Giselle : A Romantic Ballet at Dubai Opera

• 6+ years would require a ticket to enter the Dubai Opera main Auditorium.

• Below 6+ years are not permitted into the Dubai Opera main Auditorium.

• Conductor: Patrick Fournillier
• Choreography: Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot
• Staging: Maina Gielgud
• Set and costume designer: Andrzej Kreutz Majewski
• Set Design Adaptation: Małgorzata Szabłowska
• Costume Design Adaptation: Katarzyna Rott
• Lighting: Maciej Igielski

This ticket is sold subject to these Ticketing Terms and Conditions (the “T&C”). The T&C should be read carefully before purchase and the purchase of Ticket(s) constitutes acceptance of the T&C.

• This ticket must be produced to gain entry into an event.

• Removing any part of, altering or defacing the ticket may invalidate it.

• This ticket must not, without the prior written consent of Dubai Opera, be resold or used for advertising, promotion or other commercial purposes, if not the ticket will be cancelled immediately.

• This ticket is only valid for the specific date, time and event shown.

• Dubai Opera does not offer refunds or exchanges as a result of a change in your circumstances. Dubai Opera at its sole discretion may only refund or exchange a ticket if an event is cancelled or rescheduled and you cannot attend the rescheduled event. This includes, but is not limited to, any circumstances related to Covid-19 which might prevent you from attending.

• Dubai Opera can only replace lost, stolen or damaged tickets if the ticket's authenticity can be verified, including proof of purchase, subject to replacement fee.

• Dubai Opera reserves the right to add, withdraw, reschedule or substitute artists and/or vary advertised programmes, prices, seating arrangements and audience capacity without prior notice.

• Admission to an event is subject to Dubai Opera’s Conditions of Entry which can be found on Dubai Opera’s website www.dubaiopera.com

• Where concessions are applicable, valid proof of identity and concession entitlement must be provided for the collection of tickets at the event.

• Entry to the event may be subject to age restrictions specified on Dubai Opera’s website www.dubaiopera.com or publicity for the event, and no refund will be made because the ticket holder was not aware of such age restrictions. Children below 16 years must be accompanied by an adult

• Dubai Opera reserves the right without refund or compensation to refuse admission/evict any person(s) whose conduct is disorderly or inappropriate or who poses a threat to security, or the enjoyment of the event by others.

• The ticket holder agrees to submit to any search for any prohibited items including but not limited to weapons, controlled, dangerous and illegal substances and recording devices.

• Patrons arriving late to a performance will only be admitted into the venue at a suitable break. Latecomers may be seated in alternate seat locations to avoid disruption of the performance.

• The use of mobile phones, cameras and other electronic devices inside the auditorium is prohibited. Exceptions may occur depending on the type of event.

• The ticket holder voluntarily assumes all risk and danger incidental to the event whether occurring before, during or after the actual event, including any death, personal injury, loss, damage or liability.

• Food & Beverages purchased outside Dubai Opera are not permitted. Food and beverages are strictly prohibited inside the auditorium. This applies before the show, during the show and the intermission. Exceptions may occur depending on the type of event.

Act l

It is a lovely autumn day in Thuringia. Duke Albrecht of Silesia, a young nobleman, has disguised himself as a villager named Loys, to court Giselle, a shy, beautiful peasant girl. He sees no harm in this flirtation with Giselle, who loves to dance but has a frail heart. Hilarion, a local gamekeeper, is in love with her and is suspicious of Loys. He tries to warn her, but she ignores his warnings. Giselle’s mother, Berthe, is protective of her daughter and believes Hilarion is a better match. When she sees her daughter dancing with Loys, she orders her back home. Berthe reminds Giselle and the villagers of the tale of the Wilis, the ghostly spirits of young brides who loved to dance and were betrayed by their lovers on their wedding day, dying of broken hearts. Now they haunt the forest after midnight to take revenge on any man on their way.

Wilfred, Albrecht’s squire, hears the hunting horn. Concerned that his master will be discovered wooing a peasant girl, he tries to find him and warn of the approach of the hunting party. The Prince of Courland arrives with his daughter Bathilde, who is engaged to Albrecht. Giselle is overawed by Bathilde’s beautiful clothes. Bathilde is charmed by the sweet Giselle and offers her a necklace as a gift, unaware that they are engaged to the same man.

Bathilde and her father are invited into Berthe’s cottage to rest. The villagers celebrate their harvest, and Giselle is crowned the Harvest Queen. Giselle and Albrecht resume their dancing, but Hilarion interrupts the festivities. He has discovered Albrecht’s sword and shows it as proof that he is a nobleman. Surprised, Albrecht has no time to hide and greets Bathilde as his fiancée. Giselle is shocked by her lover’s deception. She is overcome with grief and recalls all the tender moments she shared with Loys. She dances wildly, briefly recognizing her mother first and then Albrecht, before her heart gives out and Giselle dies in his arms. A distraught Albrecht is dragged away by Wilfred while Berthe weeps over her daughter’s body.

Act II

Late at night in a dark forest, Hilarion mourns at Giselle’s grave but is frightened away by the impending arrival of the Wilis. As midnight strikes, Myrtha, their merciless queen, leads their nightly dance ritual before rousing Giselle’s spirit from her grave. Albrecht, full of remorse, arrives to lay flowers on Giselle’s tomb. Her spirit appears to him, Albrecht tries to embrace her, but his arms remain empty, he begs her forgiveness.

Meanwhile, the Wilis have cornered Hilarion, they force him to dance until near death before drowning him in the lake. Then seeing Albrecht, they turn on him, sentencing him to dance until he dies. He pleads with Myrtha for mercy, but she coldly refuses. Giselle begs for his life to be spared but is forced to make him dance with her until he collapses from exhaustion. However, the power of her forgiveness and love saves him. As dawn breaks, the Wilis lose their power and return to their graves. Giselle also slowly vanishes back into her tomb. Albrecht is left alone with his sorrow; the memory of Giselle will sustain with him for the rest of his life.