Miyako Yoshida's Giselle is a transfixing triumph
Miyako Yoshida first performed the title role in Giselle with the Royal Ballet in 1997. Now, as the artistic director of ballet and dance at Tokyo's New National Theatre, she returns to Covent Garden with the very same classic. It's the UK debut of a National Ballet of Japan production – the company's first overseas tour in 16 years.
Giselle's romantic tragedy plays out in a 19th-century village fashioned on stage by the award-winning designer Dick Bird and in sound by the composer Adolphe Adam's airy, whimsical 1841 ballet suite. The beautiful peasant girl Giselle (Yui Yonezawa) falls in love with Prince Albrecht (Shun Izawa), only to die tragically of heartbreak. After her demise, she joins a flock of the Wilis – vengeful, heartbroken wraiths who lure young men to their deaths. All of this unfolds in a whirl of aproned skirts and tight-laced stays that turn into gauzy, virginal dresses when the score slips into the minor keys of the second and final act.
This is a resplendent marriage of characterisation and Marius Petipa's late-19th-century choreography. The dancers rise to the challenge of a demanding repertoire: the polished synchronisation, the hauntingly beautiful sequences of Wilis in the foggy, moonlit graveyard of act two, and the footwork whose intricacy requires immense stamina, of corps and principals alike. In homage to the classical ballets of the 19th century, the dancers elegantly deepen the narrative by drawing on the traditions of mime – a secretive and silent communication that has fallen sadly out of favour on stage.
The audience was transfixed. The house filled with a cacophony of applause on more than one occasion, amid variations that kept us in awe.
Classical ballet came late to Japan's stage, only arriving after the Second World War, and Japanese ballet has, in turn, been late to ours. It would be a pleasure to watch the National Ballet of Japan here again; let's hope it doesn't take another 16 years.
Giselle
The Royal Opera House, London WC2
[See also: 150 years of the bizarre Hans Christian Andersen]
Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe
Related
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Tesco's birthday cake sandwich is leaving shoppers divided
A new birthday cake sandwich has been spotted in the supermarket, with the word spreading across the internet. It comes just weeks after a similar "strange" strawberries and cream sandwich from M&S also made headlines. The new Tesco cake is causing a divide, with some shoppers loving it, but others not so much. Tesco's birthday cake sandwich is leaving shoppers divided A photo was shared of the new Tesco sandwich on the Money Saving Central Facebook group, which has already received hundreds of comments. One person said: "Absolutely not, just when strawberries and cream couldn't get worse." Another added: "Maybe if it was cake cut to look like a sandwich I'd have it but not if it's on bread. Yuck." The sandwich has also been discussed on the Tesco page on Reddit. One confused person said: "What am I actually looking at?" Another described the sandwich as "utter filth", and another said it was "weird". UK Supermarket Rankings 2025 However, not everyone disagrees with the flavour, with some looking forward to trying it. "This reminds me of when I tried sprinkles on buttered bread. Game changer," said one. A second person said: "Is it just me who actually wants it." Some shoppers also compared it to Fairy Bread, which is popular in Australia. Often served at parties, it is sliced white bread spread with butter or margarine and covered with sprinkles. New viral sandwich after M&S controversy The divide over Tesco's new sandwich comes after the M&S strawberries and cream sandwich made waves in the supermarket community. The £2.80 'game-changing' limited edition Red Diamond Strawberry & Creme Sandwich was inspired by Japanese 'sweet sandos', or fruit sandwiches, M&S said. It is filled with the fruit and light whipped cream cheese on fluffy, sweetened bread. Recommended reading: Many described the product as "weird", but many others enjoyed the creation. M&S Food first sold freshly made sandwiches in the 1920s, and expanded sales with pre-packed sandwiches in the 1980s. The retailer's food halls have sold four billion sandwiches to date.
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Tesco's birthday cake sandwich is leaving shoppers divided
A new birthday cake sandwich has been spotted in the supermarket, with the word spreading across the internet. It comes just weeks after a similar "strange" strawberries and cream sandwich from M&S also made headlines. The new Tesco cake is causing a divide, with some shoppers loving it, but others not so much. A photo was shared of the new Tesco sandwich on the Money Saving Central Facebook group, which has already received hundreds of comments. One person said: "Absolutely not, just when strawberries and cream couldn't get worse." Another added: "Maybe if it was cake cut to look like a sandwich I'd have it but not if it's on bread. Yuck." The sandwich has also been discussed on the Tesco page on Reddit. One confused person said: "What am I actually looking at?" Another described the sandwich as "utter filth", and another said it was "weird". However, not everyone disagrees with the flavour, with some looking forward to trying it. "This reminds me of when I tried sprinkles on buttered bread. Game changer," said one. A second person said: "Is it just me who actually wants it." Some shoppers also compared it to Fairy Bread, which is popular in Australia. Often served at parties, it is sliced white bread spread with butter or margarine and covered with sprinkles. The divide over Tesco's new sandwich comes after the M&S strawberries and cream sandwich made waves in the supermarket community. The £2.80 'game-changing' limited edition Red Diamond Strawberry & Creme Sandwich was inspired by Japanese 'sweet sandos', or fruit sandwiches, M&S said. It is filled with the fruit and light whipped cream cheese on fluffy, sweetened bread. Recommended reading: Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury's 'secret codes' that could save you money Discontinued chocolate bars Brits miss the most - Agree with the top spot? 'Treated like a thief': Tesco shoppers slam 'Orwellian' self-checkout measure Many described the product as "weird", but many others enjoyed the creation. M&S Food first sold freshly made sandwiches in the 1920s, and expanded sales with pre-packed sandwiches in the 1980s. The retailer's food halls have sold four billion sandwiches to date.
North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Tesco's birthday cake sandwich is leaving shoppers divided
A new birthday cake sandwich has been spotted in the supermarket, with the word spreading across the internet. It comes just weeks after a similar "strange" strawberries and cream sandwich from M&S also made headlines. The new Tesco cake is causing a divide, with some shoppers loving it, but others not so much. A photo was shared of the new Tesco sandwich on the Money Saving Central Facebook group, which has already received hundreds of comments. One person said: "Absolutely not, just when strawberries and cream couldn't get worse." Another added: "Maybe if it was cake cut to look like a sandwich I'd have it but not if it's on bread. Yuck." The sandwich has also been discussed on the Tesco page on Reddit. One confused person said: "What am I actually looking at?" Another described the sandwich as "utter filth", and another said it was "weird". However, not everyone disagrees with the flavour, with some looking forward to trying it. "This reminds me of when I tried sprinkles on buttered bread. Game changer," said one. A second person said: "Is it just me who actually wants it." Some shoppers also compared it to Fairy Bread, which is popular in Australia. Often served at parties, it is sliced white bread spread with butter or margarine and covered with sprinkles. The divide over Tesco's new sandwich comes after the M&S strawberries and cream sandwich made waves in the supermarket community. The £2.80 'game-changing' limited edition Red Diamond Strawberry & Creme Sandwich was inspired by Japanese 'sweet sandos', or fruit sandwiches, M&S said. It is filled with the fruit and light whipped cream cheese on fluffy, sweetened bread. Recommended reading: Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury's 'secret codes' that could save you money Discontinued chocolate bars Brits miss the most - Agree with the top spot? 'Treated like a thief': Tesco shoppers slam 'Orwellian' self-checkout measure Many described the product as "weird", but many others enjoyed the creation. M&S Food first sold freshly made sandwiches in the 1920s, and expanded sales with pre-packed sandwiches in the 1980s. The retailer's food halls have sold four billion sandwiches to date.
