Giselle
Backdrop for Act 1 of Giselle
The Ballet Russe Collection
© 2001 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris
Full-length ballet in 2 acts after the original (Paris 1841)
choreographed by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot, to the libretto of
Theophile Gautier, Vernoy de Saint-Georges, and Jean Coralli. Music
by Adolphe Adam. Ballet Russe version staged by Serge Lifar after
the original, with scenery by Alexander Benois (premiere: London,
July 12, 1938).
Giselle was brought to Russia by Marius Petipa, and
most subsequent productions have been based on his 1884 St.
Petersburg version. Western revivals of Giselle all bear
the influence of Diaghilev's famed Ballets Russes which
brought the ballet back to Europe after a hiatus of nearly fifty
years. This most certainly was the case of the Ballets Russes de
Monte-Carlo's version, which was staged in 1938 by Serge Lifar,
himself a former dancer with Diaghilev's company, who also danced
the role of Albrecht during the first few seasons.
Only the scenery for Act I remains; the backdrop and most of the
legs are unfortunately rather faded. Two sets of legs for this act
were unearthed in the Butler Ballet's collection; one set was
tagged as "Act II", but in the absence of a drop for that act it is
difficult to know if this was accurate. The other set of legs and
borders which are in excellent condition are probably attributable
to George Verdak, who was himself an accomplished scenic
artist.
Below are pictures with different sets of legs and borders
added.
Act I Backdrop with forest arch
Complete set for Act I (2 sets of legs
& borders, 1 arch, backdrop)
Act I backdrop with set of legs
identified as belonging to Act II
Reproduction, including downloading of Benois works is
prohibited by copyright laws and international conventions without
the express written permission of Artists Rights Society
(ARS), New York.