 |
| ▲ This photo, provided by LG Art Center Seoul, shows a scene from the Paris Opera Ballet's 'Giselle.' (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
 |
| ▲ This photo, provided by LG Art Center Seoul, shows the Paris Opera Ballet's. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Yonhap) -- Paris Opera Ballet, one of the most renowned and oldest national ballet companies, will visit Korea for the first time in 30 years next month.
The ballet company, which successfully transformed ballet from court entertainment to professional performance art for the masses, will perform “Giselle” at LG Art Center Seoul in Ganseo-gu, Seoul from Mar. 8 to 11.
It will mark the very first time in 30 years that the Paris Opera Ballet, which touts a long tradition of more than 350 years, has performed in Korea since the last performance of “Giselle” held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in 1993.
Jose Carlos Martinez, who took the stage as one of the soloists during the last performance in Korea 30 years ago and is now named the director of dance at Paris Opera Ballet, will lead a 120-member ballet company to visit Korea this time.
The troupe will be bringing “Giselle,” a classic work of romantic ballet choreographed by legendary choreographers Jean Coralli and Jules-Joseph Perrot and composed by Adolf Adam, back to the stage in 30 years. After having the world premiere in 1841, the piece has become the representative repertoire of the Paris Opera Ballet.
The work features the story of Giselle, a country girl who was betrayed and murdered by her loved one, appearing as a ghost Billy, and demonstrating the love that goes beyond death.
In the upcoming concert in Korea, dancers Partrice Bart and Eugene Poliakoff will present a version that was revised and re-choreographed in 1991, and the National Symphony Orchestra will be in charge of the music.
Founded in 1669 during the reign of Louis XIV, also dubbed as the “King of the Sun,” Paris Opera Ballet has been performing for 350 years as the core of the history of ballet.
In the 20th century, masters of modern dance such as Serge Lifar and Rudolf Nureyev, were named as the directors of dance, leading the troupe to stand at the heart of the world ballet.
As for Korean dancers, ballerina Park Se-eun was the very first Asian to be appointed as a principal dancer.
Park Se-eun will not be performing on stage due to childbirth, and Korean dancer Kang Ho-hyun, who just became a full-time member of the troupe last year, will be appearing on stage.
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Ha eun Lee)
(END)
(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved
