Tamara Rojo leads from the front in Akram Khan’s Giselle

By Mark Pullinger, 19 September 2019

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“an outstanding piece of theatre that deserves the widest possible audience”

Reviewed at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London on 18 September 2019

Giselle (Akram Khan)

English National Ballet

Gavin Sutherland, Conductor

Tim Yip, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Mark Henderson, Lighting Designer

English National Ballet Philharmonic

Tamara Rojo, Dancer

James Streeter, Dancer

Jeffrey Cirio, Dancer

Stina Quagebeur, Dancer

Isabelle Brouwers, Dancer

Akram Khan’s Giselle for ENB at the Coliseum: hauntingly mesmeric

Deborah Weiss, 15th January

ENB have brought Akram Khan’s Giselle to London's Coliseum for the first time. It’s looking better than ever and should not be missed.

*****

‘Osipova/Linbury’: a pot pourri of delights

Deborah Weiss, 10th November

An interesting evening displaying the many facets of Natalia Osipova's talents alongside her equally exciting guests at the Linbury.

****1

Thikra: Night of Remembering – past voices shaping our present

Daniel Pratt, 29th October

Akram Khan in concentrated colour, setting the darkness chiming with Thikra: Night of Remembering at London's Sadler's Wells.

****1

Norwegian National Ballet's Dialogues II: brief but brilliant

Graham Watts, 3rd April

A brief but excellent programme of five duets showcased on the main stage of the Den Norske Opera.

***11

Gigenis: Akram Khan’s latest, affecting work

Amanda Jennings, 20th November

This is a dance piece that illuminates cultural and experiential history in a way that is accessible to everyone.

*****

ENB in Akram Khan’s Giselle: compelling, astonishing, unmissable

Deborah Weiss, 18th September

Akram Khan's Giselle becomes ever more watchable with every viewing. A rollercoaster version of the traditional classic.

*****

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Mark Pullinger

Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.

Passion and sincerity: Tamara Rojo leads from the front in Akram Khan’s Giselle