Alessandra Ferri in Giselle's entrance variation (act II) – La Scala 1996

Patrice Bart's choreography for the Teatro alla Scala in Milan alludes to the original by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, who had created it for the Paris Opera ballet company. The costumes and sets by Angelo Sala, reconstructions of those designed by Alexandre Benois at the beginning of the 20th century for Sergei Diaghilev and his "Ballets russes", succeed in evoking the unique flair of the originals. The orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala under Paul Conelly interpret Adolphe Adam's colourful score masterfully and in perfect correlation with the magical images presented on stage. Giselle: Alessandra Ferri Myrtha: Isabel Seabra with the La Scala Ballet Company Ballet Director: Elisabetta Terabust Original choreography: Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, Marius Petipa Choreographic revision: Patrice Bart Music: Adolphe Adam Conductor: Paul Connelly Cover photo credits: LELLI E MASOTTI x Teatro Alla Scala -- ACT II Giselle has been buried deep in the forest and has now become a wili. The wilis are ghostly apparitions of folklore, girls who have died betrayed by their faithless lovers on the eve of their weddings. Hilarion is discovered mourning at Giselle’s grave. Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis, summons her maidens, who haunt the forest, luring wayfarers to dance with them until they die from exhaustion before the dawn. Hilarion is forced to dance until he dies. Albrecht, full of remorse, comes to mourn at Giselle’s grave. The Queen commands Giselle to come from her grave and entice Albrecht to join her in dance. Giselle continues dancing with Albrecht through the night. Although she has been betrayed by Albrecht, Giselle still loves him, and helps him to stay alive until the dawn, when the wilis lose their power and will not be able to destroy him. With the arrival of the dawn, Giselle vanishes back into her grave, and Albrecht is left alone with his sorrow. But his life is saved.