Mats Ek
Music by Adolphe Adam
Swedish choreographer Mats Ek ranks world-wide as a specialist for telling old ballet stories in new forms. Giselle, one of the great ballets of the 19th century, tells of the unrequited love of the country girl Giselle. Duke Albrecht, disguised as a peasant, wheedles his way into her affections until she is forced to realize that he is in fact in love with Bathilde. Giselle loses her mind and dies of a broken heart.
To the traditional music by Adolphe Adam, Mats Ek has created a completely new choreography in his own, modern idiom. He transferred the plot to the present day. The betrayed Giselle does not awaken to a spectral existence as a wili, but rather finds herself in a mental institution. But even in this radically contemporary version, the essence of the work is retained, and the spectator becomes a witness to the shattering
Music by Adolphe Adam
Swedish choreographer Mats Ek ranks world-wide as a specialist for telling old ballet stories in new forms. Giselle, one of the great ballets of the 19th century, tells of the unrequited love of the country girl Giselle. Duke Albrecht, disguised as a peasant, wheedles his way into her affections until she is forced to realize that he is in fact in love with Bathilde. Giselle loses her mind and dies of a broken heart.
To the traditional music by Adolphe Adam, Mats Ek has created a completely new choreography in his own, modern idiom. He transferred the plot to the present day. The betrayed Giselle does not awaken to a spectral existence as a wili, but rather finds herself in a mental institution. But even in this radically contemporary version, the essence of the work is retained, and the spectator becomes a witness to the shattering
Bayerisches
Staatsballett, Giselle Mats Ek, available from http://www.bayerische.staatsoper.de/922-ZG9tPWRvbTImaWQ9MTgzMyZsPWVuJnRlcm1pbj03OTAw-~spielplan~ballett~veranstaltungen~vorstellung.html , [Accessed 17th March 2012]
Adolphe Adam's traditional music is used in both the ballet and the contemporary productions of 'Giselle'. When the mood turns romantic, the music changes into a more slow, romantic tune so they can dance together.
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