Overall Rating
4.5
By SLS
Beautiful, yes, but lacking…
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium - Calgary
I enjoyed sitting in the front row centre which allowed up-close viewing. I could see the dancers’ steps and muscles and even their facial expressions. The costumes were beautiful, the movements well executed. What was sorely missing, however, was the orchestra! The ballet is the choreography, the set, the narrative, the dancers, their costumes and the music played by an orchestra not a recording. The anticipation while the orchestra warms up, the control of the conductor, the ‘pas-de-deux’ if you will between the orchestra and the dancers - therein lies the magic. I look forward to the day when the orchestra is once again an integral part of the performance of a ballet here in Calgary. I was ready to purchase season’s tickets but changed my mind due to this.
By heartseeker
Great first-time Ballet experience
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium - Calgary
This was my first attendance at a play or Ballet of any kind. I didn't think it would stir as much emotion in me as it did. I'm not sure I would have caught on to every detail of the story if I hadn't looked it up before, but it was really cool to watch it with complete knowledge of the plot and see how the dancers expressed narrative nuances. Great work by everyone involved! The guy sitting next to me was First Nations, and he seemed to appreciate the inclusion of the line at the end of the opening statement about honoring those who had danced on this land since time immemorial— it was something to that effect. So I think that's great! The parking and check-in processes were totally seamless. I will be attending more
By j. M.
Beautiful experience
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium - Calgary
It was beautiful to see a classical ballet, and such an old ballet. Dancing was lovely choreography was great and costuming and set was enchanting. I would love to see more classical dance done in the seasons ahead.
By Jana
Wonderful, romantic experience
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium - Calgary
Loved the dance; the costumes, the people; the music; the atmosphere.
By Cate
Wonderful performance - small audience
Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium - Edmonton
We very much enjoyed the performance of Giselle. Knowledgeable spouse thought that the corps de ballet was surprisingly small for Giselle. The dancers performed very well. Disappointments? That there was no live orchestra and that the audience was so small. Its a shame that so many missed this excellent, opening night performance
By Jill
Giselle was amazing. The floor lighting wasn’t
Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium - Edmonton
I went to the Saturday matinee of Giselle in Edmonton’s Jubilee theatre. The show was wonderful especially the male lead’s jumps. He must clear 3 feet with straight legs. All the dancers showed great emotion. The set and stage lighting were beautiful with great dappled lighting effects and very tights spotlighting. The theatre was beautiful as well and we had great seats with a fully unimpeded view. The only negative of the whole experience was the floor lighting which remained on throughout the performance. This lighting was distractingly bright and as the theatre had empty spaces we moved away from the aisle at intermission to reduce the glare. I would recommend choosing seats at least three seats away from the aisles.
By Veres
Wonderful show
Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium - Edmonton
What a great ballet, beautifully staged and performed!
By F. D.L.
A ghostly love story
Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium - Edmonton
Well done it was a beautiful ballet and love story, although I wish Giselle have had stayed for more dates in Edmonton.
By Jackie
Beautiful Ballet
Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium - Edmonton
A gorgeous ballet, romantic and tragic. The costumes and set design were beautiful.
By Anon
Mediocrity at its best
Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium - Edmonton
The ballet was done to canned music, not live orchestra. The stage was slightly small given the large props. The dancers or choreography was second rate, hard to tell, some of the dancers showed talent, so could have been choreography. Definitely not a world class performance. Its what I wouldve expected for a much smaller town ballet. Lighting was terrible. Staging and props very well done. No idea why the principal was given this role when some of the corps talent put her to shame in ability. The theatre was giod. Nice seating, good views. Helpful ushers.
The most famous ballet of the romantic era is Giselle.
This ghostly love story is celebrated for its emotional power and awe-inspiring choreography.
Giselle is a young peasant girl whose secret relationship unravels the fabric of her idyllic village, but there's a deeper deception at play, which drives her to madness. Trust and betrayal continue to twist the plot in the other-worldly realm of Act 2, when the ethereal Wilis seek their revenge.
Christopher Anderson will premiere a new interpretation of this masterpiece. It will be a stunning addition to Alberta Ballet's repertoire of classics which have previously included his Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake.
STAGING & ADDITIONAL CHOREOGRAPHY:
CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON, AFTER JEAN CORALLI AND JULES PERROT
MUSIC: ADOLPHE ADAM
SETS & COSTUMES: PETER FARMER