Universal Ballet brings 'Giselle' in spring run
Ballerino Jeon Min-chul to perform as Albrecht before joining Mariinsky
Universal Ballet will present "Giselle," one of the most beloved romantic ballets, at the Seoul Arts Center's Opera Theater from April 18 to 27.
A timeless tale of love, betrayal and devotion beyond death, "Giselle" follows the tragic love story of a beautiful peasant girl, Giselle, and a nobleman in disguise, Albrecht. When his true identity is revealed, Giselle is driven to madness and dies of heartbreak.
The ballet's libretto was written by 19th-century French poet Theophile Gautier, inspired by a passage in Heinrich Heine's "De l'Allemagne" (On Germany) about the mythical Wilis -- spirits of maidens who died before their weddings. The choreography is by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, with music composed by Adolphe Adam.
Premiered in France in 1841, "Giselle" was first introduced to Korean audiences in 1985 by Universal Ballet.
The production is celebrated as a cornerstone of the ballet blanc, or white ballet, tradition, where ballerinas dressed in flowing white costumes create an ethereal aesthetic. The second act, featuring the corps de ballet as the Wilis -- the ghostly spirits of maidens betrayed by their lovers -- is particularly renowned for its floating, otherworldly ambience.
For this run, seven different principal pairs will take the stage over 11 performances. Ballerino Jeon Min-chul, who is set to join the Mariinsky Ballet, will perform with Universal Ballet's principal dancer Hong Hyang-gee in an exclusive performance on April 20. Jeon made his full-length ballet debut as Solor in Universal Ballet's production of "La Bayadere" in September last year.
Universal Ballet will take "Giselle" on tour, with performances in Ulsan (March 21-22), Sejong (March 28-29), Goyang, Gyeonggi Province (April 5-6) and Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province (May 2-3).
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