What do I like about Giselle’s story? The power of forgiveness – which can be quite challenging sometimes – and that magnificent love which even death cannot part (oh, yes... here is a hopelessly romantic talking). What do I like about Félix Lajkó’s music? Its pulsating passion and delicate poetry, the fact that it can deeply touch my heart. And what do I like about GisL by the Ballet Company of Győr? Everything!

Photo by Tamás Rózsa

Choreographer, László Velekei, using the original story as a starting point, created a completely new, timeless version of the well-known ballet.

The set is simple though multifunctional. The moveable boxes serve as screens, mirrors and may turn into the woods. However, for me, they mean so much more. Mirrors in which we can truly face ourselves, the dark forest of the psyche, a gateway to another state of mind and being, which, in GisL’s case, meant insanity and physical death.

Photo by Béla Szabó

The rich music composed by Félix Lajkó and the expressive movements, filled with emotions, form a perfect unit whilst leading the audience through the story. Eszter Adria Herkovics is an ethereal, ingenuous GisL, Daichi Uematsu portrays an emotional Albrecht, struggling with his conscience, Gerda Guti embodies a powerful and vengeful Myrtha, and Luka Dimić, dancing the part of Hilarion, in his suffering from unrequited love, becomes almost demonic. But not only the soloists are worth mentioning. The ensemble, where every single dancer is a brilliant soloist, works with such unity that their electrifying energy reaches the back rows.  

Luka Dimić, Eszter Adria Herkovics and Daichi Uematsu Photo by Tamás Rózsa 

GisL opened online in May as a part of Bartók Spring International Arts Weeks, the original live premier was programmed last year at the Budapest Spring Festival as well as the Hungarian Dance Festival in Győr. When the shows were cancelled, my initial thought was that one day when GisL would open in front of a live audience, it will be even more powerful than ever. Last night, at Széchenyi Square, I was proven right.

Photo by Béla Szabó

GisL was organized by Müpa as a joint program with the Ballet Company of Győr and Fonó Buda Music Hall within the framework of Bartók Spring.