HÀ NỘI – The Việt Nam National Opera and Ballet (VNOB) are performing the classical romantic ballet Giselle tonight at Hà Nội Opera House.

The VNOB has performed Giselle twice before, in 1982 and in 2004. The ministry of culture, sports and tourism has commissioned the VNOB to stage one of the most known ballets in the world, said People’s Artist Ngô Thị Kiều Ngân, who played the title role in 1982 and is directing the 2016 version for the VNOB.

The 2016 version is based on Marius Petipa’s classic version with music by Adolphe Adam, which was first staged at St Petersburg in 1884. The two-act ballet is about Giselle, a beautiful, young girl who falls in love with a prince and later dies of a broken heart. "The story is about betrayal and love that transcends death and the supernatural," the veteran dancer said.

"Giselle falls in love with prince Albrecht who has told her he is a villager. She is distraught and horrified (when she learns the truth later) and dies of a broken heart,” Ngân said. “The role of Giselle offers a performer many technical and dramatic challenges, from the character’s early love to her poignant descent into madness and her final gesture of forgiveness from beyond the grave."

Giselle will feature acclaimed ballet dancers such as artists Đàm Hàn Giang, Nguyễn Quỳnh Nga and young Nguyễn Thu Huệ. Giang and Nga had performed the lead roles of Giselle and Prince Albrecht in the 2004 version. Ballerina Huệ will act as Giselle for the first time at the performance tonight. Both Huệ and Nga will play the title role tomorrow performance.

"Giselle is a role that requires great dramatic skill as well as virtuosic dancing," Huệ said. "For me the most difficult part is to express the character’s developing psychology. I like the role very much and want to experience the different emotions." The ballerina said she is not only rehearsing hard every day but also studying other well-known performances on CDs and on YouTube.

"I believe in Huệ’s dance technique and performing skills. I hope she will express youth, innocence and freshness of the lead role  in the act one," said Ngân. "In the act two Huệ’s skilled dance moves will showcase emotional shock of Giselle before she dies".

Dancer Giang, who trained in Hong Kong and will perform the role of Prince Albrecht, has also been part of Spartacus and the full production of Swan Lake with the Hong Kong Ballet.

The two-hour ballet will begin at 8pm at Hà Nội Opera House. — VNS