A detail my hometown ballet always added- that Albrect, as a royal, wore his sword on his right, while peasants wore their weapons on the left… so when Albrect reaches to the right, Hilarion immediately spots him as a royal.
I think that only men from the aristocracy were allowed to wear a sword in the ancien regime (French monarchy), and mostly on the left side because it is more common to be right handed (and at the time it was not allowed also to be left handed).
@@lavandeyracaro je crois que l'explication n'est pas tout à fait exacte car seuls les nobles étaient autorisés à porter des épées, et plutôt à gauche car la plupart des gens sont droitiers (à l'époque les gauchers étaient souvent contrariés). Les paysans avaient peut-être des couteaux dans leurs poches mais pas d'épées Le fait de monter à cheval du côté gauche (du cheval) vient aussi du fait que les chevaliers portaient leurs épées à gauche, ce qui rend plus pratique cet exercice un peu difficile ! Mais ce n'est pas très grave car ce qui se passe dans les ballets ne reflète pas vraiment la réalité : des jeunes filles qui sortent de leurs tombes ou qui sont transformées en cygnes ! 🦢🦢🦢
Hahha Giselle the ballet is hard not to love, the story has so much depth of emotion (A good love story about forgiveness ❤️) and the music is so integral and carries the story so well.
This Ballet made my father silently cry. My mother well educated , took dad a tough man , to see it. It was his 1st time in the theatre. He was silent & in awe , as tears rolled down his face occasionally, clearly overwhelmed. He was a war hero & came from an impoverished background, where his toys were the rats on the local tip. But he died knowing the beautiful things in life.
Many years ago, as an American university exchange student, I was fortunate to get to see a performance of Giselle at the Paris Opera Ballet. We were expecting student seats to be in the fourth balcony but instead we were seated in the middle of around the third row of the orchestra section. It was breathtaking and I will remember it for the rest of my life. Thanks for sharing the history, the subtleties of the story, and the leitmotif info with us. Also Natalia Osipova (who is phenomenal in it - and pretty much everything else).
What an amazing experience and opportunity for you to see Giselle ❤️ The Paris Opera House is definitely on our bucket list! Thanks for watching- happy to share this video on Giselle with all of you 😊 Yes, we are huge fans of Natalia Osipova, one of the best!!
My favorite part of Giselle is the mad scene. It’s SO powerful and makes me want to cry. In my opinion, Marianela Nunez and Vadim Muntagirov do it the best. I will watch it a thousand times a day
At the Paris Opera, you can see the original Giselle: choreography, outfits, music, they changed nothing from the original set. That's pretty interesting to watch! But France is very snob and they don't understand that people can now have difficulty to stand there and watch pantomime for half an hour. My dance teacher told me the other day that we should have two versions: the original one for people who want to dive in XIXth century ballet but a more modern one for newcomers. With more dancing, less pantomime, new costumes, new set... I quite agree haha. I think there's a lot to do with Giselle, the music being so memorable and the story so important. I love that Giselle has to do with forgiveness and letting go of anger. In the second act, she could totally avenge herself and join the Willis in anger and vengeance, but she choose to forgive, better still save Albrecht and that's what makes the story so moving. By forgiving, Giselle also saves her soul and can move on. This is such a cool story!
Thank you for bringing up such great points. Giselle's forgiveness in Act 2 always tears us up! You're absolutely right in your thoughts about Giselle's forgiveness not only for Albrecht, but for herself. "By forgiving, Giselle also saves her soul and can move on"... couldn't have said it better
I took my friend to see the Marinsky do La Bayadere a few years ago. After the first half hour, I was like, "Did I drag my friend to see a pantomime or ballet"? 🤣 Thankfully the real dancing started after that!
Sorry, but the bit about POB is simply NOT true. There is nothing like "the original Giselle", sadly (from historical point of view the best productions are probably one by Mary Skeaping roughly from 1950s/1960s or by Alexei Ratmansky, but none can claim being 100% "the 1841 original") - the ballet has been changed and tweaked many times even before Petipa came to the picture and at POB the last production was done in 1860's and then there was no Giselle for more than 50 years. It was Les Ballets Russes that brought Giselle back home and then in 1920's Nikolai Sergeyev made new production (mainly influenced by Petipa) for POB. Nowadays, POB perform Giselle's production by Patrice Bart and Eugene Polyakov from 1990's. The set and costumes are based on designs of Alexandre Benois, one of the costumes designers of Les Ballets Russes, who made the set and costumes design for the POB 1920's production mentioned above. And for the mime - a) there is no "half an hour of pantomime" in ANY present production of Giselle, they barely do the Berthe scene (miming the story about the willis) and if so, it is often shorten (they DO have the full scale version at POB though); and b) mime scenes are essential for romantic ballets. That's just how it is. Look at La Sylphide, especially the Danish Bournonville version, there you can clearly see what the mime was all about and how much time and space it truly covered back in 1830s - 1860s. It is true that even the 1st act of Giselle back in 1841 consisted of roughly 50 % mime and 50 % dance. That has changed through the years, clearly. I'm not saying you can't do a contemporary Giselle (look at Akram Khan), where you can leave all the mime scenes out and tell the story differently. But if we are talking romantic ballet, we are talking dancing and mime together. It has nothing to do with French being snobish. (Maybe with my dance historian arse being snobish.) I appologize for the info dump, but one cannot graduate university with two thesis dealing with Giselle and then just sit there doing nothing with their knowledge. So if I am as obnoxious and insufferable as I think I am... sorry? Oh, and one stupid little point - the horn Hilarion blows in act I does not come from Albert, but prince of Courland, Bathilde's father, who hang it up by Giselle's cottage and told the hunting party specifically to blow it, if he is needed back. Also fun fact - in Gauthier's review of the opening night (which he addresses to Heinrich Heine you mentioned in the video as one of the sources for the story and plot), he wrote this detail when describing Hilarions death in act II. Myrtha tells the willis to push Hilarion into the forrest lake saying: fish will feast on your eyes! Which is a picture I love and it also cleary shows the wilis see Hilarion as the one responsible for Giselle's death (or at least as important catalyst), because were he not a jelous bastard (and back in 1841 there was no questioning that he indeed was) looking where he had no bussines looking, maybe Giselle would be just fine... Or maybe not and Myrtha was just extra bloodthirsty.
@@seminkovabulkaMy husband has seen Giselle with me many times. He always says he feels sorry for Hilarion, "because he did nothing wrong." So I explain to him that to be betrayed and heartbroken in private is one thing, but to have one's pain exposed for everyone to see--Terrible! THAT was what Hilarion was guilty of. He just HAD to be right and wanted everyone to know it.
Here Offering an explanation for Hilarion’s apparent unjust death. Think about what the central message of this masterpiece is. Forgiveness, right? Hilarion could not let go and move on. His own sense of loss made him selfishly take everyone down with him. Kind of like “if I can’t have her, then no one can”. All this is counter to Giselle’s approach of forgiveness and moving on to another incarnation. That’s why the playwright kills him, to highlight forgiveness as the central message against Hilarion’s selfishness. This is an extremely deep and complex story.
I’m not gonna lie-I’ve never been much interested in Giselle, mostly because I didn’t understand it, and I was mostly drawn towards ballets which were easier to comprehend. But wow! Thank you guys so much for this breakdown. What an impactful story-I found myself wanting to cry multiple times. I’m not going to skip over this ballet ever again ❤
Aaaaaa we absolutely love hearing this! You’re so welcome. So glad we could help you understand and connect with this beautiful ballet. So beautiful… definitely recommend tissues 😭 💕💕
Thank you for watching, glad you are enjoying the “series” :) We do hope to occasionally watch and share some of our fave ballets with you all ❤️ Will make a note of Don Quixote!
She did the best madness dance in my opinion too. When she accidentally runs into the noble lady and transitions her bow into a faint, that's my favourite part
Also, I was thinking about this earlier since I'm a literature student, I'd love it if you did an insight video on Don Quixote, and talked about the similarities and differences to the book as well as what you normally do.
I’ll tell you this right now - the Don Quixote ballet, as choreographed by Petipa and later, Alexander Gorsky, is only tangentially related to Cervantes’ novel. George Balanchine choreographed his own version of Don Quixote, to different music, and set it on his muse, Suzanne Farrell. It hasn’t been performed in decades, and I’ve never seen it. But I do wonder if it’s closer to the Cervantes than Petipa’s version.
I was just about to write the same thing. Please do Don Q! It will be performed in my local theatre soon and I'd love to know more about it before I go see it.
Good review. This is a ballet I have seen a lot. To me, it's the one that ALWAYS works. The story is a tearjerker, short, and has Variety. The music, like in Coppelia, is absolutely clear & describes what is going on. The sense of relief, love, and forgiveness at the end is an incredible Finale; ( stronger than the usual wedding or celebration.)
Thanks so much! Absolutely agree love this ballet for that quality as it has so much more depth and emotional range which is so fulfilling for both audience and dancers.
Giselle Act II is my most favourite white act in all of ballet. The GPDD at the end with the last adage that Giselle dances? Tear jerking. My most favourite casting is the Royal Ballet with Natalia Osipova dancing Giselle and Marianela Nunez dancing Myrtha.
ABT with Baryshnikov in Giselle was my favorite performance of Giselle. He has an amazing entrance in Act II which took the audience’s breath away… then his leaps and turns along with his Russian portrayal of Albrecht was amazing!!!
Thank you! This was one of my favorite ballets from childhood, although I always argued with my mom that he did not deserve to be forgiven. Maybe my unpopular opinion, but my favorite part was actually Giselle's madness at the end of Act 1, so full of drama and heartbreak.
You’re welcome, happy to hear this is one of your favorite ballets ❤️ You’re not alone in the mad scene being a favorite, it really is so beautifully portrayed and relatable to so many. Agree with you, he really didn’t deserve to be forgiven when you look at it. Forgiveness and the act of granting pardon to those who are undeserving of it is such a hard concept to practice (or offer to others) or to receive for yourself. So much in this topic and glad that you and your mom can openly discuss it 😊
@@balletreign Oh for sure! Mind you, I was a child and children tend to be very black-or-white for things sometimes. I certainly didn't have a lot of nuance to approach forgiveness and redemption as concepts back then. Mad scene still a favorite, though! ❤
Yes, definitely so true for children, and even hard for adults to understand sometimes. That’s really insightful. Thanks for sharing your fave scene in the ballet 😊
@@oceanelf2512 Perhaps his motivation was protective of Giselle, maybe not. In any case, no happy ending for her. The true "villain" is Albrecht in act 1.
Absolutely brilliant!!! You guys make ballet feel so accessible and interesting with how well you understand/explain it. And so hilarious! 🤣 you guys are truly gifted at this!! Thank you for another beautiful (the editing - wow!) and fascinating video! I can’t wait to see Giselle now - and good to know I’ll need Kleenex! 😭💗
Love this!! You’re so welcome ♥️ Thank you for such kind words, glad you are enjoying the videos! Enjoy the live ballet Giselle- Kleenex is an absolute must 😂
I saw Giselle in San Francisco tonight and I’m obsessed!! It was gorgeous and appreciated it so much more bc of this video and I’m so happy that I ended up at your channel to inspire this love of ballet. Thank you!!!
I was watching Barbie and the Pink shoes with my daughter this weekend and have never seen Giselle, but they use it and I wanted to know more. Thanks for the great breakdown. I am definitely going to see this one when my local ballet company does it. So beautiful
An excellent introduction to one of the most beautiful dance works ever conceived. The story of its creation is interesting in its own right, and the description of the action is nothing less than delightful. The one thing I wish they'd mentioned , though, was how, in the original conception, Bathilde (and her father, I guess) make an appearance at the very end, when Albrecht is more dead than alive after the dancing that he'd been forced to do, and Giselle, who has not yet returned to her grave, puts their hands together as a way of saying that though Albrecht has lost her, he still has his betrothed, who has shown herself in Act I to be a good person. I know it's never done that way nowadays, but it would certainly provide a degree of "closure." Either way, the unselfishness of Giselle's love is generally enough to save her from continuing to be a Wili.
Thank you so much! Appreciate your thoughts on this. That is an interesting conception and would be cool if Bathilde makes a second appearance in a production one day. Thanks for sharing!
@@balletreign Thank you for your response. As you probably know, there are a few other interesting departures from the original plan; the ones that I'm about to mention all occur in Act II. As originally performed: 1) The act begins with an entire hunting party, not just Hilarion, taking a rest near Giselle's grave, and all of them hightail it away from there once midnight strikes. 2) After Giselle is summoned from her grave, a group of young peasant men cross the stage on their way to another village, and the Wilis take off after them, thereby clearing the stage for Albrecht's entry. 3) When Albrecht later takes refuge from the Wilis at Giselle's tomb, with its cross, the Wilis try several times to close in on him, to the accompaniment of a Bach-like fugue, but they are hurled back by a power stronger than their own (Good versus Evil!), after which Myrthe orders Giselle to entice Albrecht away from the protecting cross, in the famous pas de deux. How I'd love to see a production in which all these variations were observed!
@@peterlblystone2326 Mary Skeaping and Alexei Ratmansky both had 1 and 3 (and let me tell you I love the fugue with a passion), but I have yet to see a production with the 2. Even though the scene makes so much sense! Because if the first peasants manage to escape, then the wilis would be FURIOUS and would tear Hilarion, who is coming next, to absolute pieces. (And tear him they did!)
im obsessed with your videos, you two are amazing, i love it!!!!! Caught my attention from beggining to end. Now thinking about it, i think Giselle is my favorite!
I'm currently in a production of Giselle, and. seeing this deep plot breakdown really helped me understand the nuances of choreography and acting to add during the rehearsal process. This ballet is very technically hard for everyone, both the corps de ballet and the principal roles, and the emotional toll it takes make it even more difficult! From every production I've seen online, it is always breathtaking, and I can't wait to perform it!
I was invited to my FIRST EVER ballet at the last minute and saw Giselle last night. I watched this video three times this week so I could fully understand and enjoy it, and I’m so glad I did! I was able to truly appreciate the artistry and performances without being distracted by a story I didn’t understand, and it has ignited a new love of classical ballet. I hope to see more shows soon… provided you already have a video I can watch first! :) Great video, and thank you for making it so a total newcomer could go to the ballet and fall in love with it. ❤
Love! THIS made our day!! 🥰 So happy we could help make sense of the storyline and you were able to fully enjoy the show. Hahah Yes, we hope to share more ballets with you all. Glad to have you here! :)
Giselle was the first ballet I saw as a child. Even the second act is my favorite ballet. Myrtha's role is also difficult although short. Willis's grand pas a challenge for the corps de ballet.
i remember first watching giselle as an elementry school student like around 9 years old? dang i rmb BAWLING my eyes out watching this balelt not even fully understanding the entire plot but my heart was broken. so so beautiful. giselle + romeo and juliet are certainly one of my top faves. how can i miss coppelia and sleeping beauty
Im a ballet grandma who has loved Giselle for over 50 years. Your review moment by moment, motifs and history is wonderful to develop audience understanding and appreciation. Nureyev still is my favorite Albrecht because of his dramatic and passionate performance. My favorites Giselle currently are Natalia osipova and Marianela Núñez (although she is an eerie Myrtha too). As productions go I’m in love with the fresh approach of the Danish Opera ballet. Loving your channel!
I really didn't care for the Danish production. Perhaps I just didn't understand it. Giselle in the Danish Act 1 looked like Cinderella, in her shabby gray dress. The nobles' costumes were a little bizarre, too. I didn't think the acting was as good as in other productions I've seen. Even the dancing wasn't as good, though I can't really criticize, since I could never dance myself.
27:00 also descending notes are used to mimic criyng in almost everything, every sad cry song has that part were they start with a note, go lower and then a little bit highter. It literally mimics trough music the sounds we make wile criyng
Oh, it's such a sad story! I do want to see it now, and btw I have the Kirov version of "Swan Lake" in my "watch later" playlist! This is another superb explanation of the historical context, the background of the story, and how the ballet unfolds. I appreciate how you mention the changes in music and the props, and what they represent. It really helps to reinforce your explanation of the story. When you said the first and second acts are like two different ballets, it reminded me of Shakespeare's "A Winter's Tale" from the Royal Ballet. I find ballet to be by far the most enjoyable medium for Shakespeare. I have trouble with all the archaic language, but the emotions, actions, and music are pretty clearly conveyed by the dancers. I suspect the actions are easier to understand in a Shakespearean ballet because the source material has a plot and dialogue. I mean, it can't get away with vague, ethereal concepts like many ballet-only stories seem to have like "he is yearning for love while desiring his father's approval and the conflict is tearing him apart." That is the type of thing you are so good at explaining. The "dancing till I literally die" concept is very interesting psychologically. I believe it is also in "The Rite of Spring" and "The Red Shoes." ?? Maybe the dancers who thought of this feel like sometimes they wish they did not have this passion, and/or their passion is so all-consuming that dancing = life and it's out of control? Do other dancers feel like this too? I don't want to get personal, but you might have an idea if this is normal, somewhat unusual, or completely batcrap nutty amongst all the dancers you have ever met in your life. It's a subject which is probably worthy of a PhD thesis! Re "les Wilis": in the TV show "Dance Academy," Kat's unconventional, self-absorbed mom, who is also the principal ballerina of the Australian National Ballet, is named Natasha Willis. Coincidence? In addition to explaining things really well, your videos are just fun to watch. Your edits are so witty eg. At 00:31 "We're doing a deep dive" and then you have scuba gear on. At 1:34 when you had help spelling and pronouncing "Theophile Gautier." 😂 It's something I've only commented on one other channel, and that had a different colour scheme, but your background aesthetic and choice of clothing is lovely. The varying shades of ivory, cream, pearl, beige and warm grey with a hint of greenery is soothing and pleasant to look at. I think yours is the only white-ish coloured microphone I have ever seen, and the what might be metal (?) band looks golden and not a dark colour, which would be a little jarring. (See 03:55 for example of another great aesthetic th-cam.com/video/_yAF21Y4Ft0/w-d-xo.html ) The background combined with your voices, your title cards, and background music are also lovely, and they all fit so well together! Finally, you both have absolutely gorgeous hair - And a sense of humour, which might be even better! Thank you very much for this video and I'm looking forward to more!
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful feedback! ♥️ So happy to hear you enjoyed it, thank you for watching Ballet has always been a passion and choice for us and never been all-consuming or out of control- at least we work hard to keep it from being so :). It’s definitely a balance and having a right perspective to not let it become master over your life. It’s a state of heart to keep any one thing, person, or passion from taking over your life. We imagine it’s not always the case for some, but believe that there is a way to enjoy the art without it sucking life from you? This is a great topic for discussion! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights, always glad to have positive input. 🤍 Yes, Giselle is a must watch if you have a chance to see it live, bring tissue! 😅
As you were describing the WILLIS SPIRITS I got emotional, what a beautiful story. I am not a ballet dancer but a jazz dancer, but I have loved the artistry and strength ballet shows and bringing it all together in story is all the more spectacular. I am grateful for the Narration
I was so lucky to have seen this locally produced in my city last year after religiously watching the Royal Ballet Performance. It was hauntingly beautiful and genuinely mesmerizing.
Hi Ballet Regin i really In joyed watching this video it makes me understand the ballet much more.😊 I will just asked you guys if you could make one about the snowqueen because I am going to dance that ball soon and I just really want to understand my different roles so it will mean a lot to me if you did that❄️❤
You're so welcome! 🤍 What city will they be in? On tour? Hopefully this video helps broaden your appreciation for this ballet. Nothing like seeing it live with understanding 😊 Come back and tell us your experience!
@@balletreign you asked for my review of Giselle by the ABT… It was fabulous!!! Your breakdown really helped me to understand all the little nuances, so thank you. It was beautiful, sweet and whisky. The corp was more than background, they were so integral to the story. I loved it. ❤️❤️❤️
YAY so great to hear your review of ABTs Giselle! Those are great observations of the performance. We’re so glad we could help enhance your experience. Glad to have you here ❤️❤️
Thank you so much for telling the ballet stories so beautifully. I love ballet and wanted with all my heart to dance when I was small (I am 70 now). My parents chose piano lessons for me and although I am thankful for those (endless!) lessons I still wish to this day that I could have danced. You two with your thorough knowledge help so much to love and appreciate the ethereal art of ballet. Thank you! ❤
I LOVE this series!!! I'm actually glad that that one ballerina created the peasant pas de deux because there's hardly any other solos! So interesting to learn! OMG I cannot watch Giselle without crying, it's my dream role!
My favorite moment is in Act 2...the super slow devlope a la second done by Giselle, then a newbe wili, as high as she can...also so in-human.....to a beautiful melodic accompaniment, also to a very slow tempo. A perfect intro into the second act of wili madness.
The finest Giselle I have ever seen online features Svetlana Zakarova and Roberto Bolle in a La Scala production. I can't praise the star performers as well as the corps de ballet enough. Nothing compares to this stellar version.
Well done!! Now I love Giselle, where is my hankie😂. The ballet is truly lovely and dramatic. The imagery and choreography of the Willies really impressed me in the portrayal of these ghostly maidens.
This made me tear up at the end, it was so brilliant. I love these explanations of full ballets because they make the stories much more accessible. I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy this ballet in any meaningful way without this video. Thank you.
Love classical ballet, never a dancer. I can't pull myself away from your channel. You're the best I've seen in that everything you cover is so engrossing. I wish my granddaughter was still young instead of grown and on her own. She'd love watching your channel with me. Thank you! ❤
Firstly - somehow your channel turned up on my homepage: so I kept watching. Your cheerfulness never fails to make me smile - so yeah, I'm now a subscriber. As for Giselle: many thanks for this deep dive, i learned so many new things! I've loved this ballet since like forever, the more i watch it the more I love it. It's the only ballet where I shamelessly cry, especially when I can see Natalia dance the role: tears are simply inevitable ... Thanks for this and for your channel (And no, I'm not a ballet dancer ... wish I had been able to ...)
tysm ballet reign for making this video or i will never know the beautifully tragic story of giselle 😭 i actually was nearly on the brink of tears this is just soooo saddd 😭😭😭
I love Giselle and the classic version so much! A few years back, I was able to watch Akram Khan's version and it was just amazing. It reframes the story as garment factory workers and the Landlords and incorporates a lot of South Asian sounds with the music, but its just gorgeous and the Wilis are absolutely terrifying in their entrance. It's also just beautifully danced and manages to showcase elements of the original steps in multiple areas. Would definitely recommend watching if you get the chance. I tear up almost every time I watch the ending of Act I. It's on Marquee TV and they also sell DVDs of the original cast performance.
These gals really know how to breakdown the storyline! There is something very universal about forgiveness and redemption…powerful proof of deep abiding love.
I feel like Giselle and Swan Lake are similar in artistry and being a more mature and emotional classical performance with quite sad stories. When I first watched Giselle I didn't know the story line but I knew it was iconic because I hear it mentioned all the time. I watched another video another day explaining one of the pas de deuxs and the meaning behind it and I was shocked😮. What happened to Giselle was literally heart-breaking, yet I think the storyline is beautiful in the sense of really delving into a darker story with deep meanings that I might not fully understand. I know it can be really demanding and I think its very iconic and is a blessing to watch and to perform. If you've ever performed Giselle, you should be proud of producing something beautiful. ❤💙👏✨💖 Edit: Oh, and my favourite part is probably Act 2 pas de deux because it represents the forgiveness that Giselle had for Albrecht. It was, in my opinion the pinnacle of the ballet 🩰 💫
I'm rewatching Giselle by the Royal Danish ballet and the insights you give in the mime helps the story really come through. It's so much more moving, that I'm near tears at the end of the mad scene. Thank you! (Not for the tears, for the info)
Young ladies, my Mother liked so much this ballet. I remember I saw it once may be twice, with her. Cause my favorite ballet is The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. But, I saw Giselle a few weeks ago, trying to remember or understand why my Mother liked it that much. And I liked it very very much. So why I am telling all of these? Well that is how I find your channel. I wanted to see more about the plot of this ballet. And you help me a lot. Please keep making this resume of each ballet. Cause ballet mime could be a bit hard to understand. And is not, I saw several videos about it and is just beatiful. Really so happy to find your channel 😊❤ I think this ballet is even sader than Swan Lake, cause in Swan Lake an spell is broken. But even when Giselle win her redemption, well a lie took her life🙁
I'm back. I cannot reconcile the sweet innocent music of Myrtha's entrance to Myrtha herself, or the vengeful wilis. That music is so sweet and warm. I learned how to play it recently. One of the classes has a "musician takeover time" where the musician gets to choose whatever music to play, and the students make up a dance, and describe what the music makes them think of. Sometimes the musician also gets to describe their own ideas. That was the case with me when I chose Myrtha's variation. The students had interesting ideas of what the music made them think of, winter, sunset, night, daydreaming etc. Then I got to reveal what my idea was. I stood up and asked everyone to gather around and see, as my idea was not a story or description. The Myrtha variation music describes me holding my new pet bunny, and she was seven weeks old at the time the picture was taken. Misty is a pure white Netherland dwarf bunny. Seeing that picture on my phone gave the whole class a case of cute overload and happiness.
What a sweet moment of sharing classical ballet music! Such a sweet interpretation. Misty sounds like such a sweet bunny, would love to meet her one day. Thank you for sharing ☺️
@@balletreign You are welcome! Thanks for the compliment! I wish you could meet her, she's so darling! Misty and I really bonded over the past couple of days and she is an extremely kissy bunny. I bought her on the first anniversary of my Mom's passing, and I'm sure Mom would have wanted none other for. She would be so happy that Misty is in my life to give me comfort and a bit of happiness. And I love to share her. Too bad there isn't a way to share pictures in here or I would. The students "aw"ed and squealed with delight. I'm not sure which is cuter, the animal or the people who melt over her. Hehe! I can hear such adoration going on in the music of Myrtha's variation. Speaking of Myrtha, I gave her a very different role in a little story I wrote and put into audio format. Too bad I can't share that either. It's been a good day. Snuggling my bunny, then having a good dinner, then feeding the squirrel, and coming back in to get this great comment from you. Thanks! I've watched quite a few of your videos. They are great! :)
I love this ballet so so much Giselle was the first ballet I perform as young dancer I still know the choreography by heart of every single dancers I’ve watched every rehearsal and I’m so much in love with this piece you portrayed Giselle in a very beautiful way bravo ❤❤❤ please continue doing this kind of video an idea for the next one could be sleeping beauty…:) Love you.
Welcome! Thanks for watching and sharing your experience with Giselle 😊 Absolutely, once you’ve learned choreography to a musical score in a ballet it is so hard to forget!
Thank you so much and welcome! Glad you are enjoying the videos and learning with us. Ballet is such a rich craft with so much history and so much about it to enjoy :)
This is my favorite full length ballet. It’s so dramatic!! I love it! And the part where the Willis are all hopping in arabesque across the stage is so visually stunning. I love it! And the part in the pas de deux where Gisselle leans on Albrecht in arabesque and he is on his knee. ❤ So good!
Thank you Ms. Kaye for an excellent description of this singular ballet, using important historical figures and excerpts of the ballet to illustrate the story line. Those new to this ballet will have a clear understanding of what they are about to witness. Kudos!
Also is this where he loves me, he loves me not originated?! Mind blown. I also love old adventure games and there are fairies that will make you dance till you die if you walk into their circle. And I now understand the expression to get the Willies, or that gives me the Willies. I'm learning so much 😂
Yay! Thanks so great to hear, so exciting for you to dance this ballet. Yes, don’t we dancers all wish we can never tire- at least you are not alone in Act 2 :) All the best and let us know how your show goes! ❤️
Giselle act 1 is one of my fave variations;) This really helped me understand her so much better, tksm for this! I loved it;) do more of these videos pls?
My compliments on your presentation & insights. I always say that Giselle is my favorite ballet unless I am watching another ballet. Part of the reason is my preference for Ecole Francais choreography & partly for the transformative quality of forgiving betrayal. Two interpretations I could add to your fine work: 1. Myrta allows Giselle to delay until dawn Albrecht's dance of death because Myrta is moved by Giselle's pleas but, as Queen, Myrta can't show sympathy... another reason for Myrta's bitterness, which is her own self-punishment; and 2. Albrecht is punished because he has lost the uniquely forgiving Giselle & Bathilde knows this. I have a friend who loves ballet but hates Giselle because she says Albrecht gets away with his crime, but I see Albrecht condemned to marry Bathilde, who is rich and beautiful, but no fool. Whenever Albrecht complains that the dishwasher needs to be emptied, Bathilde can respond: Too bad that you don't have that peasant girl around to pick up your socks. Keep up the good work of explaining ballet to new audiences. Reverence
Thanks for your additions! The first one is exactly how we envision Myrtha’s character. The part about the dishes and socks made us laugh. We’re glad u enjoyed the video, thanks so much!! 😁😁✨
While I cannot agree with your vision of Myrtha (she is and was always ment to be RUTHLESS), I agree 100% on Albert. I know many people hating the story for exactly the points you mentioned, but Albert A) has to go on and live without his one true love and B) has to live with the knowledge HE is responsible for her dying. (The fact the first productions even clearly showed he is still going to marry his intended is just cherry on top of this rotten cake.) (And lets not forget it is not all fun and games for Bathilde either... Especially if we talk about the original Bathilde, who was genuinely heartbroken by the events at the end of act one and felt for Giselle quite a lot.) And from now on I won't be able to think about Albert and Bathilde's married life without the dishwasher talk :D So thanks for that one!
Hi girls, I wanted to say thank you. Before I watched your video I knew nothing about Giselle and I’ve learnt to really enjoy it thanks to you. I just bought my kids an audio book telling the story on the music, it has lovely paintings too. My kids love it, and I’m happy to show them parts or the ballet on YT. Also I’m going to see Giselle at Opéra Garnier next season for my birthday. It will be my first time… can’t wait ! Thank you again !
Aww!! So happy to hear this! Such a beautiful thing that ur introducing ur family to ballet and so thankful to be a part of that 💕💕. We hope u enjoy ur first ballet! Giselle is a great one. (We recently posted a video on “audience etiquette” that u may like too! ☺️)
Alina Cojucaru is my favorite Giselle. Her dancing is beautiful and looks effortless and you can feel her heartbreak in the mad scene. Simply divine to watch her perform!
Bellissimo!😍❤🩰Grazie, perfetto, pieno di dettagli interessanti e fatto benissimo ! Grazie per aver messo un frammento dell' Osipova, per me è la migliore! Grazie (condividerei il video se non fosse che alle mie quattro amiche non interessa niente della danza classica) ! Grazie!
Brilliant both of you. Thankyou. Sharing your love and knowledge of ballett, your humour and your insights that explain so much, with such charm and charisma..The notes explaining the motifs..rock!
Thank you for watching with us! Yes, this ballet takes us through a range of emotions in the love story and the forgiveness at the end is truly remarkable and gets us every time 🥲
I had a book on tape when I was 5 that had several different ballets in it and Giselle was always my favorite. it didn’t shy away from the dark elements either.
I knew the story, but your description is heartbreaking. I also liked Makarovas description of Giselle. She said that the first Act is about human love, and the second Act is about the love of the soul.
I just discovered you ladies and wow, you are wonderful! Your knowledge and insight is so impressive and you have such great on-screen presence. I've learned more about ballet history in two videos from you than I did in ballet class as a kid. Subscribed!!
A detail my hometown ballet always added- that Albrect, as a royal, wore his sword on his right, while peasants wore their weapons on the left… so when Albrect reaches to the right, Hilarion immediately spots him as a royal.
That’s a very interesting add to the story, such a subtle but definitive giveaway! Thank you for sharing
I think that only men from the aristocracy were allowed to wear a sword in the ancien regime (French monarchy), and mostly on the left side because it is more common to be right handed (and at the time it was not allowed also to be left handed).
Explication exacte.
@@lavandeyracaro je crois que l'explication n'est pas tout à fait exacte car seuls les nobles étaient autorisés à porter des épées, et plutôt à gauche car la plupart des gens sont droitiers (à l'époque les gauchers étaient souvent contrariés). Les paysans avaient peut-être des couteaux dans leurs poches mais pas d'épées Le fait de monter à cheval du côté gauche (du cheval) vient aussi du fait que les chevaliers portaient leurs épées à gauche, ce qui rend plus pratique cet exercice un peu difficile ! Mais ce n'est pas très grave car ce qui se passe dans les ballets ne reflète pas vraiment la réalité : des jeunes filles qui sortent de leurs tombes ou qui sont transformées en cygnes ! 🦢🦢🦢
That’s cool
There are two kinds of people in the world, those who think Giselle is the most wonderful ballet in the world and those who are wrong … !
Hahha Giselle the ballet is hard not to love, the story has so much depth of emotion (A good love story about forgiveness ❤️) and the music is so integral and carries the story so well.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
This Ballet made my father silently cry.
My mother well educated , took dad a tough man , to see it.
It was his 1st time in the theatre. He was silent & in awe , as tears rolled down his face occasionally, clearly overwhelmed.
He was a war hero & came from an impoverished background, where his toys were the rats on the local tip. But he died knowing the beautiful things in life.
That is a beautiful comment.
Wow this really touched our hearts. Thank you sm for sharing that with us and the community ❤️
Many years ago, as an American university exchange student, I was fortunate to get to see a performance of Giselle at the Paris Opera Ballet. We were expecting student seats to be in the fourth balcony but instead we were seated in the middle of around the third row of the orchestra section. It was breathtaking and I will remember it for the rest of my life. Thanks for sharing the history, the subtleties of the story, and the leitmotif info with us. Also Natalia Osipova (who is phenomenal in it - and pretty much everything else).
What an amazing experience and opportunity for you to see Giselle ❤️ The Paris Opera House is definitely on our bucket list! Thanks for watching- happy to share this video on Giselle with all of you 😊 Yes, we are huge fans of Natalia Osipova, one of the best!!
My favorite part of Giselle is the mad scene. It’s SO powerful and makes me want to cry. In my opinion, Marianela Nunez and Vadim Muntagirov do it the best. I will watch it a thousand times a day
It’s just so moving 🥺🥺
I cried during the mad scene the first time I played Giselle
At the Paris Opera, you can see the original Giselle: choreography, outfits, music, they changed nothing from the original set. That's pretty interesting to watch! But France is very snob and they don't understand that people can now have difficulty to stand there and watch pantomime for half an hour. My dance teacher told me the other day that we should have two versions: the original one for people who want to dive in XIXth century ballet but a more modern one for newcomers. With more dancing, less pantomime, new costumes, new set... I quite agree haha. I think there's a lot to do with Giselle, the music being so memorable and the story so important.
I love that Giselle has to do with forgiveness and letting go of anger. In the second act, she could totally avenge herself and join the Willis in anger and vengeance, but she choose to forgive, better still save Albrecht and that's what makes the story so moving. By forgiving, Giselle also saves her soul and can move on. This is such a cool story!
Thank you for bringing up such great points. Giselle's forgiveness in Act 2 always tears us up! You're absolutely right in your thoughts about Giselle's forgiveness not only for Albrecht, but for herself. "By forgiving, Giselle also saves her soul and can move on"... couldn't have said it better
I took my friend to see the Marinsky do La Bayadere a few years ago. After the first half hour, I was like, "Did I drag my friend to see a pantomime or ballet"? 🤣 Thankfully the real dancing started after that!
Sorry, but the bit about POB is simply NOT true. There is nothing like "the original Giselle", sadly (from historical point of view the best productions are probably one by Mary Skeaping roughly from 1950s/1960s or by Alexei Ratmansky, but none can claim being 100% "the 1841 original") - the ballet has been changed and tweaked many times even before Petipa came to the picture and at POB the last production was done in 1860's and then there was no Giselle for more than 50 years. It was Les Ballets Russes that brought Giselle back home and then in 1920's Nikolai Sergeyev made new production (mainly influenced by Petipa) for POB.
Nowadays, POB perform Giselle's production by Patrice Bart and Eugene Polyakov from 1990's. The set and costumes are based on designs of Alexandre Benois, one of the costumes designers of Les Ballets Russes, who made the set and costumes design for the POB 1920's production mentioned above.
And for the mime - a) there is no "half an hour of pantomime" in ANY present production of Giselle, they barely do the Berthe scene (miming the story about the willis) and if so, it is often shorten (they DO have the full scale version at POB though); and b) mime scenes are essential for romantic ballets. That's just how it is. Look at La Sylphide, especially the Danish Bournonville version, there you can clearly see what the mime was all about and how much time and space it truly covered back in 1830s - 1860s. It is true that even the 1st act of Giselle back in 1841 consisted of roughly 50 % mime and 50 % dance. That has changed through the years, clearly.
I'm not saying you can't do a contemporary Giselle (look at Akram Khan), where you can leave all the mime scenes out and tell the story differently. But if we are talking romantic ballet, we are talking dancing and mime together. It has nothing to do with French being snobish. (Maybe with my dance historian arse being snobish.)
I appologize for the info dump, but one cannot graduate university with two thesis dealing with Giselle and then just sit there doing nothing with their knowledge. So if I am as obnoxious and insufferable as I think I am... sorry?
Oh, and one stupid little point - the horn Hilarion blows in act I does not come from Albert, but prince of Courland, Bathilde's father, who hang it up by Giselle's cottage and told the hunting party specifically to blow it, if he is needed back.
Also fun fact - in Gauthier's review of the opening night (which he addresses to Heinrich Heine you mentioned in the video as one of the sources for the story and plot), he wrote this detail when describing Hilarions death in act II. Myrtha tells the willis to push Hilarion into the forrest lake saying: fish will feast on your eyes! Which is a picture I love and it also cleary shows the wilis see Hilarion as the one responsible for Giselle's death (or at least as important catalyst), because were he not a jelous bastard (and back in 1841 there was no questioning that he indeed was) looking where he had no bussines looking, maybe Giselle would be just fine... Or maybe not and Myrtha was just extra bloodthirsty.
@@seminkovabulkaMy husband has seen Giselle with me many times. He always says he feels sorry for Hilarion, "because he did nothing wrong." So I explain to him that to be betrayed and heartbroken in private is one thing, but to have one's pain exposed for everyone to see--Terrible! THAT was what Hilarion was guilty of. He just HAD to be right and wanted everyone to know it.
Here Offering an explanation for Hilarion’s apparent unjust death. Think about what the central message of this masterpiece is. Forgiveness, right? Hilarion could not let go and move on. His own sense of loss made him selfishly take everyone down with him. Kind of like “if I can’t have her, then no one can”. All this is counter to Giselle’s approach of forgiveness and moving on to another incarnation. That’s why the playwright kills him, to highlight forgiveness as the central message against Hilarion’s selfishness. This is an extremely deep and complex story.
I’m not gonna lie-I’ve never been much interested in Giselle, mostly because I didn’t understand it, and I was mostly drawn towards ballets which were easier to comprehend.
But wow! Thank you guys so much for this breakdown. What an impactful story-I found myself wanting to cry multiple times.
I’m not going to skip over this ballet ever again ❤
Aaaaaa we absolutely love hearing this! You’re so welcome. So glad we could help you understand and connect with this beautiful ballet. So beautiful… definitely recommend tissues 😭 💕💕
@@balletreign 💖💖💖
I always felt like Hilarion didn’t deserve to die. He was the one who truly loved Giselle. Albrecht’s cheating ass should go straight to 🔥
I think this should be a series! Both the swan lake and giselle videos are super informative and a pleasure to watch 💗 maybe do don quixote next? 🙏
Thank you for watching, glad you are enjoying the “series” :) We do hope to occasionally watch and share some of our fave ballets with you all ❤️ Will make a note of Don Quixote!
So glad you showed Natalia in the act 1 solo. The best! Those pique turns!!
Thanks for watching! Happy to have any excuse to show Natalia, she really is one of the best- yes love those pique turns! 🩰😊
She did the best madness dance in my opinion too. When she accidentally runs into the noble lady and transitions her bow into a faint, that's my favourite part
Also, I was thinking about this earlier since I'm a literature student, I'd love it if you did an insight video on Don Quixote, and talked about the similarities and differences to the book as well as what you normally do.
Ahh yes! Don Q is such a fun comedic ballet to see and to perform. A classic lol
I second this!! :)
I’ll tell you this right now - the Don Quixote ballet, as choreographed by Petipa and later, Alexander Gorsky, is only tangentially related to Cervantes’ novel. George Balanchine choreographed his own version of Don Quixote, to different music, and set it on his muse, Suzanne Farrell. It hasn’t been performed in decades, and I’ve never seen it. But I do wonder if it’s closer to the Cervantes than Petipa’s version.
I was just about to write the same thing. Please do Don Q! It will be performed in my local theatre soon and I'd love to know more about it before I go see it.
Good review. This is a ballet I have seen a lot. To me, it's the one that ALWAYS works. The story is a tearjerker, short, and has Variety. The music, like in Coppelia, is absolutely clear & describes what is going on. The sense of relief, love, and forgiveness at the end is an incredible Finale; ( stronger than the usual wedding or celebration.)
Thanks so much! Absolutely agree love this ballet for that quality as it has so much more depth and emotional range which is so fulfilling for both audience and dancers.
Giselle Act II is my most favourite white act in all of ballet. The GPDD at the end with the last adage that Giselle dances? Tear jerking. My most favourite casting is the Royal Ballet with Natalia Osipova dancing Giselle and Marianela Nunez dancing Myrtha.
ABT with Baryshnikov in Giselle was my favorite performance of Giselle. He has an amazing entrance in Act II which took the audience’s breath away… then his leaps and turns along with his Russian portrayal of Albrecht was amazing!!!
Baryshnikov was an absolute legend ✨🙌🏻
Thank you! This was one of my favorite ballets from childhood, although I always argued with my mom that he did not deserve to be forgiven. Maybe my unpopular opinion, but my favorite part was actually Giselle's madness at the end of Act 1, so full of drama and heartbreak.
You’re welcome, happy to hear this is one of your favorite ballets ❤️ You’re not alone in the mad scene being a favorite, it really is so beautifully portrayed and relatable to so many. Agree with you, he really didn’t deserve to be forgiven when you look at it. Forgiveness and the act of granting pardon to those who are undeserving of it is such a hard concept to practice (or offer to others) or to receive for yourself. So much in this topic and glad that you and your mom can openly discuss it 😊
@@balletreign Oh for sure! Mind you, I was a child and children tend to be very black-or-white for things sometimes. I certainly didn't have a lot of nuance to approach forgiveness and redemption as concepts back then. Mad scene still a favorite, though! ❤
Yes, definitely so true for children, and even hard for adults to understand sometimes. That’s really insightful. Thanks for sharing your fave scene in the ballet 😊
I actually dislike the jealous dude who was after Giselle, and she did not reciprocate. If he hadn't butted in, things would've ended differently.
@@oceanelf2512 Perhaps his motivation was protective of Giselle, maybe not. In any case, no happy ending for her. The true "villain" is Albrecht in act 1.
What so many modern ballet watchers forget is that Giselle is most definitely a Regency style story so well done ladies ❤❤
Thank you so much! Glad to share this with you all 💕
Absolutely brilliant!!! You guys make ballet feel so accessible and interesting with how well you understand/explain it. And so hilarious! 🤣 you guys are truly gifted at this!! Thank you for another beautiful (the editing - wow!) and fascinating video! I can’t wait to see Giselle now - and good to know I’ll need Kleenex! 😭💗
Love this!! You’re so welcome ♥️ Thank you for such kind words, glad you are enjoying the videos! Enjoy the live ballet Giselle- Kleenex is an absolute must 😂
I saw Giselle in San Francisco tonight and I’m obsessed!! It was gorgeous and appreciated it so much more bc of this video and I’m so happy that I ended up at your channel to inspire this love of ballet. Thank you!!!
I was watching Barbie and the Pink shoes with my daughter this weekend and have never seen Giselle, but they use it and I wanted to know more. Thanks for the great breakdown. I am definitely going to see this one when my local ballet company does it. So beautiful
So cool! Thank you for watching and glad you enjoyed this video 😊 Yes, you must watch Giselle live at your local ballet! 🩰
Can’t wait for the next one! Hopefully The Nutcracker (my favorite ballet of all time)
Yes, thanks for watching! What is ballet without the Nutcracker LOL Stay tuned for that one
Im so glad i got to dance this ballet, even though it was a minor role i was glad and it has a softspot since it was the first ballet i did!
An excellent introduction to one of the most beautiful dance works ever conceived. The story of its creation is interesting in its own right, and the description of the action is nothing less than delightful. The one thing I wish they'd mentioned , though, was how, in the original conception, Bathilde (and her father, I guess) make an appearance at the very end, when Albrecht is more dead than alive after the dancing that he'd been forced to do, and Giselle, who has not yet returned to her grave, puts their hands together as a way of saying that though Albrecht has lost her, he still has his betrothed, who has shown herself in Act I to be a good person. I know it's never done that way nowadays, but it would certainly provide a degree of "closure." Either way, the unselfishness of Giselle's love is generally enough to save her from continuing to be a Wili.
Thank you so much! Appreciate your thoughts on this. That is an interesting conception and would be cool if Bathilde makes a second appearance in a production one day. Thanks for sharing!
@@balletreign Thank you for your response. As you probably know, there are a few other interesting departures from the original plan; the ones that I'm about to mention all occur in Act II. As originally performed:
1) The act begins with an entire hunting party, not just Hilarion, taking a rest near Giselle's grave, and all of them hightail it away from there once midnight strikes.
2) After Giselle is summoned from her grave, a group of young peasant men cross the stage on their way to another village, and the Wilis take off after them, thereby clearing the stage for Albrecht's entry.
3) When Albrecht later takes refuge from the Wilis at Giselle's tomb, with its cross, the Wilis try several times to close in on him, to the accompaniment of a Bach-like fugue, but they are hurled back by a power stronger than their own (Good versus Evil!), after which Myrthe orders Giselle to entice Albrecht away from the protecting cross, in the famous pas de deux.
How I'd love to see a production in which all these variations were observed!
@@peterlblystone2326 I would love to see those meaningful moments in the ballet as well.
@@peterlblystone2326 Mary Skeaping and Alexei Ratmansky both had 1 and 3 (and let me tell you I love the fugue with a passion), but I have yet to see a production with the 2. Even though the scene makes so much sense! Because if the first peasants manage to escape, then the wilis would be FURIOUS and would tear Hilarion, who is coming next, to absolute pieces. (And tear him they did!)
I've seen Giselle many times, but never really fully understood the plot. Thank you so much.
im obsessed with your videos, you two are amazing, i love it!!!!! Caught my attention from beggining to end. Now thinking about it, i think Giselle is my favorite!
I'm currently in a production of Giselle, and. seeing this deep plot breakdown really helped me understand the nuances of choreography and acting to add during the rehearsal process. This ballet is very technically hard for everyone, both the corps de ballet and the principal roles, and the emotional toll it takes make it even more difficult! From every production I've seen online, it is always breathtaking, and I can't wait to perform it!
I was invited to my FIRST EVER ballet at the last minute and saw Giselle last night. I watched this video three times this week so I could fully understand and enjoy it, and I’m so glad I did! I was able to truly appreciate the artistry and performances without being distracted by a story I didn’t understand, and it has ignited a new love of classical ballet. I hope to see more shows soon… provided you already have a video I can watch first! :)
Great video, and thank you for making it so a total newcomer could go to the ballet and fall in love with it. ❤
Love! THIS made our day!! 🥰 So happy we could help make sense of the storyline and you were able to fully enjoy the show. Hahah Yes, we hope to share more ballets with you all. Glad to have you here! :)
Wow…so great that you watched their narration so you could truly appreciate Giselle.
Giselle was the first ballet I saw as a child. Even the second act is my favorite ballet. Myrtha's role is also difficult although short. Willis's grand pas a challenge for the corps de ballet.
Really? 🥹 No wonder, Giselle is such a beautiful piece, second act is phenomenal ✨✨ thanks for sharing! 😄
i remember first watching giselle as an elementry school student like around 9 years old? dang i rmb BAWLING my eyes out watching this balelt not even fully understanding the entire plot but my heart was broken. so so beautiful. giselle + romeo and juliet are certainly one of my top faves. how can i miss coppelia and sleeping beauty
Im a ballet grandma who has loved Giselle for over 50 years. Your review moment by moment, motifs and history is wonderful to develop audience understanding and appreciation. Nureyev still is my favorite Albrecht because of his dramatic and passionate performance. My favorites Giselle currently are Natalia osipova and Marianela Núñez (although she is an eerie Myrtha too). As productions go I’m in love with the fresh approach of the Danish Opera ballet. Loving your channel!
Thanks so much!! Glad to have another Giselle fan here. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this 👍🏻💕
I really didn't care for the Danish production. Perhaps I just didn't understand it. Giselle in the Danish Act 1 looked like Cinderella, in her shabby gray dress. The nobles' costumes were a little bizarre, too. I didn't think the acting was as good as in other productions I've seen. Even the dancing wasn't as good, though I can't really criticize, since I could never dance myself.
Just went to my second ever ballet, Giselle at the SF Opera House! Wonderful.
So jealous! 🤩 They have some beautiful dancers, hope you enjoyed the performance!
You two have a way with words, I was crying periodically throughout the story 😭
La bayedere next please
I cried many times just watching this video, imagine if I saw this ballet in real life... Thank you 🤍
Aww 🥹🥹
Wow. I didn't know a lot about Giselle to be honest, I'm so glad I could learn with you.
Awww we’re so glad you learned something new! What’s your favorite part of the ballet?
@@balletreign From what you said, I think that madness scene is really powerful and very well done.
Yes! The mad scene is so pivotal and such an emotional climax to the ballet 😭
27:00 also descending notes are used to mimic criyng in almost everything, every sad cry song has that part were they start with a note, go lower and then a little bit highter. It literally mimics trough music the sounds we make wile criyng
Oh, it's such a sad story! I do want to see it now, and btw I have the Kirov version of "Swan Lake" in my "watch later" playlist!
This is another superb explanation of the historical context, the background of the story, and how the ballet unfolds. I appreciate how you mention the changes in music and the props, and what they represent. It really helps to reinforce your explanation of the story.
When you said the first and second acts are like two different ballets, it reminded me of Shakespeare's "A Winter's Tale" from the Royal Ballet. I find ballet to be by far the most enjoyable medium for Shakespeare. I have trouble with all the archaic language, but the emotions, actions, and music are pretty clearly conveyed by the dancers. I suspect the actions are easier to understand in a Shakespearean ballet because the source material has a plot and dialogue. I mean, it can't get away with vague, ethereal concepts like many ballet-only stories seem to have like "he is yearning for love while desiring his father's approval and the conflict is tearing him apart." That is the type of thing you are so good at explaining.
The "dancing till I literally die" concept is very interesting psychologically. I believe it is also in "The Rite of Spring" and "The Red Shoes." ?? Maybe the dancers who thought of this feel like sometimes they wish they did not have this passion, and/or their passion is so all-consuming that dancing = life and it's out of control? Do other dancers feel like this too? I don't want to get personal, but you might have an idea if this is normal, somewhat unusual, or completely batcrap nutty amongst all the dancers you have ever met in your life.
It's a subject which is probably worthy of a PhD thesis!
Re "les Wilis": in the TV show "Dance Academy," Kat's unconventional, self-absorbed mom, who is also the principal ballerina of the Australian National Ballet, is named Natasha Willis. Coincidence?
In addition to explaining things really well, your videos are just fun to watch. Your edits are so witty eg. At 00:31 "We're doing a deep dive" and then you have scuba gear on. At 1:34 when you had help spelling and pronouncing "Theophile Gautier." 😂
It's something I've only commented on one other channel, and that had a different colour scheme, but your background aesthetic and choice of clothing is lovely. The varying shades of ivory, cream, pearl, beige and warm grey with a hint of greenery is soothing and pleasant to look at. I think yours is the only white-ish coloured microphone I have ever seen, and the what might be metal (?) band looks golden and not a dark colour, which would be a little jarring.
(See 03:55 for example of another great aesthetic th-cam.com/video/_yAF21Y4Ft0/w-d-xo.html )
The background combined with your voices, your title cards, and background music are also lovely, and they all fit so well together!
Finally, you both have absolutely gorgeous hair - And a sense of humour, which might be even better!
Thank you very much for this video and I'm looking forward to more!
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful feedback! ♥️ So happy to hear you enjoyed it, thank you for watching
Ballet has always been a passion and choice for us and never been all-consuming or out of control- at least we work hard to keep it from being so :). It’s definitely a balance and having a right perspective to not let it become master over your life. It’s a state of heart to keep any one thing, person, or passion from taking over your life. We imagine it’s not always the case for some, but believe that there is a way to enjoy the art without it sucking life from you? This is a great topic for discussion!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights, always glad to have positive input. 🤍
Yes, Giselle is a must watch if you have a chance to see it live, bring tissue! 😅
As you were describing the WILLIS SPIRITS I got emotional, what a beautiful story. I am not a ballet dancer but a jazz dancer, but I have loved the artistry and strength ballet shows and bringing it all together in story is all the more spectacular. I am grateful for the Narration
I was so lucky to have seen this locally produced in my city last year after religiously watching the Royal Ballet Performance. It was hauntingly beautiful and genuinely mesmerizing.
Hi Ballet Regin i really In joyed watching this video it makes me understand the ballet much more.😊 I will just asked you guys if you could make one about the snowqueen because I am going to dance that ball soon and I just really want to understand my different roles so it will mean a lot to me if you did that❄️❤
Thank you for this great breakdown. I am going to see the ABT version of Giselle in a few weeks. I am even more excited now! Enjoy your videos . 👍🏻👍🏻
You're so welcome! 🤍 What city will they be in? On tour? Hopefully this video helps broaden your appreciation for this ballet. Nothing like seeing it live with understanding 😊 Come back and tell us your experience!
Durham NC. I think your video will definitely Inhaber my appreciation. I will definitely share how it went.
I totally agree Tammy - I felt lucky just to see a famous ballet but after watching this video, I’m now so excited to see Giselle!
@@balletreign you asked for my review of Giselle by the ABT… It was fabulous!!! Your breakdown really helped me to understand all the little nuances, so thank you. It was beautiful, sweet and whisky. The corp was more than background, they were so integral to the story. I loved it. ❤️❤️❤️
YAY so great to hear your review of ABTs Giselle! Those are great observations of the performance. We’re so glad we could help enhance your experience. Glad to have you here ❤️❤️
Thank you so much for telling the ballet stories so beautifully. I love ballet and wanted with all my heart to dance when I was small (I am 70 now). My parents chose piano lessons for me and although I am thankful for those (endless!) lessons I still wish to this day that I could have danced. You two with your thorough knowledge help so much to love and appreciate the ethereal art of ballet. Thank you! ❤
Aww thank u so much! We’re so glad to share our passion with u. We do love the piano tho, such a fabulous instrument ✨✨
❤
I LOVE this series!!! I'm actually glad that that one ballerina created the peasant pas de deux because there's hardly any other solos! So interesting to learn! OMG I cannot watch Giselle without crying, it's my dream role!
Thank you for bringing ballet to the 'masses', your wit😂 and your charm are so refreshing. Waiting for more❤
My favorite moment is in Act 2...the super slow devlope a la second done by Giselle, then a newbe wili, as high as she can...also so in-human.....to a beautiful melodic accompaniment, also to a very slow tempo. A perfect intro into the second act of wili madness.
That part is the BEST 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Thank you for explaining the story and how the music connects to it. Take pity on the ‘prophetic flower’; it didn’t ask for the job! 😊
The finest Giselle I have ever seen online features Svetlana Zakarova and Roberto Bolle in a La Scala production. I can't praise the star performers as well as the corps de ballet enough. Nothing compares to this stellar version.
Omg Tears...
Well done!! Now I love Giselle, where is my hankie😂. The ballet is truly lovely and dramatic. The imagery and choreography of the Willies really impressed me in the portrayal of these ghostly maidens.
Great video and explanation of the motifs and bringing the musical meaning to life. I always loved the vibes and aesthetic off the willis.
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the video. The music in Giselle is a masterpiece. Yes, Act II with the Wilis is absolutely stunning. 😊
I've never watched ballet live on site. If I were given the chance to watch a ballet (and maybe it would be once in a lifetime), I hope it's Giselle!
Def put that on your bucket list!! It’s an amazing experience, Giselle would be especially awesome 🤩🤩
More ballet explanations PLEASEEE i LOVE thiiis, all the analysis of the music, pantomime… ❤️❤️❤️
Aww so glad you love this series!! More to come 😉😉
This made me tear up at the end, it was so brilliant. I love these explanations of full ballets because they make the stories much more accessible. I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy this ballet in any meaningful way without this video. Thank you.
Aww thank u 🥹🥹 glad we could make this ballet more accessible to u!
Bravo. Interesting information, charmingly delivered. A winner.
Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed it! ❤️❤️
Thank you so much for the unpacking. Did I start crying at the final scene…yes. Yes I did. It is such a beautifully heartbreaking ballet.
Love classical ballet, never a dancer. I can't pull myself away from your channel. You're the best I've seen in that everything you cover is so engrossing. I wish my granddaughter was still young instead of grown and on her own. She'd love watching your channel with me. Thank you! ❤
This is the sweetest comment! Thank u! Non-dancers are always welcome here 💕. Glad you’re enjoying our channel ☺️☺️
Firstly - somehow your channel turned up on my homepage: so I kept watching. Your cheerfulness never fails to make me smile - so yeah, I'm now a subscriber.
As for Giselle: many thanks for this deep dive, i learned so many new things! I've loved this ballet since like forever, the more i watch it the more I love it. It's the only ballet where I shamelessly cry, especially when I can see Natalia dance the role: tears are simply inevitable ...
Thanks for this and for your channel (And no, I'm not a ballet dancer ... wish I had been able to ...)
Omg this is such a sweet comment!! Welcome to the Ballet Nerd Club, we’re so glad you joined us 🥹. Thanks for watching, we hope u continue to enjoy 💕💕
tysm ballet reign for making this video or i will never know the beautifully tragic story of giselle 😭 i actually was nearly on the brink of tears this is just soooo saddd 😭😭😭
I love Giselle and the classic version so much! A few years back, I was able to watch Akram Khan's version and it was just amazing. It reframes the story as garment factory workers and the Landlords and incorporates a lot of South Asian sounds with the music, but its just gorgeous and the Wilis are absolutely terrifying in their entrance. It's also just beautifully danced and manages to showcase elements of the original steps in multiple areas. Would definitely recommend watching if you get the chance. I tear up almost every time I watch the ending of Act I. It's on Marquee TV and they also sell DVDs of the original cast performance.
This is my favorite series ❤ Please make more Story Behind the Ballet episodes, perhaps Firebird?!
Don’t have to ask us twice! We love the Firebird 🔥🔥🔥. Glad u enjoy these!
@@balletreign Hoooooooooraaaaaay!!! Thank you!!!
Thank you, you make ballet so accessible for those who want to learn!
You're so welcome! Glad to have you here! 😊
These gals really know how to breakdown the storyline! There is something very universal about forgiveness and redemption…powerful proof of deep abiding love.
Aww thanks so much! This is def one of the most beautiful and powerful stories in ballet ever ❤️✨
I feel like Giselle and Swan Lake are similar in artistry and being a more mature and emotional classical performance with quite sad stories. When I first watched Giselle I didn't know the story line but I knew it was iconic because I hear it mentioned all the time. I watched another video another day explaining one of the pas de deuxs and the meaning behind it and I was shocked😮. What happened to Giselle was literally heart-breaking, yet I think the storyline is beautiful in the sense of really delving into a darker story with deep meanings that I might not fully understand. I know it can be really demanding and I think its very iconic and is a blessing to watch and to perform. If you've ever performed Giselle, you should be proud of producing something beautiful. ❤💙👏✨💖
Edit: Oh, and my favourite part is probably Act 2 pas de deux because it represents the forgiveness that Giselle had for Albrecht. It was, in my opinion the pinnacle of the ballet 🩰 💫
I'm rewatching Giselle by the Royal Danish ballet and the insights you give in the mime helps the story really come through. It's so much more moving, that I'm near tears at the end of the mad scene. Thank you! (Not for the tears, for the info)
i love these ballet nerd videos!!
Welcome and thank you! Glad you enjoyed these videos 😊
Young ladies, my Mother liked so much this ballet. I remember I saw it once may be twice, with her. Cause my favorite ballet is The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. But, I saw Giselle a few weeks ago, trying to remember or understand why my Mother liked it that much. And I liked it very very much. So why I am telling all of these? Well that is how I find your channel. I wanted to see more about the plot of this ballet. And you help me a lot. Please keep making this resume of each ballet. Cause ballet mime could be a bit hard to understand. And is not, I saw several videos about it and is just beatiful. Really so happy to find your channel 😊❤ I think this ballet is even sader than Swan Lake, cause in Swan Lake an spell is broken. But even when Giselle win her redemption, well a lie took her life🙁
Beautifully done, ladies! My favorite ballet ever. ❤
I'm back.
I cannot reconcile the sweet innocent music of Myrtha's entrance to Myrtha herself, or the vengeful wilis.
That music is so sweet and warm.
I learned how to play it recently.
One of the classes has a "musician takeover time" where the musician gets to choose whatever music to play, and the students make up a dance, and describe what the music makes them think of.
Sometimes the musician also gets to describe their own ideas.
That was the case with me when I chose Myrtha's variation.
The students had interesting ideas of what the music made them think of, winter, sunset, night, daydreaming etc.
Then I got to reveal what my idea was.
I stood up and asked everyone to gather around and see, as my idea was not a story or description.
The Myrtha variation music describes me holding my new pet bunny, and she was seven weeks old at the time the picture was taken. Misty is a pure white Netherland dwarf bunny.
Seeing that picture on my phone gave the whole class a case of cute overload and happiness.
What a sweet moment of sharing classical ballet music! Such a sweet interpretation. Misty sounds like such a sweet bunny, would love to meet her one day. Thank you for sharing ☺️
@@balletreign You are welcome! Thanks for the compliment!
I wish you could meet her, she's so darling! Misty and I really bonded over the past couple of days and she is an extremely kissy bunny. I bought her on the first anniversary of my Mom's passing, and I'm sure Mom would have wanted none other for. She would be so happy that Misty is in my life to give me comfort and a bit of happiness.
And I love to share her.
Too bad there isn't a way to share pictures in here or I would.
The students "aw"ed and squealed with delight. I'm not sure which is cuter, the animal or the people who melt over her. Hehe!
I can hear such adoration going on in the music of Myrtha's variation.
Speaking of Myrtha, I gave her a very different role in a little story I wrote and put into audio format. Too bad I can't share that either.
It's been a good day. Snuggling my bunny, then having a good dinner, then feeding the squirrel, and coming back in to get this great comment from you. Thanks!
I've watched quite a few of your videos. They are great!
:)
Great work as always ladies, I think these might be my favorite videos on TH-cam ever! Thank you for your deep dives and sharing your passion.
Wow, thank you!! That’s a huge compliment and we don’t take that lightly ♥️ Glad to be able to share our passion with you all! 😊🩰
I love this ballet so so much Giselle was the first ballet I perform as young dancer I still know the choreography by heart of every single dancers I’ve watched every rehearsal and I’m so much in love with this piece you portrayed Giselle in a very beautiful way bravo ❤❤❤ please continue doing this kind of video an idea for the next one could be sleeping beauty…:) Love you.
Welcome! Thanks for watching and sharing your experience with Giselle 😊 Absolutely, once you’ve learned choreography to a musical score in a ballet it is so hard to forget!
Oh my godd your videos are amazinggg, you guys deserve so much recognition
Thank you, thank you!! We hope our videos are adding value (and smiles :) to your lives 😊❤️
Akram Khan's Giselle is also one of my favourites!!
I'm not joking I've watched this six times while sewing pointe shoes... You guys should do Laurencia next!!
Haha we’re so glad to hear that! 😂😂. Would love to cover laurencia in another vid ✨
Omg i love this kind of video, i never remember the history of the ballets haha
Thank you so much and welcome! Glad you are enjoying the videos and learning with us. Ballet is such a rich craft with so much history and so much about it to enjoy :)
Once you start watching the video, you cannot stop right until the end. Thank you very much, ladies!
Love this lol You’re welcome, glad to have you here!
That was so beautiful, and your little details with the music and all its perfect
Thank you sm!! 🫰🏻✨☺️☺️
This is my favorite full length ballet. It’s so dramatic!! I love it! And the part where the Willis are all hopping in arabesque across the stage is so visually stunning. I love it! And the part in the pas de deux where Gisselle leans on Albrecht in arabesque and he is on his knee. ❤ So good!
Thank you Ms. Kaye for an excellent description of this singular ballet, using important historical figures and excerpts of the ballet to illustrate the story line. Those new to this ballet will have a clear understanding of what they are about to witness. Kudos!
Such nice words to hear 🥰. Glad you enjoyed this video!! ✨
Also is this where he loves me, he loves me not originated?! Mind blown. I also love old adventure games and there are fairies that will make you dance till you die if you walk into their circle. And I now understand the expression to get the Willies, or that gives me the Willies. I'm learning so much 😂
Welcome, glad to have you here! ❤️Yes, there is so much in this ballet, happy you are learning! Thanks for watching and supporting the channel 😊
i'm pretty sure using petals for determining if someone loves you already existed before Giselle :-)
I'm dancing this in a community show in a couple of months. Sometimes I wish I were a spirit that never tired, that act two is long!
Yay! Thanks so great to hear, so exciting for you to dance this ballet. Yes, don’t we dancers all wish we can never tire- at least you are not alone in Act 2 :) All the best and let us know how your show goes! ❤️
Going to see this ballet in March and the Grand Kyiv Ballet will be performing !!
Amazing!! We hope you’ll enjoy the performance ✨✨✨
great performance and a great explaination. Want more
Giselle act 1 is one of my fave variations;) This really helped me understand her so much better, tksm for this! I loved it;) do more of these videos pls?
I love this ballet. I would like to recommend the movie "Dancers" which has parts of Giselle in it.
My compliments on your presentation & insights. I always say that Giselle is my favorite ballet unless I am watching another ballet. Part of the reason is my preference for Ecole Francais choreography & partly for the transformative quality of forgiving betrayal.
Two interpretations I could add to your fine work: 1. Myrta allows Giselle to delay until dawn Albrecht's dance of death because Myrta is moved by Giselle's pleas but, as Queen, Myrta can't show sympathy... another reason for Myrta's bitterness, which is her own self-punishment; and 2. Albrecht is punished because he has lost the uniquely forgiving Giselle & Bathilde knows this. I have a friend who loves ballet but hates Giselle because she says Albrecht gets away with his crime, but I see Albrecht condemned to marry Bathilde, who is rich and beautiful, but no fool. Whenever Albrecht complains that the dishwasher needs to be emptied, Bathilde can respond: Too bad that you don't have that peasant girl around to pick up your socks.
Keep up the good work of explaining ballet to new audiences.
Reverence
Thanks for your additions! The first one is exactly how we envision Myrtha’s character. The part about the dishes and socks made us laugh. We’re glad u enjoyed the video, thanks so much!! 😁😁✨
While I cannot agree with your vision of Myrtha (she is and was always ment to be RUTHLESS), I agree 100% on Albert. I know many people hating the story for exactly the points you mentioned, but Albert A) has to go on and live without his one true love and B) has to live with the knowledge HE is responsible for her dying. (The fact the first productions even clearly showed he is still going to marry his intended is just cherry on top of this rotten cake.) (And lets not forget it is not all fun and games for Bathilde either... Especially if we talk about the original Bathilde, who was genuinely heartbroken by the events at the end of act one and felt for Giselle quite a lot.)
And from now on I won't be able to think about Albert and Bathilde's married life without the dishwasher talk :D So thanks for that one!
Hi girls, I wanted to say thank you. Before I watched your video I knew nothing about Giselle and I’ve learnt to really enjoy it thanks to you. I just bought my kids an audio book telling the story on the music, it has lovely paintings too. My kids love it, and I’m happy to show them parts or the ballet on YT. Also I’m going to see Giselle at Opéra Garnier next season for my birthday. It will be my first time… can’t wait ! Thank you again !
Aww!! So happy to hear this! Such a beautiful thing that ur introducing ur family to ballet and so thankful to be a part of that 💕💕. We hope u enjoy ur first ballet! Giselle is a great one. (We recently posted a video on “audience etiquette” that u may like too! ☺️)
The end bit is the best!
Hahaha Thank you, glad you can appreciate 😂
Alina Cojucaru is my favorite Giselle. Her dancing is beautiful and looks effortless and you can feel her heartbreak in the mad scene. Simply divine to watch her perform!
Very informative. My favorite ballet ever. The 2. act is pure perfection (music and variations).
Thank you for watching! Couldn't agree more :)
Beautifully told!
Thank you! ❤️
I don't know what is it but I it makes me cry, maybe it's because it was the first ballet I watched. It always gets me 🤧
Thanks for watching with us, yes, glad we are not the only ones- definitely a sad but beautiful ballet ♥️
Bellissimo!😍❤🩰Grazie, perfetto, pieno di dettagli interessanti e fatto benissimo ! Grazie per aver messo un frammento dell' Osipova, per me è la migliore! Grazie (condividerei il video se non fosse che alle mie quattro amiche non interessa niente della danza classica) ! Grazie!
You’re so elcome! Glad to have you here 🤍🤍Thank you for your kind comments and sharing !😊
Brilliant both of you. Thankyou. Sharing your love and knowledge of ballett, your humour and your insights that explain so much, with such charm and charisma..The notes explaining the motifs..rock!
Very beautifull explanation!! I love Giselle and I have seen it noumerous times but it makes me so emotional every time. Thank you!!!
Thank you for watching with us! Yes, this ballet takes us through a range of emotions in the love story and the forgiveness at the end is truly remarkable and gets us every time 🥲
I had a book on tape when I was 5 that had several different ballets in it and Giselle was always my favorite. it didn’t shy away from the dark elements either.
I knew the story, but your description is heartbreaking. I also liked Makarovas description of Giselle. She said that the first Act is about human love, and the second Act is about the love of the soul.
The story always wrecks us 💔😭 Glad you enjoyed this video, and thanks for sharing your thoughts ✨🫰🏻
Great job!!!!
Thank you sm ❤️
Well done!! You are both brilliant and very entertaining as well as informative! Good luck! Make more please! xx Love from MYBallet uk
I can’t wait to see my first ballet!!
Great! Wonderful! Thanks for the video! ❤
Glad u liked this one! 😁✨
I just discovered you ladies and wow, you are wonderful! Your knowledge and insight is so impressive and you have such great on-screen presence. I've learned more about ballet history in two videos from you than I did in ballet class as a kid. Subscribed!!
Thank you so much! We’re glad to have you here