THE FCCJ ARTIST SERIES PRESENTS
A. ADAM
GISELLE
AND THE
STATE BALLET THEATER OF RUSSIA
COMING TO JACKSONVILLE
JANUARY 9, 2009 8:00 PM
TIMES UNION CENTER - MORAN THEATER
JACKSONVILLE, FL – The tale of never-ending love – Giselle is without question the most romantic of all the classical ballets. Regarded as a masterpiece of traditional romantic ballet, Giselle is a favorite among dance aficionados and novices alike. First performed by the Paris Opera in 1841, ballet’s most famous story about love and redemption from the great beyond has been enchanting audiences for more than 175 years. Performed by a company of 50 dancers, Giselle comes to Jacksonville on Friday, January 9, 2009 to the Times Union Center’s Moran Theater at 8:00 PM for one performance only.
THE STORY
In this timeless ballet, Giselle tells the story of the tragic love triangle between Giselle, a weak-hearted young girl who is adored by her native villagers, Hans, the village gamekeeper, who is desperately in love with Giselle, and Count Albert, a engaged nobleman who becomes captivated by Giselle's frail beauty and innocence.
Hans, filled with suspicion and jealousy, becomes enraged when Giselle falls madly in love with Albert and believes that they are engaged and exposes Albert's disguise and reveals that he is already betrothed.
Overwhelmingly distraught and horrified, Giselle dies of a broken heart. Upon Giselle’s death, the Wilis appear, a group of jilted maidens who have died before their wedding night and vengefully trap any man who enters their domain, forcing him to dance to his death.
Hans is discovered beside Giselle’s body by Queen Myrta, the leader of the Wilis, and orders the Wilis to dance around him until he dies from exhaustion. Myrta then orders the same fate for Count Albert, but the Wilis cannot break through the invisible bond of love Giselle has for him. At dawn, when the Wilis lose their power and must retreat to their dwelling place, Albert is saved and Giselle forgives him.
Giselle returns with the Wilis and recognizes that now she will be one of them for the rest of time.
GISELLE will be performed at the TIMES UNION CENTER’S MORAN THEATER on Friday, January 9, 2009 at 8:00 PM for one performance only. Tickets range in price from $40.00 to $60.00. Discounts are available for groups of 15+ or 40+ by calling (904) 632-3228.
To order by phone with Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover call the FCCJ Artist Series Box Office at (904) 632-3373 (toll-free outside of Jacksonville 1-888-860-BWAY.)
Tickets are also available online with Instant Seat Selection by visiting the
FCCJ Artist Series’ website, www.artistseries.fccj.org.
The FCCJ Artist Series is recognized by the State of Florida as a Major Sponsor/Presenter Cultural Institution and is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, through the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
