Conductor: Patrick Fournillier

Choreography: Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot

Staging: Maina Gielgud

Set and costume designer: Andrzej Kreutz Majewski

Set Design Adaptation: Małgorzata Szabłowska

Costume Design Adaptation: Katarzyna Rott

Lighting: Maciej Igielski

Act l

It is a lovely autumn day in Thuringia. Duke Albrecht of Silesia, a young nobleman, has disguised himself as a villager named Loys, to court Giselle, a shy, beautiful peasant girl. He sees no harm in this flirtation with Giselle, who loves to dance but has a frail heart. Hilarion, a local gamekeeper, is in love with her and is suspicious of Loys. He tries to warn her, but she ignores his warnings. Giselle’s mother, Berthe, is protective of her daughter and believes Hilarion is a better match. When she sees her daughter dancing with Loys, she orders her back home. Berthe reminds Giselle and the villagers of the tale of the Wilis, the ghostly spirits of young brides who loved to dance and were betrayed by their lovers on their wedding day, dying of broken hearts. Now they haunt the forest after midnight to take revenge on any man on their way.

Wilfred, Albrecht’s squire, hears the hunting horn. Concerned that his master will be discovered wooing a peasant girl, he tries to find him and warn of the approach of the hunting party. The Prince of Courland arrives with his daughter Bathilde, who is engaged to Albrecht. Giselle is overawed by Bathilde’s beautiful clothes. Bathilde is charmed by the sweet Giselle and offers her a necklace as a gift, unaware that they are engaged to the same man.

Bathilde and her father are invited into Berthe’s cottage to rest. The villagers celebrate their harvest, and Giselle is crowned the Harvest Queen. Giselle and Albrecht resume their dancing, but Hilarion interrupts the festivities. He has discovered Albrecht’s sword and shows it as proof that he is really a nobleman. Surprised, Albrecht has no time to hide and greets Bathilde as his fiancée. Giselle is shocked by her lover’s deception. She is overcome with grief and recalls all the tender moments she shared with Loys. She dances wildly, briefly recognising her mother first and then Albrecht, before her heart gives out and Giselle dies in his arms. A distraught Albrecht is dragged away by Wilfred while Berthe weeps over her daughter’s body.

Act II

Late at night in a dark forest, Hilarion mourns at Giselle’s grave but is frightened away by the impending arrival of the Wilis. As midnight strikes, Myrtha, their merciless queen, leads their nightly dance ritual before rousing Giselle’s spirit from her grave. Albrecht, full of remorse, arrives to lay flowers on Giselle’s tomb. Her spirit appears to him, Albrecht tries to embrace her, but his arms remain empty, he begs her forgiveness.

Meanwhile, the Wilis have cornered Hilarion, they force him to dance until near death before drowning him in the lake. Then seeing Albrecht, they turn on him, sentencing him to dance until he dies. He pleads with Myrtha for mercy, but she coldly refuses. Giselle begs for his life to be spared but is forced to make him dance with her until he collapses from exhaustion. However, the power of her forgiveness and love saves him. As dawn breaks, the Wilis lose their power and return to their graves. Giselle also slowly vanishes back into her tomb. Albrecht is left alone with his sorrow; the memory of Giselle will sustain with him for the rest of his life.

Approximately 2 hours including an intermission

Dubai Opera is the ideal venue to celebrate elegance and style. Kindly avoid overly casual or provocative attire, such as shorts or flip flops, to uphold our venue standards. Guests not complying with the dress code will not be permitted entry.

6+ years would require a ticket to enter the Dubai Opera Main Auditorium.

Below 6+ years are not permitted into the Dubai Opera Main Auditorium.