The Kennedy Center’s Opera House stage is brimming with the poise and beauty of the celebrated Mariinsky Ballet dancing their classic, full-length production of “Giselle” Thursday through Sunday. The Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra will accompany the performances. These appearances mark the St. Petersburg-based company’s ninth visit in a 10-year partnership with the Kennedy Center. “Giselle” is one of Mariinsky’s signature productions under the artistic direction of Valery Gergiev and Yuri Fateev, deputy director of the Ballet Company. This stellar performance showcases choreography by Marius Petipa with music by Adolphe Adam.
| On stage |
| ‘Giselle’ |
| » Where: The Kennedy Center Concert Hall |
| » When: 8 p.m., Thursday to Saturday; 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday |
| » Info: $29 to $150; 202-467-4600, 800-444-1324; kennedy-center.org |
Among the most romantic and visually sumptuous works in the classical ballet canon, “Giselle” tells the story of a young peasant girl who is smitten by a dashing nobleman who is disguised as a commoner. Betrayal, heartbreak and, ultimately, death soon follow a love not meant to be. The second act of the ballet is set in a forest beside Giselle’s grave. Here, the Queen of the ghostly Wilis, virgins who have died of unrequited love, calls upon them to accept Giselle as one of their own.
Mariinsky’s troupe of renowned dancers alternates the main roles of Giselle, Alberth, Hans and Mirtha during the Kennedy Center run. Evgeny Ivanchenko who takes on the role of Alberth told Chris Wiegand of the Guardian of his resolve to dance after seeing his first Mariinsky production of “Swan Lake.”
One of the key dancers in the role of Giselle is Diana Vishneva. Ballet Magazine has praised her talents in the role of a superbly sublime Giselle commenting, “Her mad scene in Act 1 was finely paced, and gradually heightening in excitement. It was Vishneva’s Act 2 which was a revelation.” And of her “Swan Lake” in the 2008 Mariinsky Festival, the magazine called her dancing “as pure as water,” and the woman herself “… a ballerina of the highest order.”
Meg Booth, director of dance programming at the Kennedy Center has commented, “We are delighted to have the Mariinsky Ballet back at the Kennedy Center. Giselle is an audience favorite, and long-time ballet fans and first-time balletgoers alike will enjoy this production.”
