Giselle

The Cape Town City Ballet- the South Africa National Ballet Company, presents Giselle at the Artscape Opera House from 13 – 22 April, 2012, accompanied by the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra and featuring guest artists from the English National Ballet, Daria Klimentova and Vadim Muntagirov as well as rising international star, Maxim Quiroga, currently with the Vienna State Opera Ballet company.

Cape Town audiences last saw Klimentova and Muntagirov in Cape Town City Ballet’s 2011 critically acclaimed and sold-out season of Swan Lake.

Klimentova was born in the Czech Republic and trained at the Prague State Conservatory. After dancing with the National Theatre Ballet Company in Prague, Daria travelled to South Africa in 1992 to join the CAPAB Ballet as a principal dancer. She became a favourite among Cape Town audiences and had a substantial following, before making her way to London to join the English National Ballet Company as a senior principal ballerina. Daria has maintained a close relationship with the Cape Town City Ballet over the years and is set to enthral Cape Town audiences once again, with her portrayal of Giselle.

Giselle is a ballet in 2 acts, with music by Adolph Adam. The choreography is by David Poole after Marius Petipa, This version was first performed by theCAPAB Ballet company in 1972 with sets and costumes designed by Peter Cazalet and will be performed by kind permission of Owen Murray. One of the most popular ballets of all time, it tells the story of a peasant girl named Giselle, whose ghost, after her premature death from a broken heart, protects her lover from the vengeance of a group of evil female spirits called Wilis.

Performances are in the Artscape Opera House from 13 – 22 April 2012. Ticket prices range between R100-R300. Book at Computicket, Shoprite and Checkers outlets, www.computicket.com or Dial-A-Seat: 021-4217695