The Australian Ballet

Giselle

Giselle The Tokyo Ballet Kate Longley

Artists of The Tokyo Ballet
Photo Kate Longley

Performed by The Tokyo Ballet

  • Melbourne / Naarm

    July 2023

  • Duration

    2 hours and 10 minutes including 1 interval

  • Ticket Price Range

    Students and under 30's tickets from $46.
    Adult from $52.

Two ballet dancers on stage in costume dancing, with a light blue hue cast over them.

Akira Akiyama and Yasuomi Akimoto
Photo Kiyonori Hasegawa

A ballet dancer in white tute leaps across the stage in front of a group of dancers, with a light blue hue cast over them.

Akimi Denda
Photo Kiyonori Hasegawa

With a vast repertoire and international touring history in the Japanese performing arts, The Tokyo Ballet comes to Australia in season 2023 with the iconic Romantic ballet Giselle.

From classical ballets to celebrated unique contemporary works, The Tokyo Ballet is a future-focussed company sharing many values with The Australian Ballet. At the heart of both companies' artistic visions is a desire to move audiences through unforgettable expressions of our art form.

Gracing the world's most famous stages, including the Paris Opera, La Scala in Milan, the Vienna State Opera, and the Bolshoi Theatre and the Mariinsky Theatre in Russia, The Tokyo Ballet has performed in over 155 cities across 32 countries. In season 2023, The Australian Ballet will continue its history of developing strong connections with ballet companies around the world, welcoming Artistic Director Yukari Saito and The Tokyo Ballet to Melbourne.

The Tokyo Ballet will delight Australian audiences with Leonid Lavrovsky's timeless Giselle. This tragic love story involving the young peasant girl Giselle and nobleman Albrecht, set to Adolphe Adam's evocative score, is a jewel in the classical repertoire, first performed in Paris in 1841. In season 2023, artists of The Tokyo Ballet will enliven this production’s magical harmony between narrative and choreography that has enchanted generations.

Audiences will be mesmerised by The Tokyo Ballet's spectacular artists in this moving production.

"Not only is this Giselle an opportunity for Australian audiences to witness the immense beauty of The Tokyo Ballet, it also serves as a reminder of the power of movement to transcend borders and reality."

Artshub | ★★★★★

David's Hallberg's - Artistic Director, The Australian Ballet

“Welcoming The Tokyo Ballet continues the tradition of inviting the world’s great companies to Australia. Whenever I danced with this company, I was always in awe of their attention to the finest of details. Look for the precision of their corps de ballet, showcased so mesmerisingly in the haunting second act of Giselle."

Hallberg on Giselle

23 GIS Hallberg on Giselle4

Yukari Saito - Artistic Director, The Tokyo Ballet

"I think there is no other ballet in which the dancers’ acting is so important. Giselle allows each dancer’s personality to be pulled out and expressed fully through the ballet.”

Synopsis and cast sheet

Select the location below to view synopsis and cast sheet

Four pairs of dancers dancing on stage in front of a group of tree silhouettes.

Artists of The Tokyo Ballet
Photo Kiyonori Hasegawa

A large group of ghostly ballerinas in white costume dance on a dark stage.

Artists of The Tokyo Ballet
Photo Kiyonori Hasegawa

Dancers dancing on stage in front of a group of tree silhouettes to appear like a forest.

Artists of The Tokyo Ballet
Photo Kiyonori Hasegawa

Production credits

Choreography Leonid Lavrovsky after Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot and Marius Petipa
Adaptation (Pas de huit) Vladimir Vasiliev
Composer
Adolphe Adam
Set and Costume Design Nicola Benois
Technical Director Yoshiharu Tachikawa
Lighting Director
Takashi Kitamura

Discover more

Music

Melbourne
With Orchestra Victoria

Season 2023