Giselle

The Story of Giselle

FIRST ACT

It is the time of the grape harvest in a little village by the Rhine. Hilarion, the game keeper, comes to the house where Giselle and her mother live, with gifts for each of them. He is in love with Giselle and loses no opportunity to pay court to her.  

Giselle’s attention, however, is absorbed instead by Albrecht, a young nobleman. Albrecht seeks Giselle out whenever he can, but comes disguised as a simple peasant to prevent her from knowing who he really is. He does not tell her that he is betrothed to Bathilde, the Duke’s daughter. Hilarion spies on Albrecht and Giselle, and finds Albrecht’s cape and sword.

To celebrate the end of the grape harvest, the Duke, Bathilde and their retinue come to the village. Bathilde is delighted by the lively Giselle upon hearing about her engage-ment and presents her with her own chain as a gift. Hilarion confronts Albrecht with his cape and sword, and the truth comes out.

The shock of hearing that Albrecht and Bathilde are betrothed makes Giselle go mad. As one possessed, she relives the happy moments of her love with Albrecht through dancing them out – until she falls lifeless to the ground.  

SECOND ACT

Hilarion is distraught because he believes to have caused Giselle’s death and visits her grave late at night. Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis, calls her spirits forth from their graves. During the dance, Myrtha calls forth a new Wili – Giselle.

The dance is interrupted when Albrecht comes with lilies to Giselle's grave. She appears to him and they dance together. Knowing the fate which awaits him, Giselle tries to protect him by keeping him away from Myrtha. Then Hilarion is forced to dance to death. Giselle asks Myrtha to let her dance in Albrecht's place. But Albrecht would rather die than be separated from Giselle, and continues the fatal dance with her.

Dawn breaks and with it the Wilis' power vanishes. Through their love, Albrecht has been saved.