The long-awaited dance season is opening at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona. This time, audiences can look forward to a special event—the ballet “Giselle” by the Bayerisches Staatsballett returns to the stage after a fifteen-year absence. Tuesday and Wednesday evenings promise to be eventful: the sets of dense forests and village houses from “Giselle” will share the stage with the gigantic sun from the opera “Akhnaten” by Philip Glass.
The season’s launch is marked by one of the most iconic works of classical ballet. The Bavarian company features 62 dancers from more than twenty countries. For the Liceu, this staging of “Giselle” is its first since 2010. The performances will continue for four more days, from Thursday through the end of the week.
The music of Adolphe Adam and the direction of Lithuanian conductor Robertas Šervenikas give the production a unique atmosphere. The story transports the viewer to an idyllic village, where a young woman in fragile health falls in love with Albrecht—a nobleman concealing his identity. Upon learning of his deception, the heroine dies and becomes a wilis—a spirit who, along with other women like her, lures men into a deadly dance.
The performance lasts three hours and is divided into two parts: the first presents a picturesque forest and village cottages, while the second takes place in a gloomy cemetery where, under blue light and a full moon, ghostly figures in long white dresses and veils dance. The Bayerisches Staatsballett, founded in 1990 and led by Laurent Hilaire, once again demonstrates a high level of artistry. The dress rehearsal was held on Monday, and today the audience will be able to judge the result.
After Giselle, the Liceu is preparing four more dance events. In November, a grand gala will bring together leading soloists from the Bolshoi Theatre, the Royal Ballet, the Mariinsky Theatre and English National Ballet on one stage. In January, Serbian artist Marina Abramović will present her performance Balkan erotik epic. In the spring, the theatre will host the ballet Nijinsky, staged by John Neumeier, as a tribute to the great Russian dancer whose career was cut short by illness.
