"Giselle"
Paris Opera Ballet
David H. Koch Theater
Lincoln Center
New York, NY
July 13, 2012
by Mary Cargill
copyright © 2012 by Mary Cargill
"Giselle" was born in Paris but survived in Russia, and now is a citizen of the world. Since Paris let their original version die in 1868, their current one is combination of the Russian version with some added features by the stager Patrice Bart. To those familiar with the ABT version (the one most often seen in the US), there are some differences, especially in the second act, but the main set pieces of choreography--Giselle's first act solo, the arabesques voyages of the wilis, the second act pas de deux, and Albrecht's solo, are remarkably familiar. The sets, based on the 1924 version by Alexandre Benois (the Russian designer responsible for the 1910 Diaghilev Giselle), are also quite traditional--the two houses with a castle in the distance. These sets are quite beautiful and detailed, like a wonderfully illustrated children's book. The second act is a bit starker than the traditional lush green forest, with bare trees against a black background, and a hint of a ruined chapel in the distance. The bare, wintery feel emphasizes the cool white of the wilis' costumes. What isn't traditional, at least to American eyes, is the absolute uniformity of style, especially of the corps, where, in the second act, it seemed that, not only was each head and arm doing the same movements but each heart was beating at the same rhythm. Also not quite traditional was the glorious orchestra (the New York City Opera Orchestra, conducted by Koen Kessels) which gave the charming, effective score a nuanced and soaring performance.