Spreckels Theatre (San Diego, CA)
Giselle tells the story of a peasant girl named Giselle, who protects her lover from the vengeance of a group of evil female spirits called the Wilis. It was first performed by the Paris Opera Ballet in 1841, with choreography by Jules Perrot and Jean Coralli, and was revived by Marius Petipa in 1884 for the Imperial Ballet (today known as the Kirov/Maryinsky Ballet).
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
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The last date listed for Giselle was Sunday November 8, 2009 / 2:00pm. (view all dates)
Currently at Spreckels Theatre:
This lavish production is fashioned after the choreography of the great Russian master, Lev Ivanov, who created the very first Nutcracker more than 100 years ago. Virtuoso dancing is complemented by opulent sets, costumes and Tchaikovsky's brilliant score, performed by the City Ballet Orchestra. Children's roles are performed by talented young dancers from the City Ballet School, the official school of City Ballet. Learn More
This was my first time watching a performance by City Ballet and I enjoyed it.
The first act drags on a little, since it is more mime and acting than dancing, but it is needed to set the story up for the second act. The peasant costumes, while pretty, I found them perhaps a bit constraining to the dancers.
But all changed in the second act. That dream-like quality that makes ballet so appealing was achieved with the simplicity of the costumes, the stage and lighting, and really good dancers.
The costumes for the Wilis allowed no room to hide bad technique. It was great to see the strength and training of the dancers manifest on stage. There was consistency of point work, the height of legs in arabesques, etc... The dancers in general seemed much more in tune with the music and comfortable with the roles.
I liked having a live orchestra (makes such a richer experience), but have a feeling that the acoustics of the theatre rob the sounds a bit of its potential.
Overall, a very good performance, and definitely plan on seeing future performances.
I feel fortunate San Diego has a ballet company the caliber of the City Ballet. Although Giselle is not my favorite ballet, the soloists were superb. I thought the corps performed as well as the ABT. The live orchestra made the event that much more special. I love the ballet in general. This performance was excellent. Thank you.
It was beautifully done and the corp de ballet was one of the best I've ever seen. Bravo!!!
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A relic of the great era of downtown theater-palaces, this pretty space has been a venue for everything from sugary musicals to rock and rap. Opened in 1912, the 1,466-seat theater was converted for film use in 1922 and back to live shows in the 1970s, thereby escaping the urban "renewal'' that leveled so many smaller movie houses.
With its marble box office and statuary, it's worth getting to
Music: Adolphe Adam
Choreography: Elizabeth Wistrich, after Marius Petipa
Costumes and scenery courtesy of Sacramento Ballet
City Ballet is a professional ballet company offering a full season of ballet repertoire. City Ballet produces classic and contemporary ballet programs that critics rave as "polished, eye-catching and delightful".
