"Red Giselle" Ballet in 2 acts by Boris EifmanWe act as primary and secondary tickets reseller. The ticket prices may be lower or higher than the face value
Premiere of this production: 26 Aug 2025 The performance has 1 intermission Running time: 2 hours The Stanislavsky Theatre, located in XIX century historical building just 750 metres (9-minute walk) from the Bolshoi, presents Boris Eifman’s legendary ballet Red Giselle — a story of genius, passion, and destiny. Ballet at the Stanislavsky Theatre is the great and affordable alternative to the Bolshoi. The ballet Red Giselle tells us about the fate of the Russian ballerina Olga Spessivtseva. It is a subtle and masterful interpretation by Boris Eifman of the life story of a great dancer who lived through the turmoil of revolutionary events, emigrated from Russia and, after a series of personal dramas and upheavals, ended up in a sanatorium for the insane. Nearly thirty years after its premiere, the choreographer has reimagined Red Giselle: the choreographic score has been renewed, and the visual design now reflects the full range of contemporary stagecraft. On stage — a world of piercing emotions, where the heroine’s gift becomes both her blessing and her curse. “Our performance is not a literal retelling of Spessivtseva’s life, but an attempt to capture the fate of many great talents forced to leave Russia and live through tragic exile. She was a brilliant Giselle — so much so that the heroine’s destiny became her own,” says Boris Eifman. Stunning choreography, evocative sets by Vyacheslav Okunev, and powerful lighting by Gleb Filshtinsky bring to life a ballet that has already become a modern classic. “Red Giselle” — a requiem for a ballerina, and a celebration of ballet’s limitless power to tell human stories. SynopsisAct 1 Revolutionary Petrograd. A lesson of classical dance at the Mariinsky Theatre. Among all dancers a strict Teacher singles out one whose perfect movements embody his ideal of beauty. A full house applauds the Ballerina. Among her admirers is a Commissar, who personifies the new power. The Ballerina is attracted and overwhelmed by his force. The Commissar introduces her to his world where destruction and chaos reign. However, Ballerina’s euphoria fades away. She returns to the ballet class and to the Teacher. Within the walls of the theatre a new regime is established, with its domination over high art. The Teacher is in desperation. His world is in ruins. The affair with the Commissar is excruciating for the Ballerina, with fear mixed with attraction. The Commissar gives the Ballerina permission to leave Russia. Act 2 Paris, Grand Opéra. A young choreographer introduces the Ballerina to a new plastique which is not familiar to her. He becomes her Partner. Together they achieve triumphant success. Ballerina’s growing feeling for the Partner is not returned. Unrequited love and loneliness in the alien world push her towards a spiritual breakdown. Ballerina seeks distraction by plunging into the atmosphere of Parisian spree. But the phantoms of the past continue to haunt her. Even her favorite role of Giselle, Ballerina’s best part, doesn’t bring her peace of mind. The destiny of Giselle awaits herself – betrayal by the loved man and insanity. The mind of the heroine cannot cope with the upheaval. Ballerina’s image dissolves into the mirror-world. | |||||
