American Ballet Theatre: Super-Giselle lives up to the hype (mostly)

Olga Smirnova as Giselle and Daniel Camargo as Albrecht in ABT's Giselle

Chloe Misseldine as Myrtha in American Ballet Theatre's Giselle

By Ivy Lin, 22 June 2025

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“has a way of opening up the scissors in his cabrioles to make it seem like he’s suspended in the air”

Reviewed at Lincoln Center: Metropolitan Opera House, New York City on 21 June 2025

Giselle (Jean Coralli, Jules Perrot, Marius Petipa, Kevin McKenzie)

American Ballet Theatre

Gianni Quaranta, Set Designer

Anna Anni, Costume Designer

Jennifer Tipton, Lighting Designer

Olga Smirnova, Dancer

Daniel Camargo, Dancer

Chloe Misseldine, Dancer

Léa Fleytoux, Dancer

Jake Roxander, Dancer

A new Albrecht makes a polished Giselle shine even brighter

Deborah Weiss, 7th March

A last minute injury to Natalia Osipova does not mar the magic of Sir Peter Wright's Giselle as Marianela Núñez steps in to partner Patricio Revé.

****1

A Valentine’s Day Giselle in Atlanta: Romantic excellence

Rebecca Ehrhardt, 14th February

A lovely production of Giselle by the increasingly good and ever-growing Atlanta Ballet.

****1

The RB: Peter Wright’s Giselle is as near perfection as you can get

Amanda Jennings, 14th February

Sir Peter Wright’s Giselle was given a well-deserved, thunderous ovation on opening night. A near perfect rendition of the ballet from all quarters of the Company was deeply satisfying.

*****

National Ballet of Japan’s Giselle: a triumphant London debut

Graham Watts, 24th July

National Ballet of Japan offer a 21st-century remake of this 19th-century Romantic classic with impeccable performances.

*****

National Ballet of Japan's revival of Giselle: a dramatic return

Naomi Mori, 10th April

National Ballet of Japan has revived their production of Giselle, ahead of their tour to the Royal Opera House in London, replicating the triumphant success it had in 2022.

*****

ENB in Mary Skeaping's Giselle: authentic, exquisite dancing

Amanda Jennings, 15th January

English National Ballet give a meticulous account of Mary Skeaping's glorious Giselle.

*****

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Ivy Lin

Ivy Lin's love of ballet began in high school when at the school dance she quickly realized she had two left feet. One always admires things one cannot do, and so Ivy began to attend dance performances to marvel at the grace and beauty of bodies in motion. Ivy's day job is a biology teacher and after a long day in the classroom she loves to unwind by watching dance. She also enjoys theater, opera, pop and classical music. Ivy has her own blog (www.humbledandoverwhelmed,blogspot.com)