Ksenia Ovsyanick will dance the role of Giselle. PICTURE: Pat Bromilow Downing
Cape Town City Ballet has announced a change in the programme for its production of Maina Gielgud’s Giselle, which will be presented from Friday March 18 until Saturday April 9 in the Artscape Opera House.
Ksenia Ovsyanick, principal ballerina with Staatsballett Berlin, will dance the role of Giselle opposite Vadim Muntagirov, principal of The Royal Ballet, as Albrecht.
She replaces Tatiana Melnik, who was originally scheduled to perform as part of the programme.
International guest artist Brandon Lawrence, principal at Birmingham Royal Ballet, also joins Cape Town City Ballet at select performances in the role of Albrecht, partnering Cape Town City Ballet’s Leanè Theunissen as Giselle.
Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of conductor Brandon Phillips, perform alongside the dancers at various performances.
Giselle is a romantic story of innocent love and betrayal portrayed in two acts. Giselle, a naive and beautiful peasant girl who loves to dance, unsuspectingly falls in love with a philandering nobleman, Albrecht. He disguises himself as a peasant while pursuing her affections and when the deceit is revealed Giselle is inconsolable. On discovering that he is already betrothed, she dies of a broken heart.
The story continues in the moonlit land of the Wilies, a mysterious landscape inhabited by the vengeful spirits of virgin brides who never reached their wedding day. The ghostly Wilies torment Albrecht as he appears in search of the spirit of Giselle.
Tickets cost from R350 to R750 for performances featuring international guest artists and accompanied by Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets cost from R250 to R395 for performances to recorded music. Tickets to matinee performances cost from R175 to R295.
Book through Computicket or Artscape Dial-A-Seat on 021 421 7695. There are discounts for pensioners or block bookings of 10 or more.