika Turunen
- Lighting Design
- Heikki Paasonen
- Musical arrangement
- Gavin Sutherland
- Conductor
- Gavin Sutherland
cast
Stage24: More about the work
Listen to Giselle
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A Brief History of Giselle in Finland
Tickets and performances
Gift packages are available to this performance. A gift package includes ticket(s) to the best seats in the stalls as well as interval refreshments from a buffet: coffee/tea and Opera cake(s). The offer is valid until 24 December.
How to buy a gift package
Choose your seats from the stalls in price category B or C and select ticket type ‘GIFT PACKAGE’. The offer does not apply to premieres. Package availability is limited.
secure your seat with a season ticket
The keys to an entertaining evening
The performance takes place on our Main Stage, which has no fewer than 1,300 seats in its auditorium. Please note that the 3rd balcony is very high up. It provides an impressive view, but the front-row seats on this level may not suit those with a fear of heights. Explore the Main Stage and find out more about where to sit. You can also compare the view from different parts of the auditorium.
Price categories: Seats in the auditorium are priced according to the view of the stage and divided into eight price categories (A–H). In addition to seat location, the price is affected by the performance date and demand. Only standard-priced tickets are available in the lowest price categories (F–H).
Discounts:
Discounts are available for selected productions, performances, and seats in the Stalls and the 1st and 2nd Balconies, unless otherwise indicated.
-Pensioners: €10 discount per ticket for selected seats in the Stalls and the 1st Balcony. The discount is available to all holders of the card for national pension recipients and anyone aged 65 or over.
-Students, military and non-military servicemen: 40% discount on the full ticket price.
-Children and those aged 20 and under: 40–50% discount on the full ticket price.
-Same-day tickets: A special rate of €30 per ticket is available for those aged 20 and under, students, military and non-military servicemen, the unemployed, and pensioners. The discount applies to seats in the Stalls, no earlier than 12 hours before the performance and subject to availability.
Please note that full-price and concessionary tickets for under-20s, students, and pensioners can be exchanged in our online store free of charge up to 24 hours before the performance. The value of the ticket(s) is credited to your customer account for later use.
Children and young people up to the age of 20 are eligible for a 40–50% discount on ticket prices.
Please note that children under the age of 5 are not admitted to Main Stage performances. The age recommendation for each production can be found at the top of its dedicated page.
For the best view, we recommend seats in the front Stalls or the centre of the 1st Balcony. If you’re unsure which seats would be most suitable, our customer service team will be happy to help you find the best options.
To ensure an enjoyable and memorable visit, see our Visiting with children page for more tips.
You can easily purchase accessible seats either through our online store or customer service. On the auditorium map, you can check the locations of accessible seats in the Main Stage auditorium (pdf). The accessible seats are marked with wheelchair icons to make choosing your seat easier.
Read more detailed instructions for purchasing accessible seats and ensure your visit is effortlessly enjoyable from start to finish.
The programme booklet provides background information about the production, its creators, and the story. It is published on the day of the premiere and can be purchased before the performance from the customer service desk in the Töölönlahti lobby, the sales desk at the Mannerheimintie entrance, all open counters of the Opera Restaurant, and selected members of our lobby staff. The price of the programme booklet is €7.
You can also buy the programme booklet in advance from our customer service desk or online via the Order refreshments page. See more detailed instructions here on how to purchase the programme booklet on the Order refreshments page.
The digital cast details for each opera and ballet, including the evening’s cast and creative team, are published online no later than on the day of the performance (please note that the link opens in a separate window). Cast details are also available on the displays and touch screens in the foyers, as well as under the My events tab in the mobile app.
Enhance your experience with refreshments. You can enjoy refreshments before the performance or during the interval. We recommend placing your order in advance, either through our online store or by calling our customer service. If tables are still available, online sales close no later than 24 hours before the performance.
Using the Opera&Ballet mobile app, you can order interval refreshments to a pick-up counter until shortly before the performance begins. Learn more about pick-up orders.
The Opera House is located by Töölönlahti bay. Our address is Helsinginkatu 58, which is well served by public transport.
The main entrance on the Mannerheimintie side usually opens 1.5 hours before the start of a Main Stage performance. Please make sure you arrive in good time, at least 15 minutes before the performance begins. Latecomers are only admitted after the interval so as not to disturb the performance.
How to dress for the performance? Can I wear perfume? Do I need to pay for the cloakroom? Find answers to these questions and more on our Tips for visitors page. We have put together a comprehensive guide to help make your visit to the Opera House a success.