Giselle is a masterpiece of French Romanticism. While its musical and choreographic form has not changed significantly for years, its artistic merit has increased as the technical ability of subsequent generations of dancers has developed. The title heroine is a charming country girl, whose sweetheart turns out to be a prince in disguise. The shock of the revelation costs Giselle her sanity and life. After her death, she returns, surrounded by the spirits of young women who were wronged before marriage. These spirits now ambush young men, forcing them to dance until they die of exhaustion. Ultimately, Giselle’s love conquers death: when the prince turns up repentant by her grave, she saves him from the other spirits’ revenge. The ballet has been performed in Warsaw many times; notably, the previous two productions were designed by the late Andrzej Kreutz Majewski. Building on this tradition, when mounting this production of Giselle staged by Maina Gielgud, the Polish National Ballet decided to revive the great set designer’s stunning vision, recreating his decorations and costumes.

Maina Gielgud

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Sep 24 - Oct 3, 2026

Giselle · Polish National Opera

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