We "just happened" to be in Paris for opening night at the POB. Unlike last year, when they presented a Homage to Jerome Robbins, this year they opened with the 19th century loved-by-all Parisians Giselle. We had to get tickets months in advance. Overall, I was transfixed by the performance. IMHO, the men at ABT far outshine the men at POB, but the women were beyond extraordinary. Aurelie Dupont was weightless and perfection itself in both acts as Giselle; Anne-Marie Gillot was a wili on the warpath as she traversed the stage diagonally with her astounding leaps; and the corps de ballet, along with the two leading wilis, danced selflessly, as one entity, completely devoted to the perfection of their dancing and the meaning of the ballet. I've heard that the training at the school is brutal, but they turn out the most exquisite dancers. Did anyone else happen to be there?
angelica

Not there, alas, but I'm very grateful for your review. Who was Albrecht?

(There's a DVD of this production. It's very cold, at least on TV, but very, very perfect and completely thought out.)

Well I don’t share your enthusiasm for Aurélie Dupont’s Giselle. I was there too I found the night more professional than anything else. She is an exceptional technician, the best so far I’ve seen in the role, but she is a poor actress. As a matter of fact, I found her first act too polish and with absolutely no emotion. It was not really possible to believe she was this poor naive girl from de country. The second act lacked of lyricism for the same reason, although it’s less demanding in acting skills and her wonderful technique is less a show off. Nicolas Le Riche was up to me, although quite good, not in his best day, I find he is better when dancing with Laëtitia Pujol’s Giselle( who is in the POB DVD)… Technically speaking, Marie-Agnès Gillot is astonishing, but perhaps lacks too a lyrical involvement…
Up to me the best show in the actual series was danced by Isabelle Ciaravola and Stéphane Bullion, two wonderful actors. They danced in harmony and they matched totally, physically and in the way they portrayed the two heroes. The first act was very fresh and spontaneous until the betrayal scene where she portrayed a very poignant girl and he was a very remorseful Albrecht, nearly as sick as her… The second act was magical because they both show an incredible lyricism. He’s a tall and very impressive in his jumps and he has an incredible ability in the lifts which were quite magical showing most of the time an incredible floating Giselle. Isabelle Ciaravola is a perfect ethereal creature and so much touching… That was a brilliant night.

Aurelie Dupont is usually a brilliant actress. one of the best in ballet today. Her acting is very understated.with subtile use of her eyes and facial expression But I have read it said about her Giselle before. So maybe it is not her best role. However, she is again usually extremely musical and lyrical with that fabulos technique. This has made her famous world wide as you know. I saw her live in Oneguine earlier this year, and I was not at all disapointed. She made you feel the pain she was suffering through her physical demeanour. It took 8 curtain calls before the audience would let the dancers go, with most of the applause for Aurelie. Her partner on this occasion was again was Nicholas Le Riche. She also dances with Herve Moreau with whom she seems to have a good rapport.

There are a lot of good actresses in Paris Opera Ballet, Agnès Letestu at first but Isabelle Ciaravola, Clairemarie Osta, Laëtitia Pujol are up to me far better than Aurélie Dupont. Well of course, I believe it depends from your own sensibility but I feel she lacks the emotional sides of the characters. In Onegin, it was not a problem because the way she depicted Tatiana could be seen as someone particularly hurt by the way she was treated by Onegin and so to explain the way she refused him at the end. She didn’t have to challenge the audience, she just played a role, and people weren’t so sorry for her… But in Giselle, there is no way you can build a story around fragility and sensibility if you don’t have it, especially in the mad scene. It was far too polish and sophisticated to make believe in it.

I saw Delphine Moussin and Benjamin Pech in the lead roles, particularly good in Act II rather than Act I. Emilie Cozzet was a competent Myrtha, in the DVD it is Marie-Agnes Gillot who is simply outstanding. I'm a fan of Aurelie Dupont whom I have only seen onscreen, I would have loved to be able to see her live. Did anyone else notice the beautiful sets and costumes? The trees in Act II were exquisite.

I am sorry but I simply do not agree with you about Aurelie Dupont, I find her much more appealing, and not just for her beauty or technique, for her musicality, feeling and expression, she does not need to over act, she feels her characters., and you can pick up the vibes. I find Agnes Lesetu to shallow and does not put herself fully into her roles. Her acting is very under stated. She makes me feel as if I want to push her and say "show more emotion".Also the rapor between her partner and Ex Jose Martinez seemed to be non existant. I find her better in none story roles like Diamonds where she excells with a wonderful technique. I saw her in Les dame aux Camillias when Aurelie was on maternity leave, and it weas acceptable ( I had gift tickets) But I know who I would have preferred to have seen. I agree Laeticia Pujol and Claire Marie Osta can act, but I would not put them above Aurelie. Maybe on par with their specialist roles.. I loved Laetica in Nureyevs Cinderelle she was brilliantly funny without going over the top. At the moment I havr two favourite Dancers, Aurelie, Alina Cojocaru, and a third gradually appealing more, Laura Morera.(Royal Ballet) I do not really compare them, I like each for different merits, muscality being very important.

Don’t be sorry, everyone is entitled to its own opinion… Well I believe it’s a question of taste but I never found Aurélie Dupont could match the others on acting while I think she’s often technically astonishing, There is a kind of non-interaction between these two things which disturbs me because she’s unnatural.
I must admit that up to me, Agnès Letestu is far better paired with Stéphane Bullion or Hervé Moreau than with José Martinez who has the same kind of body stiffness and severe look, but she is a very refined actress, with a very intelligent sense of play, often very subtle and very internal, which is nested in her dancing. That's the difference for me.

Silvermash: I definately agree with you on Stephane Bullion and. Herve Moreau, they are excellent dancers, I like them a lot. Talking about their performing with Agnes Letestu, I saw Stephane B. dance Les Dame with her. He was so passionate and romantic towards her, he could have actually been in love with her full stop. But no way as much so with Isac. Clai. in the same role. I also like Herve Moreau very much, and it is such a shame he seems to be plagued with unjuries. He is very good in the Proust Pas de deux (While she's sleeping) with Elean. Abb.



Back to Aurelie Dupont, I do not understand why you feel she is un-natural, she is very sensitive in life, and down to earth, she is not over sophisticated, and has been quite candid in interviews about herself, but she can be a little reserved and shy. There are some very expressive photographs of her with Herve Moreau in La Bayadere on ballet.net. In which You can see their expression's very clearly Also this month (as a matter of interest) there is an excellent article in Dance Europe, by Emma Manning (?) there are three people who reviewed Giselle. "Aurelie Dupont whose performance was on 29th Septemeber must surely rank her as one of the greatest Giselle's of all time, She captures the essence of 19th centry romantisicum with her unwordly balances, reined in only by the music's command for her to continue, and yet her technical prowess is unsurpassable in modern day expectations. She is also a credible actress. In Act 1 she portrays a young girl afraid of her attraction to Albrecht, in Act 2, her affection and forgiveness is convincingly emphasised by her determination to save Albrecht from the vengeful Myrthr" It is said that people's life experiences mold their character and what they become (in some circumstances) And I think she uses these herself in her roles. which includes being hurt by love. Enjoy your Ballet.

...just a quick question, out of curiosity-(and I hope not to be out of topic)...How's the Peasant Pas de Deux danced in this current POB production...?

What do you mean exactly? This is the Patrice Bart and Eugene Polyakov version so it's just like in the DVD with Nicolas Le Riche and Laëtitia Pujol. I think you can find it on YT if you don't have the DVD
Regarding this season, we had a couple of dancers new to the roles who were quite interesting, and some of them show a lot of promises...

You just answered my question. Thanks.