Giselle is based on a legend according to which the ghosts of unmarried girls return to seek revenge on the living. The Wilis had already been described in a story in Heinrich Heine's de l'Allemagne, although Heine received no credit for Giselle. The immediate inspiration for the ballet came from ThÃ©ophile Gautier, spurred by his infatuation with the dancer Carlotta Grisi. Elements from Victor Hugo were to be incorporated in a libretto that was realized by the writer Jules Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges in three days, while Adam took a week to sketch the music and three to complete it, making some use of earlier material. The choreography was devised by the Paris OpÃ©ra ballet-master Jean Coralli, with Giselle's dances choreographed by Carlotta Grisi's teacher and lover Jules Perrot. Designs were by Pierre Ciceri, who had also designed the sets for La Sylphide. The ballet was first produced on 18th June 1841 at the OpÃ©ra, the ThÃ©Ã¢tre de l'AcadÃ©mie royale de musique, when Grisi danced Giselle, Lucien Petipa Albrecht and AdÃ¨le DumilÃ¢tre the Queen of the Wilis, Myrthe. Various changes have been made in the ballet since 1841, not least in a number of versions given in Russia, with an early re-staging there by Perrot with Fanny Elssler, a rival Giselle, and Marius Petipa. The latter later made his own choreographic contribution to the ballet in later productions. The score includes interpolated scenes by Friedrich BurgmÃ¼ller, who is best known for the peasant pas de deux in Act I of Giselle.

Tracklist:

Coppelia, Act I: Prelude
Coppelia, Act I: Valse
Coppelia, Act I: Mazurka
Coppelia, Act I: Ballade
Coppelia, Act I: Theme slave varie
Coppelia, Act I: Czardas - Danse hongroise
Coppelia, Act II: Valse de la poupee
Coppelia, Act III: Marche de la cloche
Giselle, Act I: Scene d'Hilarian
Giselle, Act I: Andante
Giselle, Act I: Valse
Giselle, Act I: Allegro moderato
Giselle, Act I: Allegro un peu loure
Giselle, Act I: Galop general
Giselle, Act II: Ensemble de Willis
Giselle, Act II: Lever du soleil et arrivee de la cour
Faust: Waltz
Sylvia, Act I: Prelude
Sylviam Act I: Les Chasseresses (Fanfare)
Sylvia, Act I: Intermezzo
Sylvia, Act I: Valse lente
Sylvia, Act II: Danse des Ethiopiens
Sylvia, Act III: Pizzicati
Sylvia, Act III: Marche
Sylvia, Act III: Cortege dr Bacchus

UPC: 636943406229
Label: Naxos
Release Date: 10.6.00
Format: CD

Ondrej Lenard - French Ballet Favourites / Various (CD)