Special Event
GISELLE presented by Southold Dance Theater
May 31 - June 2, 2024
GISELLE Synopsis:
Act 1: The ballet opens on a sunny autumnal morning in the Rhineland during the Middle Ages. The grape harvest is in progress. A wedding is prepared to take place in the village.
Albrecht, a young nobleman, has fallen in love with a shy, beautiful peasant girl named Giselle, despite being engaged to Bathilde, the Duke of Courland's daughter. He disguises himself as a humble villager to court the enchanting and innocent Giselle, who knows nothing of his true identity. With the help of his squire, Albrecht hides his fine attire and sword before coaxing her out of her house to romance her as the harvest festivities begin.
Hilarion, a local gamekeeper, is also in love with Giselle and is highly suspicious of the newcomer who has won her affection. He tries to convince her that the newcomer can't be trusted, but she ignores his warnings. Her mother, Berthe, is very protective of her, as she has a weak heart that leaves her in delicate health. She discourages a relationship between Giselle and the stranger, thinking Hilarion would be a better match, and disapproves of her fondness for dancing due to the strain on her heart.
During a hunt, the Duke of Courland and his daughter Bathilde arrive in the village seeking refreshment. Albrecht hurries away, knowing she will recognize and greet him, exposing him as a nobleman. Berthe welcomes them and offers them drinks. Bathilde is charmed by Giselle's sweet and timid nature, not knowing of her relationship with Albrecht. Giselle is honored when Bathilde offers her a necklace as a gift and invites her inside for supper.
Giselle, the new weds, and the bride's maids dance in celebration. Villagers continue the harvest festivities, and Albrecht emerges again to dance with Giselle. Hilarion interrupts the festivities. He has discovered Albrecht's finely made sword and presents it as proof that he is a nobleman engaged to another woman. Hilarion calls out the Duke and his daughter using the nobleman's hunting horn. Albrecht has no time to hide and has no choice but to greet Bathilde as his fiancée. All are shocked by the revelation, but none more than Giselle, who becomes inconsolable when faced with his deception. Knowing they can never be together, she flies into a mad fit of grief in which all the tender moments she shared with Albrecth flash before her eyes. She begins to dance wildly and erratically, ultimately causing her weak heart to give out. She collapses and dies in Albrecht's arms. Hilarion and Albrecht turn on each other in rage before Albrecht flees the scene in misery. The curtain closes as Berthe and Hilarion weep over Giselle's body.
Act 2: Late at night, Hilarion mourns at Giselle's forest grave but is frightened away by the arrival of the Wilis, the ghostly spirits of maidens betrayed by their lovers. Many were abandoned on their wedding days and died of broken hearts. They, led by their ruthless queen, Myrtha, dance and haunt the forest at night to exact their revenge on any man they encounter, regardless of who he may be, forcing their victims to dance until they die of exhaustion.
Myrtha and the Wilis rouse Giselle's spirit from her grave and induct her into their clan before disappearing into the forest. Albrecht arrives to lay flowers on Giselle's grave and weeps with guilt over her death. Her spirit appears, and he begs her forgiveness. She, her love undiminished, unlike her vengeful sisters, gently forgives him. She disappears to join the rest of the Wilis, and Albrecht desperately follows her.
Meanwhile, the Wilis have cornered a terrified Hilarion. They use their magic to force him to dance until he is nearly dead and drown him in a nearby lake. Then they spy on Albrecht, and turn on him, sentencing him to death as well. He pleads to Myrtha for his life, but she coldly refuses. Giselle's pleas are also dismissed, and he is forced to dance until sunrise. However, the power of Giselle's love counters Wilis' magic and spares his life. The other spirits return to their graves at daybreak, but Giselle has broken through the chains of hatred and vengeance that control the Wilis and is thus released from their powers and will haunt the forest no more. After bidding a tender farewell to Albrecht, she returns to her grave to rest in peace.
Family friendly, ALL ages are welcome.
Smoke, fog, haze and/or strobes will be used.
Act 1: The ballet opens on a sunny autumnal morning in the Rhineland during the Middle Ages. The grape harvest is in progress. A wedding is prepared to take place in the village.
Albrecht, a young nobleman, has fallen in love with a shy, beautiful peasant girl named Giselle, despite being engaged to Bathilde, the Duke of Courland's daughter. He disguises himself as a humble villager to court the enchanting and innocent Giselle, who knows nothing of his true identity. With the help of his squire, Albrecht hides his fine attire and sword before coaxing her out of her house to romance her as the harvest festivities begin.
Hilarion, a local gamekeeper, is also in love with Giselle and is highly suspicious of the newcomer who has won her affection. He tries to convince her that the newcomer can't be trusted, but she ignores his warnings. Her mother, Berthe, is very protective of her, as she has a weak heart that leaves her in delicate health. She discourages a relationship between Giselle and the stranger, thinking Hilarion would be a better match, and disapproves of her fondness for dancing due to the strain on her heart.
During a hunt, the Duke of Courland and his daughter Bathilde arrive in the village seeking refreshment. Albrecht hurries away, knowing she will recognize and greet him, exposing him as a nobleman. Berthe welcomes them and offers them drinks. Bathilde is charmed by Giselle's sweet and timid nature, not knowing of her relationship with Albrecht. Giselle is honored when Bathilde offers her a necklace as a gift and invites her inside for supper.
Giselle, the new weds, and the bride's maids dance in celebration. Villagers continue the harvest festivities, and Albrecht emerges again to dance with Giselle. Hilarion interrupts the festivities. He has discovered Albrecht's finely made sword and presents it as proof that he is a nobleman engaged to another woman. Hilarion calls out the Duke and his daughter using the nobleman's hunting horn. Albrecht has no time to hide and has no choice but to greet Bathilde as his fiancée. All are shocked by the revelation, but none more than Giselle, who becomes inconsolable when faced with his deception. Knowing they can never be together, she flies into a mad fit of grief in which all the tender moments she shared with Albrecth flash before her eyes. She begins to dance wildly and erratically, ultimately causing her weak heart to give out. She collapses and dies in Albrecht's arms. Hilarion and Albrecht turn on each other in rage before Albrecht flees the scene in misery. The curtain closes as Berthe and Hilarion weep over Giselle's body.
Act 2: Late at night, Hilarion mourns at Giselle's forest grave but is frightened away by the arrival of the Wilis, the ghostly spirits of maidens betrayed by their lovers. Many were abandoned on their wedding days and died of broken hearts. They, led by their ruthless queen, Myrtha, dance and haunt the forest at night to exact their revenge on any man they encounter, regardless of who he may be, forcing their victims to dance until they die of exhaustion.
Myrtha and the Wilis rouse Giselle's spirit from her grave and induct her into their clan before disappearing into the forest. Albrecht arrives to lay flowers on Giselle's grave and weeps with guilt over her death. Her spirit appears, and he begs her forgiveness. She, her love undiminished, unlike her vengeful sisters, gently forgives him. She disappears to join the rest of the Wilis, and Albrecht desperately follows her.
Meanwhile, the Wilis have cornered a terrified Hilarion. They use their magic to force him to dance until he is nearly dead and drown him in a nearby lake. Then they spy on Albrecht, and turn on him, sentencing him to death as well. He pleads to Myrtha for his life, but she coldly refuses. Giselle's pleas are also dismissed, and he is forced to dance until sunrise. However, the power of Giselle's love counters Wilis' magic and spares his life. The other spirits return to their graves at daybreak, but Giselle has broken through the chains of hatred and vengeance that control the Wilis and is thus released from their powers and will haunt the forest no more. After bidding a tender farewell to Albrecht, she returns to her grave to rest in peace.
Sponsored by the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County; Indiana Arts Commission; Art Works. National Endowment of the Arts, Sue Hiler, Bontrager Family Foundation, & Gurley Leep Automotive Family.
Family friendly, ALL ages are welcome.
Smoke, fog, haze and/or strobes will be used.
Event Dates
Friday, May 31, 2024 - 7:00 PM
Saturday, June 1, 2024 - 2:00 PM
Saturday, June 1, 2024 - 7:00 PM
Sunday, June 2, 2024 - 2:00 PM
