ABT'S GISELLE, MET OPERA HOUSE, NEW YORK CITY, MAY 11, 2001

Dance Review by Jack Anderson

Mourning A Betrayal By a Lover

Giselle made a marvelous return to American Ballet Theater’s repertory over the weekend at the Metropolitan Opera House. The work’s first two performances, on Friday night and Saturday afternoon, were memorable.

Choreographed in 1841 by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot and later revised by Marius Petipa, Giselle remains a poignant tale of a young peasant woman who goes mad and dies after learning that her lover is a count in disguise who is betrothed to a princess. The dramatically and technically challenging leading roles of Giselle and Albrecht were splendidly interpreted by Nina Ananiashvili and Julio Bocca as the stars on Friday night, Giselle became a drama of emotional abandon. Ms. Ananiashvili bounded with unabashed glee until in her mad scene she withdrew into a world of her own. Mr. Bocca danced as if besotted with passion.

In the second act, Ms. Ananiashvili was ethereal as Giselle’s ghost. Plagued by the evil spirits known as Wills, Mr. Bocca leaped impressively. But when Giselle returned to her grave, he stood in total bewilderment, as if trying to contemplate what possible sort of life his character now had before him...