Bossov Ballet Theatre At MCI

Event Guide

Table of Contents

Libretto

Cast

Faculty

Principal Dancers' Bios

Special Thanks

Take the First Step

Excerpt From 2017 Production

Giselle

Summer 2022

Libretto

Act I
(In a rustic German village near the Rhine River during the Middle Ages)

Giselle, a weak-hearted young girl who is adored by her native villagers, lives with her watchful mother. Hilarion, the village gamekeeper, pays a visit to Giselle's cottage early in the morning to leave a freshly hunted duck before she begins her day. Hilarion is secretly in love with Giselle and has been for quite some time.

Before the break of dawn, the Duke of Silesia, Albercht, has made his way into the village upon which his castle overlooks. The Duke is a very handsome man and is betrothed to Princess Bathilde, but he seeks the affection of Giselle. Several days prior, the Duke had laid eyes upon the beautiful Giselle. This time, he returned to the village disguised as a peasant in order to see her.

Along with his squire, the Duke moves into a nearby cottage. While disguised, he can keep his noble status secret as well as his impending marriage.

Giselle is immediately drawn to him and falls deeply in love. They dance in merriment. She picks a daisy from a nearby bed of flowers and proceeds to pluck its petals, asking if "he loves me" or "loves me not."

Hilarion tries to warn Giselle not to trust the stranger so willingly, but she doesn't listen. Berthe, Giselle's mother, does not approve of Giselle's infatuation with the stranger and immediately orders her back into the house to finish her chores.

Horns sound in the distance, announcing royals approaching. Albercht quickly departs in fear to be recognized. Princess Bathilde, her father, and their court escorts stop by the village for refreshments. All villagers happily greet their royal guests. Giselle shares with Bathilde the happy news about her engagement, after which Bathilde gifts Giselle a lovely necklace.

Following his suspicions about the stranger, Hilarion sneaks into Albercht’s cottage, where he discovers the sword, further evidence that the supposed peasant is, in fact, a nobleman.

To everyone's dismay, Hilarion sounds the horn and the royal guests return. The shock of learning Albrecht’s duplicity is too great for Giselle’s frail heart… her mind becomes unhinged, and she dies of a broken heart.

*****

ACT II

In deep grief and despair, Hilarion finds himself in a dark forest visiting Giselle's grave. As midnight approaches, Hilarion senses the presence of spirits. Those spirits are the Willis, who vengefully trap any man who enters their domain. Led by their Queen Myrta, they force men to dance to their death.

As any other newcomer, Myrta, using her powerful branch, wakes Giselle from the grave to initiate her as a Wili.

Albercht, laden with feelings of guilt and remorse, visits Giselle's grave. He can feel her presence and follows it into the forest. Her spirit finally reveals to Albercht’s eyes and he tries to ask for forgiveness.

Somewhere deep in the forest by the swamp, Myrta and her Willis discover Hilarion and orders him to dance. Not coping with the exhaustion, he asks them to let him go, but Myrta’s verdict cannot be reversed. Willis end his life by throwing him into the swamp.

Myrta then discovers Albercht and demands that he shares the same fate as Hilarion, but her powerful branch is unable to permeate the invisible bond of love that Giselle has for him. Giselle shares her strength with Albercht with hopes that it will help him to survive.

Just before dawn, Wilis lose their power and must retreat to their dwelling place, Albercht is saved by the forgiveness and love of Giselle, they say last goodbyes knowing that this is the last time they’ll see one another.

Giselle returns into her grave as a Willi and Albercht is left with his broken heart.

Cast

ACT I

Giselle: Taylor Pronovost (Friday), Jane Weymouth (Saturday)

Albercht: Mateusz Lojewski (Friday), Hector Bligh (Saturday)

Hilarion: Guillermo Franco

Duke: Vladimir Kuzkin

Bathilde: Ana Isabel Rosas (Saturday), Jane Weymouth (Friday)

Giselle’s Mother: Mariana Cornejo (Friday), Eva Walden (Saturday)

Squire: Andrew Murfee

Court Escorts: Haley Bobe (Friday), Kristianna Eremita (Friday), Sophia Rastelli (Friday), Gianna Wilson (Saturday), Julia Morales (Saturday), Maxine Pallante (Saturday)

Peasant Pas de Deux: Ana Isabel Rosas and José Porras (Friday). Seine Chin and Tomoki Shinoe (Saturday)

Friends: Camille Dizon, Eva Walden (Friday), Gianna Wilson (Friday), Maxine Pallante (Friday), Jane Mautz (Saturday), Mariana Cornejo (Saturday), Sofia Dow (Saturday)

Peasants: Itzel Estrada, Mia F. Palomares, Montserrat Ruz, Samantha Alvarado, Andrew Murfee, Hector Bligh (Friday), José Porras (Saturday), Ptolemy Bligh, Tomoki Shinoe (Friday), Mateusz Lojewski (Saturday)

Little peasants: Elsie Gray, Elena Parker, Maddison Goode, Madeline Liversidge, Madison Fehnel, Paloma Killoran

Basket Girls: Isabelle Seamans, Jodi Gahn, Leslie Escartín, Haley Bobe (Saturday), Jane Mautz (Friday), Kristianna Eremita (Saturday), Julia Morales (Friday), Sofia Dow (Friday) Sophia Rastelli (Saturday)

*****

ACT II

Myrta: Eva Walden (Friday), Mariana Cornejo (Saturday)

Willi Demi-soloists: Maxine Pallante, Camille Dizon

Willis: Gianna Wilson, Jane Mautz, Jodi Gahn, Leslie Escartín, Montserrat Ruz, Seine Chin, Sofia Dow, Sophia Rastelli, Julia Morales, Isabelle Seamans, Ana Isabel Rosas, Kristianna Eremita (Friday), Eva Walden (Saturday), Haley Bobe (Saturday), Mariana Cornejo (Friday),

*****

Stage Manager: Vladimir Kuzkin

Lights Designer & Technician: Liz Shapiro

Music editor: Sergei Chumakov

Costumes designed and made by: Ekaterina Vladimirnova Yakovleva

Special Thanks to: Collins Center for the Arts and University of Maine at Orono.

Faculty

Natalya Getman

Artistic Director Bossov Ballet Theatre

Felicity Audet

Ballet Instructor

Sterling Manka