Ballet Philippines' Giselle

Carissa Adea and Richardson Yadao

The purist in me had been waiting for more than a year to see the traditional staging of Giselle ever since I saw Ballet David Campos’ modern/contemporary take on this classic ballet. And when Ballet Philippines’ announced that Giselle would be their opening production for their 44th Season IllumiNATION, that Nonoy Froilan would be restaging it after Jules Perrot, Jean Coralli and Marius Petipa, and that the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra led by Olivier Ochanine would accompany in Gala performances, I felt doing Giselle’s variation in Act I out of pure joy.

I was able to watch the opening Gala Performance of the ballet held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines' Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater). The cast during that night were principal dancers Carissa Adea in the title role of Giselle and Richardson Yadao portraying the role of Albrecht. The other were Timothy Paul Cabrera as Hilarion, Rita Winder as Countess Bathilde and Queen Myrtha.

Carissa Adea

One thing I could say about Giselle is that the two acts are completely different from each other. The first act was festive, full of joy and had a very pleasant palette of fall colors. The dancing was spirited especially by Gilliane Geguinto, Cyril Fallar, Jemima Reyes and Emmanuelle Guillermo during the Peasant Pas de Quatre. And two of my most highly anticipated moments for this act were Giselle’s entrance and her famous variation. And all eyes were on Carissa Adea during THE mad scene to see how she was able to deliver in the acting department. I always felt that Carissa has more spunk and fire compared to Candice who exudes naïveté instead. And it’s great to see her hold back that spunk and then completely let go during the mad scene.

In the second act, things got a lot darker and more interesting. It’s hard to believe that this was the same ballet at all. Creepy, cold, foggy and devoid of color, this act introduces the Wilis, spirits of jilted maidens who exist to exact revenge on the male sex (innocent of not). One poor male, Hilarion who longed for Giselle too, became a victim of the Wilis and yet Albrecht, whose deception caused Giselle’s death in the first place, was spared because of her undying love. This part of the story makes me scratch my head since the innocent Hilarion had to die while the two timing Albrecht lived. But I was too mesmerized by the Pas de Deux by Carissa and Richardson Yadao that I finally gave in despite some protests of the reasonable part of my mind. And I think that this was also the hidden power of the corps de ballet who glided; changed positions on stage while en pointe and made everything look effortless as if they’re really spirits.

Richardson Yadao

One thing that I paid close attention to during this performance was the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, led by its music director and principal conductor Olivier Ochanine. The recurring leitmotifs especially during the second act were such a delight to listen to. I really liked how Giselle’s themes heard in the first act tried to find their way during the second act. It was as if Giselle is not allowing death to extinguish her soul. The viola is rarely used for solo passages but its timbre and range worked really well for the scenes in act two. But I still had some issues with the brass section which was spotty at times especially during the arrival of the hunting party in the village.

Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino

This production also featured a trio of theater personalities in acting roles: Shamaine Centenera-Buencamino as Giselle’s mother Berthe, Butch Esperanza as Wilfred and Bembol Roco as the Duke of Courtland. The roles of Wilfred and the Duke could’ve been portrayed by other actors and it wouldn’t have made that much of a difference. But Shamaine really made a mark in her role as Giselle’s worried mother who eventually grieved her loss.

I was so pleased to be able to catch Ballet Philippines’ Giselle. And this is just the start of their 44^th Season and there is still a bunch to come. Up next will be Rock Supremo which is a tribute to Philippine hero Andres Bonifacio who is celebrating the 150^th Anniversary of his birth.