Sadler’s Wells, London
September 18, 2024
It thrilled when it first premiered. And it still does. Akram Khan’s re-imagined Giselle is an outstanding piece of dance theatre on every level.
The choreography is innovative, intense, and challenging, requiring dancers not just with advanced technique, but also with outstanding acting ability as well. Fortunately, those of English National Ballet have both in spades.
Erina Takahashi brought to her rendition of Giselle, a delicacy, intimacy, and freshness, with her technical dancing matched equally by her searing dramatisation of the doomed girl.
Emma Hawes as Myrtha matched Takahashi to perfection. Together, they created a heart-rending Act 2 that it was impossible to disengage from. The men, while still giving excellent performances were a little less dramatically engaging, but this Giselle, more than most, is a ballet very much about her.
Photo Camilla Greenwell
James Streeter gave a suitably torn and emotionally bewildered Albrecht in Act 1, but in Act 2 only came fully into his own towards the end. As in so many Giselles, Hilarion is something of a bit part. Ken Saruhashi did not stand-out in Act 1, and disappointed in terms of drama in Act 2. Indeed, one wondered why the Willis felt the need to dispose of him, and in quite such an ugly manner. Fabian Reimair was appropriately remonstrative as the Landlord, and reminiscent of Von Rothbart from Swan Lake in his protectiveness of Bathilde.
Tim Yip’s set is remarkable, being a moving, and vertically revolving, wall set across the entire stage. The lighting design, by Mark Henderson, is appropriately dark, if just a bit too dark to properly see the dancers on occasions.
in Akram Khan’s Giselle
Photo Camilla Greenwell
However, it is the music, composed by Vincenzo Lamagna, that takes the production to an entire other level. Based on the original score by Adolphe Adam, its booming intensity, and ominous, threatening, incessant drumbeat fills the theatre, creating an atmosphere of great profundity. Akram Khan’s Giselle is one where you feel, not simply watch Giselle’s descent into madness; and every step of the way.
It truly is an outstanding ballet, complicated and demanding on every level. But utterly compelling.
English National Ballet perform Akram Khan’s Giselle at Sadler’s Wells, London to September 28, 2024.