Giselle
Tamara Karsavina & Vaslav Nijinsky in Giselle, 1910.
QUICK F A C T S
- ✦ Giselle premiered in Paris in 1841 and quickly became one of the most celebrated ballets of the Romantic era.
✦ The story was inspired by writings from Heinrich Heine and Victor Hugo and was developed into a ballet by writer Théophile Gautier.
✦ The ballet introduced audiences to the Wilis, ghostly spirits of young women who died before their weddings and dance men to death.
✦ The title role is famous for requiring a ballerina to portray both a lively village girl in Act I and an ethereal spirit in Act II.
✦ Nearly two centuries after its premiere, Giselle remains one of the most frequently performed and beloved classical ballets in the world.
Laura Comi as Giselle, at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma in 2004. Choreography by Carla Fracci. Photo: Corrado Maria Falsini
S U M M A R Y
Giselle is one of the most beloved ballets ever created and a defining masterpiece of the Romantic era. First performed in 1841, it tells the story of a young village girl who falls deeply in love with a handsome stranger named Albrecht. Unbeknownst to Giselle, Albrecht is a nobleman disguised as a peasant and is already promised to another woman. When the truth is revealed, Giselle's world is shattered, leading to one of the most famous and tragic scenes in ballet history.
Tamara Rojo as Giselle full length ballet choreographed by Akram Khan. Photo: Erik Doble, commons 2016.
Ballerinas Anna Pavlova (1910), Sara Nieto (1990), and Kimberly Cowen (2008, Photographer Steve Wilson) as Giselle.
The ballet's second act shifts from the human world into the supernatural. After her death, Giselle joins the Wilis, spirits of young women who died before their weddings. Led by the powerful Myrtha, the Wilis seek revenge on men by forcing them to dance until they collapse from exhaustion. When Albrecht comes to Giselle's grave to mourn, he becomes their next target. Yet even in death, Giselle's love remains stronger than anger, and she protects him from their vengeance.
Today, Giselle remains a cornerstone of the classical ballet repertory. Its combination of human emotion, supernatural mystery, and breathtaking dance has captivated audiences for nearly two centuries. The ballet is especially celebrated for its demanding title role, which requires a dancer to portray both an innocent village girl and an ethereal spirit. With music by Adolphe Adam and choreography shaped by Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot, and later Marius Petipa, Giselle continues to stand as one of ballet's greatest achievements.
Fabio Grossi performs in Giselle, one of the most beloved ballets of the Romantic era. Photo: FGweb, 2008, commons.
E N C O R E
✦ On Today's Stage
Giselle remains one of the most frequently performed classical ballets in the world and is considered an essential part of the repertory of major ballet companies.
✦ Iconic Interpreters
Many legendary ballerinas have left their mark on the role of Giselle, including Anna Pavlova, Alicia Markova, Natalia Makarova, Carla Fracci, and Natalia Osipova.
✦ Legacy
Blending human tragedy with supernatural mystery, Giselle became the defining ballet of the Romantic era and continues to be admired for its emotional storytelling, haunting atmosphere, and unforgettable title role.