Hong Kong Ballet’s Romantic Season Finale "Giselle" --A Riveting New Production with World-Renowned Ballet Stars
Dance | Hong Kong Ballet
Hong Kong Ballet (HKB) proudly presents a dazzling new Giselle 30 May - 8 June with nine performances at Hong Kong Cultural Centre’s Grand Theatre, featuring world-renowned guest artists ─ The Royal Ballet Principal Dancers Marianela Nuñez and Matthew Ball, Paris Opera Ballet Étoile Hugo Marchand and international ballet star Victor Caixeta. The audience will be treated to Adolphe Adam’s timeless score performed live by City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong under the baton of Fayçal Karoui. Tickets are available now at URBTIX.
One of the most romantic ballets of all time, Giselle is a transcendent tale of love, betrayal and redemption. South African ballet artist and international ballet class teacher Charla Genn and HKB Artistic Director Septime Webre breathe new life into this poignant story of a carefree peasant girl who unexpectedly falls in love with Albrecht, a flirtatious nobleman in disguise. This seemingly harmless deception leads to heartbreak, and supernatural drama ensues. The mystical second act’s ‘ballet blanc’ (also known as the great white ballets) sees ghostly maidens rising from their graves each night to wreak vengeance on any man they see. Giselle courageously protects Albrecht from harm, and the beauty of forgiveness ultimately unravels the destructive powers of betrayal and deceit.
New Sets and Costumes
With lush new sets and costumes from Benois de la Danse winner Jérôme Kaplan (Coco Chanel: the Life of a Fashion Icon) and an unforgettable, ethereal score, Giselle’s unearthly beauty and idyllic charm will keep audiences spellbound. Kaplan transports audiences into a 19th-century dreamscape, blending historical precision with poetic realism. The Act I set features meticulously researched architectural details, including a castle inspired by the Château de Pierrefond near Paris and cottages modeled after Queen Marie-Antoinette’s Hamlet at Versailles, creating a world that feels both authentic and enchantingly fantastical.
Costumes depart from traditional medieval stylings and embrace the elegance of 19th-century Romantic fashion, from the noblewomen’s fox-hunting ensembles to the iconic ballet blanc wili gowns in Act II. Kaplan’s focus on clean silhouettes and purity of line lends a contemporary freshness without sacrificing the ballet’s timeless drama. 'I tried to "refresh" this ballet without betraying it, in order to help it continue its long life,' he shared.
International Guest Artists
Viviana Durante, former Principal Dancer of The Royal Ballet, will coach dancers at rehearsals to ensure an authentic and exquisite Giselle performance and draw from her own legendary interpretation during her celebrated career with the company.
Hugo Marchand, who recently carried the torch at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, will perform alongside Marianela Nuñez, who was officially awarded an OBE in April. Giselle marks Marchand’s highly anticipated debut in Hong Kong, while Nuñez returns to HKB for her third consecutive year, each time receiving an outpouring of enthusiasm and admiration from audiences. HKB warmly welcomes these world-renowned stars to its stage.
HKB also announces the return of The Royal Ballet Principal Dancer Matthew Ball, who will once again partner with HKB Principal Dancer Ye Feifei, following their acclaimed performance in Swan Lake last year. South China Morning Post noted, 'Ye's rapport with Ball was evident, and his own performance was an ideal example of Royal Ballet style: realistic acting, impeccable partnering and elegant, cleanly finished dancing.'
Former Dutch National Ballet Principal Dancer Victor Caixeta partnered with Dutch National Ballet Principal Dancer Maia Makhateli in a mesmerising Don Quixote pas de deux from HKB’s 45th Anniversary International Ballet Gala, where his one-handed lifts drew thunderous applause. Now, audience can expect a stunning full-length performance from Caixeta with HKB Principal Dancer Wang Qingxin.
Show dates:
30 May (Fri) 7:30pm
31 May (Sat) 2:30pm & 7:30pm
1 June (Sun) 2:30pm & 7:30pm
6 June (Fri) 7:30pm
7 June (Sat) 2:30pm & 7:30pm
8 June (Sun) 2:30pm
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Guest Appearances:
Marianela Nuñez (Principal Dancer, The Royal Ballet) 30 May 7:30pm & 1 June 2:30pm
Hugo Marchand (Étoile, Paris Opera Ballet) 30 May 7:30pm & 1 June 2:30pm
Matthew Ball (Principal Dancer, The Royal Ballet) 31 May 7:30pm & 1 June 7:30pm
Victor Caixeta (International Ballet Star) 6 June 7:30pm & 8 June 2:30pm
Creative Team:
Choreography: Charla Genn, Septime Webre (after Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot) Music: Adolphe Adam
Set & Costume Design: Jérôme Kaplan
Lighting Design: Billy Chan
Live Accompaniment: City Chamber Orchestra Of Hong Kong
Conductor: Fayçal Karoui