Giselle

SYNOPSIS
Act I

A village between the hills, on the edge of a forest. The celebration of the grape harvest is being prepared. Young people in the spirit of the holiday pass by the house where Giselle and Bertha, her mother, live. Forester Hans, in love with Giselle, goes to the cottage, wanting to meet her. He wants to knock on the door, but changes his mind and leaves her a bouquet of flowers stuck to the window, with the intention of returning.

Accompanied by his squire, Wilfried, Prince Albert walks around the village dressed in plain clothes so as not to attract attention. He too is looking for Giselle, to whom he had been introduced as an ordinary human. Wanting not to betray his rank, whenever Albert hunts around, he leaves his cloak and sword in a nearby hut, and Hans sees him.

Wilfried advises him to be careful in vain, because Albert asks him to leave. Left alone, he knocks on Giselle's door. The girl appears, the farewell is a joy; a warm feeling of love is felt between the two, and their dance is full of passion. Albert swears his loyalty to her, then offers her daisies with which the girl plays ``loves me, doesn't she love me'' until the boy's love is confirmed to her in this childish way.

The forester Hans reappears and confesses his love too, but Giselle rejects him. Albert intervenes, chasing Hans, who retreats humiliated, intent on revenge. Gisella's friends return from picking the grapes. She introduces Albert as her fiancé. They all get caught up in the dance. Giselle's mother is unhappy that her daughter, despite having a heart condition, is still dancing. But Giselle is not afraid of anything, she is too happy. Bertha takes her daughter by the hand and leads her into the house, much to the displeasure of Albert, who retreats into the woods.

In the distance, sounds of horns are heard announcing the approach of hunters. The retinue includes Wilfried with the count and Bathilda, the prince's fiancée. They knock on the first door that comes their way, precisely at Gisella's little house. Bertha welcomes them hospitably, and her daughter helps her set the table for the guests. Giselle's attention is drawn to Bathilda's elegance. Kind, Bathilda talks to the beautiful peasant girl who declares her passion for dancing. Much to her mother's displeasure, Giselle tries out her talent. Bathilda is delighted and, as thanks for the wonderful dance, gives him a precious gold chain. Making friends, Giselle confesses that she loves a handsome young man to whom she is engaged. Then the guests retire to rest, and Wilfried is sent in search of the prince.

The young people of the village meet again to continue the party. In their midst is Giselle dancing. Eager to take revenge and show the girl that she has been deceived, Hans brings the prince's sword from the hut, telling everyone who it belongs to. Albert tries to calm his girlfriend down, but he can't deny Hans' words. The forester attacks him and only Wilfried's intervention averts a possible tragedy. Hans then hurries up and blows the hunting horn. Upon hearing this, the courtiers leave Bertha's house and, recognizing Albert, respectfully bow before him. Giselle turns to Bathilda, asking her to clarify. She tells him that Albert is indeed her fiancé. Giselle loses her mind in pain, breaks the chain from her neck and throws it to the ground. Between sobs and unconscious laughter, she recalls the moments of love lived with the prince. In vain he tries to convince her of his love. Giselle forgives him with a final gesture and then collapses, breathless. His tearful mother and friends gather around the lifeless body, while Albert and Hans blame each other for the unwitting misfortune. The latter again tries to kill the prince, but is prevented this time by Wilfried. Albert falls desperately next to the lifeless body.

Act II

The village cemetery. Hans comes to Giselle's grave in the stillness of the night, crying his grief. But frightened by the strange noises and lights that surround the place, Hans runs away. A strange figure appears, Myrtha, the queen of the trees. It strikes midnight, the time when she summons from the depths of her submissive graves, the sorrowful souls of virgins who died before their wedding, including Giselle. The girl appears from the darkness, dressed in white; she also became one of them. Together with these, he is lost in the darkness of the forest.

Albert is looking for Gisella's grave. Wracked with pain, he falls to his knees when he finds him. The girl's face appears and disappears in front of him; the two dance together, but the young man cannot wrap his arms around her. Chained in this mysterious dance, they both head for the forest.

During this time the eels follow Hans and, after forcing him to dance until he is exhausted, throw him into the lake. After the judgment of the spirits has been carried to the end in his case, the spirits go in search of the other culprit.

Albert is found and brought to the grave from which Giselle had risen. On his knees, in front of Mirta, Albert begs her forgiveness. Seeing her merciless, Giselle intervenes in favor of the one she had loved. But Myrtha remains adamant and asks Gisella to dance with him. But the power that her love instills in him makes Albert resist until, in the distance, the city clocks are heard striking the morning hours.

Day begins to lighten and the trees, losing their strength, disappear. After the last touch and farewell look, Giselle returns to the grave. The image of the beloved will live on in Albert's memory. With endless regret for his lost love, the prince embraces the cold earth.

Historical data:
1962 - direction and choreographic adaptation Vasile Marcu, after Marius Petipa
2009 – choreographic adaptation by Mihai Babuska, after Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot, Marius Petipa