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Giselle: Belle of the Ballet

Through two radically contrasting 2016 productions, dancer Tamara Rojo explores Giselle - the first great Romantic ballet, and a defining role for any ballerina.

Tamara Rojo, dancer and artistic director of English National Ballet, explores Giselle - the first great Romantic ballet, and a defining role for any ballerina.

Through two radically contrasting 2016 productions - a traditional 19th-century recreation, and a gritty reimagining of the work by celebrated Anglo-Bangladeshi choreographer Akram Khan - Rojo examines the cultural and social background to the ballet's genesis in 1840s Paris, and the spiritual themes that have fuelled its success over the last 175 years.

Giselle is the story of a young peasant girl who personifies all that is good in life, and ultimately forgives the aristocrat who has seduced and betrayed her.

With Giselle, the look and emotional heart of ballet was transformed forever, from mime-based storytelling to a fusion of emotion, music and movement, formulating a tradition that has inspired audiences, dancers and choreographers ever since.

59 minutes

Last on

Mon 26 Nov 201801:30
BBC Four

Clip

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:00

    Vincenzo Lamagna

    Akram Khan - Giselle 

    Performer: Vincenzo Lamagna .
  • 00:01

    Adolphe Adam

    Giselle 

    Orchestra: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Terence Kern.
    • Warner Classics.
  • 00:02

    Lamagna, Vincenzo 

    Akram Khan - Giselle 

    Performer: Vincenzo Lamagna .
  • 00:03

    Hector Berlioz

    Marche au Supplice (Symphony Fantastique 4th Movement) 

    Performer: San Diego Symphony. Conductor: Yoav Talmi.
    • Naxos .
  • 00:03

    Hector Berlioz

    Symphonie fantastique Op.14 (March to the scaffold)

    Orchestra: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Daniel Harding.
  • 00:04

    Adolphe Adam

    Giselle 

    Orchestra: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Terence Kern.
    • Warner Classics.
  • 00:04

    Adolphe Adam

    Giselle 

    Orchestra: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • 00:05

    Adolphe Adam

    Giselle 

    Orchestra: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Terence Kern .
    • Warner Classics .
  • 00:06

    Adolphe Adam

    Giselle 

    Orchestra: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • 00:07

    Vincenzo Lamagna

    Akram Khan - Giselle 

    Performer: Vincenzo Lamagna.
  • 00:08

    Adolphe Adam

    Giselle 

    Orchestra: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Terence Kern.
    • Warner Classics.
  • 00:09

    Vincenzo Lamagna

    Akram Khan - Giselle 

    Performer: Vincenzo Lamagna.
  • 00:10

    Vincenzo Lamagna

    Akram Khan - Giselle 

    Orchestra: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • 00:12

    Vincenzo Lamagna

    Akram Khan - Giselle 

    Performer: Vincenzo Lamagna.
  • 00:14

    Lamagna, Vincenzo 

    Akram Khan - Giselle 

    Performer: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • 00:15

    Adolphe Adam

    Giselle 

    Orchestra: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • 00:18

    Adolphe Adam

    Giselle 

    Performer: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Terence Kern.
    • Warner Classics.
  • 00:19

    Adolphe Adam

    Giselle 

    Orchestra: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • 00:21

    Adolphe Adam

    Giselle

    Orchestra: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Terence Kern.
    • Warner Classics.
  • 00:23

    Vincenzo Lamagna

    Akram Khan - Giselle 

    Performer: Vincenzo Lamagna.
  • 00:23

    Vincenzo Lamagna

    Akram Khan - Giselle 

    Orchestra: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • 00:24

    Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra:Adrew Morgelia

    Adolphe Adam: Finale Du 1Er Acte Et Scene De Folie

  • 00:26

    Hector Berlioz

    Marche au Supplice (Symphony Fantastique 4th Movement) 

    Orchestra: San Diego Symphony. Conductor: Yoav Talmi.
    • Naxos.
  • 00:27

    Adolphe Adam

    Giselle 

    Orchestra: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • 00:27

    Lamagna, Vincenzo 

    Akram Khan - Giselle 

    Performer: Vincenzo Lamagna.
  • 00:30

    Adolphe Adam

    Giselle 

    Orchestra: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • 00:35

    Vincenzo Lamagna

    Akram Khan - Giselle 

    Performer: Vincenzo Lamagna.
  • 00:36

    Adolphe Adam

    Giselle

    Orchestra: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • 00:38

    Vincenzo Lamagna

    Akram Khan - Giselle 

    Performer: Vincenzo Lamagna.
  • 00:41

    Hector Berlioz

    Marche au Supplice (Symphony Fantastique 4th Movement) 

    Performer: San Diego Symphony. Conductor: Yoav Talmi.
    • Naxos.
  • 00:41

    Adolphe Adam

    Giselle 

    Orchestra: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • 00:48

    Vincenzo Lamagna

    Akram Khan - Giselle 

    Performer: Vincenzo Lamagna.
  • 00:49

    Lamagna, Vincenzo 

    Akram Khan - Giselle 

    Orchestra: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • 00:51

    Adolphe Adam

    Giselle 

    Orchestra: London Festival Ballet Orchestra. Conductor: Terence Kern .
    • Warner Classics.
  • 00:53

    Adolphe Adam

    Giselle 

    Orchestra: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • 00:55

    Vincenzo Lamagna

    Akram Khan - Giselle 

    Orchestra: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
  • 00:58

    Vincenzo Lamagna

    Akram Khan - Giselle 

    Performer: Vincenzo Lamagna .
  • 00:58

    Adolphe Adam

    Giselle 

    Orchestra: English National Ballet Philharmonic. Conductor: Terence Kern.
    • Warner Classics.

Credits

PresenterTamara Rojo
ProducerDominic Best
DirectorDominic Best
Executive ProducerMark Cooper

Broadcasts

  • Sun 2 Apr 201720:00
    BBC Four
  • Wed 20 Sep 201723:15
    BBC Two except Northern Ireland
  • Wed 20 Sep 201723:45
    BBC Two Northern Ireland
  • Mon 26 Nov 201801:30
    BBC Four