25 replies to this topic

[chrisk217]

What happens to Hillarion after his encounter with the wilis? When he is pushed backstage by the 2 wilis it's not clear whether:

a) he is released

b) his dance-torture will continue backstage until death by offstage wilis

c) his pursuit by the wilis is accidentally cut short when the wilis find Albrecht and Giselle loitering backstage

d) nobody knows

Can anyone familliar with the libretto shed light on this?

in advance!

[cargill]

He is pushed into the lake and drowns.  Or if the Trockaderos are doing it, he falls into the orchestra pit!

[Marga]

chrisk217, on Feb 4 2005, 01:04 PM, said:

What happens to Hillarion after his encounter with the wilis?

Cute, chrisk217! :rolleyes:
When you are watching Act II Giselle, there is no "backstage" -- at least not if the company dancing it has successfully transported you into another world! The Wilis, as cargill said, propel poor Hilarion to his death in the lake. The Wilis are in a forest glade (conveniently located next to a lake), turned eerie at night by their ghostly presence.

[Juliet]

Wilis are spirits of women who have been betrayed by their lovers before their wedding day.  They are not gentle sprits, but vengeful ones.  Their very unearthliness, with no room for compassion for their unfortunate male victims makes them even more interesting.

The most chilling Wilis I have seen are portrayed by the Kirov/Maryinsky Ballet.  Their turning, one by one, to swifty consign Hilarion to the lake is guaranteed to make one shudder.  Myrthe, their queen, is implacable when Giselle pleads for the life of her love, Albrecht....when this role is done appropriately it is immensely powerful and a great vehicle for a strong and dramatic dancer.

[Marga]

Juliet, on Feb 4 2005, 05:48 PM, said:

Myrthe, their queen, is implacable when Giselle pleads for the life of her love, Albrecht....when this role is done appropriately it is immensely powerful and a great vehicle for a strong and dramatic dancer.

This post of yours, Juliet, led me to do a search until I found a 3 year old thread on great Myrthas. I picked it up with a new post and hope others will continue to contribute to it. It's a very interesting subject.
Here's the link:
Great Myrthas

[Juliet]

Yes, I remember this thread--we got quite involved!!!

[Mel Johnson]

In Gautier's description of the libretto, he says, "Good riddance, Hilarion.  May the fishes eat your eyes."  Makes Myrtha sound sort of like The Godmother.

[chrisk217]

Marga, on Feb 4 2005, 10:59 PM, said:

chrisk217, on Feb 4 2005, 01:04 PM, said:

What happens to Hillarion after his encounter with the wilis?

Cute, chrisk217! :rolleyes:
When you are watching Act II Giselle, there is no "backstage" -- at least not if the company dancing it has successfully transported you into another world! The Wilis, as cargill said, propel poor Hilarion to his death in the lake. The Wilis are in a forest glade (conveniently located next to a lake), turned eerie at night by their ghostly presence.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just thought that the lake was background decoration! (and I have a tape of ABT/Fracci/Bruyn that very clearly shows H. rolling on a slope and then a shot of willis reflected in the lake!!!) Thanks everyone  

Perhaps, in one of the future egregious attempts to make Giselle accessible to a modern audience, there will be sound effects for the imagination-challenged like myself: a big "Splash" in the lake and then gurgles as Hillarion  sinks... One shudders at the thought...  

[Mme. Hermine]

Now there's a thought! In a "rethinking" of Giselle, maybe myrtha and the wilis could be seen giving him cement overshoes??  

Mel Johnson, on Feb 5 2005, 02:07 AM, said:

In Gautier's description of the libretto, he says, "Good riddance, Hilarion.  May the fishes eat your eyes."  Makes Myrtha sound sort of like The Godmother.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[BalletNut]

:shhh: Shhh...we don't want to give anyone any ideas...

[Mel Johnson]

When you think of it, it's already there.  She makes both Hilarion and Albrecht "offers they can't refuse"!    

[Mme. Hermine]

so in act one, albrecht could be a dashing young 'made man' who hits the village up for protection money?
(stop me...)

Mel Johnson, on Feb 5 2005, 01:13 PM, said:

When you think of it, it's already there.  She makes both Hilarion and Albrecht "offers they can't refuse"!   

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Mel Johnson]

And then the local consigliere shows up in his armored Cadillac....

[Mme. Hermine]

and albert's (he has to be albert) moll with the platinum hair and floor length fur coat gives giselle a ten carat tennis bracelet?

[chrisk217]

Yep, after the Mafia Rigoletto the Mafia Giselle...
Giselle caught up in a mob war...

Hillarion: He's lying Giselle ... Look at his Thomson machinegun, look at the blonde...
Giselle: Oh!
Albrecht: That's my family Giselle, it's not me.
Giselle: I know it was you Albrechto. You broke my heart. You broke my heart!

Then Hillarion goes off to sleep with the fishes...