The 200th performance of ballet Giselle – principals of Ballet of the CNT in Zagreb and of La ScalaBallet — 11. March 2025.
One of the most popular and performed ballets in the world, ballet Giselle by Adolphe Adam in this version choreographed by José Carlos Martínez will celebrate its 200th performance on March 18, 2025 with Berislav Šipuš as conductor. Since 1965, ballet Giselle has been on the repertoire of the CNT in Zagreb almost without longer interruptions and with its 200th performance it can be considered as one of the most frequently staged ballets at this theatre. Two special gala performances of ballet Giselle will be held on April 30 and May 3, when the principals of the Ballet of the CNT in Zagreb will be accompanied by principals of La Scala. On April 30, 2025 Nicoletta Manni, primaballerina of Teatro alla Scala will be in the role of Giselle with Guilherme Gameiro Alves as Count Albrecht and on May 3, 2025 Iva Vitić Gameiro will appear in the role of Giselle and the principal of Teatro alla Scala Timofej Andrijashenko will be Count Albrecht. Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Andrijashenko thrilled the Zagreb audience last year in ballet Swan Lake and they also appeared in the Ballet Gala Concert in 2023. This time they will come to Zagreb to offer an unforgettable ballet event together with the dancers of the Ballet of the CNT in Zagreb.
The gala performance of ballet Giselle on May 3, 2025 will be dedicated to the memory of the rocket attack on the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb in 1995. In the moment of attack, there was a rehearsal in the ballet studio for the international ballet project titled Donauballett and seventeen ballet artists were wounded, from ballet mistress Božica Lisak, ballet director at the time Almira Osmanović to the guest choreographer Krysztof Pastor. With this special event we wish to honour all victims and emphasise the significance of art as a symbol of resistance and unity.
The role of Giselle, a village girl who dies because of unhappy love, attractive primarily for its interpretative complexity is definitely the dream role of every ballerina, and throughout these 200 years, this role was danced by some of the most prominent Croatian ballet artists such as Ivanka Žunac, Đurđica Ludvig, Vesna Butorac Blaće, Almira Osmanović, Lidija Mila Milovac, Ljiljana Gvozdenović, Irena Pasarić, Mihaela Devald Roksandić, Edina Pličanić and nowadays this role is danced by principals Iva Vitić Gameiro, Natalija Kosovac, Asuka Maruo and Rieka Suzuki Sumitomo.
Giselle was first performed in Zagreb on January 21, 1897. The theatre leaflet does not mention the name of the choreographer but it may be presumed that it was Ema Grondona, the first Zagreb Giselle who was also the first choreographer of this ballet. Since then until today, ballet Giselle was staged at the CNT in Zagreb seven times and was choreographed by Gradimir Hadžislavković, Attilio Labis, Dinko Bogdanić, Iraida Lukašova and José Carlos Martínez.
