Adolphe Adam, Giselle - Act II

At the rearguard of the great musical geniuses of the 19th century, a group of musicians of lesser depth was modestly gravitating. They are the so-called "minor composers". The French composer Adolphe Adam was one of them. The son of a pianist who had acquired a certain reputation, he did not highlight much during his time at the Conservatory in Paris, where he entered at age 21. Nevertheless, since he was twenty he was recognized in Paris as a skilled composer of songs for the French vaudeville.

As an author of 48 operas and 15 ballets, Adam bequeathed to humanity the famous, eternal and beautiful ballet Giselle, released in 1843. It is the only production of his vast work that is performed until today on the stages of every corner of the globe, with each more diverse and innovative staging. In 1993, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of its premiere, Giselle was staged in Havana by the National Ballet of Cuba, under the direction of the very prominent Cuban dancer and choreographer Alicia Alonso. In a box from which a divine light emerged, Fidel and Raul were seen tasting the function, with similar delight to that of the European aristocracy and high bourgeoisie of the mid-19th century. The magic of music.

Adolphe Adam (1803 - 1856)

The work is a ballet in two acts, based on a legend collected by the German poet Heinrich Heine. The story takes place in the medieval Rhineland. At the end of act I, Giselle, the protagonist villager, has already gone mad and then died, pierced by the sword following the deceit of her beloved Prince Albrecht.

In the second act, Giselle is welcomed by the queen of the dead virgins – together with her cohort of female ghosts, the Wilis – with a dance. Giselle joins them. Afterwards, Prince Albrecht appears, repentant, to mourn over his grave. The queen of the dead virgins rejects him but Giselle is there to protect him and save Albrecht's life, condemned by the queen to dance for life. Giselle holds him until the dawn lights force the ghosts to retreat. Then Giselle returns to her grave.

The celebrated Grand Pas de Deux and Variations of act II is presented here, with the Ukrainian ballerina Svetlana Zakharova playing the role of Giselle.
I apologize for the end of the video, something sloppy in the cut.

One last word about Adolphe Adam. From nowhere else but from his modest creative inspiration is that this miraculous wonder that Adolphe gave to the world arose. Aware of his moderate worth, Adam – according to Wikipedia – did not hesitate to say in a French newspaper in January 1855:
"I have no more ambition, in my music (...) than to make it clear, easy to understand and fun for the public. I can not do anything other than small music, it is a fact. Hence, I am content to do what I can, what I know, and I hope the audience gets tired of me to stop writing."
This blog subscribes his words, one by one.

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