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37-514: On 12 March 1832 the first version of La Sylphide premiered at the Salle Le Peletier of the Paris Opéra with choreography by the groundbreaking Italian choreographer Filippo Taglioni and music by Jean-Madeleine Schneitzhoeffer . Taglioni designed the work as a showcase for his daughter Marie . La Sylphide was the first ballet where dancing en pointe had an aesthetic rationale and

74-710: A child in Munich. She later attended the Royal Ballet School in London, where she studied for several years under the direction of Maria Fay. In 1966, she became the first non-Danish dancer to join the Royal Danish Ballet , where she continued her studies under Vera Volkova . She graduated into the Berlin Opera Ballet in 1969, where she danced her first Giselle in 1971. She was promoted to prima ballerina in 1973,

111-429: A lovely glade is revealed. James enters with the sylph, who shows him her charming woodland realm. She brings him berries and water for refreshment but avoids his embrace. To cheer him, she summons her ethereal sisters who shyly enter and perform their airy dances. The young Scotsman is delighted and joins the divertissement before all flee for another part of the forest. Meanwhile, the wedding guests have been searching

148-568: A new version of La Sylphide, based on the Taglioni version, was choreographed and staged by Pierre Lacotte for the Paris Opera Ballet . Since Taglioni's choreography has been irretrievably lost, Lacotte's choreography is based on prints, notes, drawings, and archival materials from the era of the ballet's premiere. Lacotte's choreography is in the style of the period, but entirely new and has been criticised by some as inauthentic. Interpreters of

185-434: A number of different official names, the most important of which were: Théâtre de l'Académie Royale de Musique (1821–1848), Opéra-Théâtre de la Nation (1848–1850), Théâtre de l'Académie Nationale de Musique (1850–1852), Théâtre de l'Académie Impériale de Musique (1852–1854), Théâtre Impérial de l'Opéra (1854–1870), and Théâtre National de l'Opéra (1870–1873). When King Louis XVIII's nephew, Charles Ferdinand, duc de Berry ,

222-544: A position she held for 12 years. For many years she was also the leading ballerina of the London Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet ), where she was chosen by Rudolf Nureyev to dance the first Princess Aurora in his production of The Sleeping Beauty with the company in 1975. Throughout her career, she danced with virtually every major international ballet company including the Kirov Ballet , where she

259-539: A scene of witches from Il Noce di Benevento (The Walnut Tree of Benevento), an 1812 ballet by choreographer Salvatore Viganò and composer Franz Xaver Süssmayr . Emma Livry , one of the last ballerinas of the Romantic ballet era, made her debut with the Paris Opera Ballet as the sylph in an 1858 production of La Sylphide . When Marie Taglioni (who had retired in 1847) saw Livry in the role, she stayed on in Paris to teach

296-556: A second theatre at a more prominent location for the Parisian Opera and Ballet based on the design of architect Charles Garnier . In 1875, the new theatre, today known as the Palais Garnier , was inaugurated. Operas Ballets 48°52′23″N 02°20′20″E  /  48.87306°N 2.33889°E  / 48.87306; 2.33889 Eva Evdokimova Eva Maria Evdokimova-Gregori (December 1, 1948 – April 3, 2009)

333-415: Is heartbroken. She falls into her mother's arms sobbing inconsolably. In a fog-shrouded part of the forest, Madge and her companion witches dance grotesquely about a cauldron. The revellers add all sorts of filthy ingredients to the brew. When the contents glow, Madge reaches into the cauldron and pulls a diaphanous, magic scarf from its depths. The cauldron then sinks, the witches scatter, the fog lifts, and

370-429: Is recorded on DVD. In the hall of a Scottish farmhouse, James Ruben, a young Scotsman , sleeps in a chair by the fireside. A sylph gazes lovingly upon him and dances about his chair. She kisses him and then vanishes when he suddenly wakes. James rouses his friend Gurn from sleep, and questions him about the sylph. Gurn denies having seen such a creature and reminds James that he is shortly to be married. James dismisses

407-617: Is set in contemporary Scotland (of the 1990s) and uses the original score by Herman Severin Løvenskiold . Johan Kobborg 's version of Bournonville's ballet with some interpolations of new choreography (a duet for James and Effy, a pas de six before the reel, and a duet for James and the sylph) premiered in October 2005 at the Royal Opera House . Salle Le Peletier The Salle Le Peletier or Lepeletier (sometimes referred to as

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444-456: Is simply jealous and laugh at him. Everyone dances. The sylph enters during the midst of the revelry and attempts to distract James. As the bridal procession forms, James stands apart and gazes upon the ring he is to place on Effie's finger. The Sylph snatches the ring, places it on her own finger, and, smiling enticingly, rushes into the forest. James hurries after her in ardent pursuit. The guests are bewildered with James' sudden departure. Effie

481-606: The Salle de la rue Le Peletier or the Opéra Le Peletier ) was the home of the Paris Opera from 1821 until the building was destroyed by fire in 1873. The theatre was designed and constructed by the architect François Debret on the site of the garden of the Hôtel de Choiseul on the rue Lepeletier. Due to the many changes in government and management during the theatre's existence, it had

518-402: The romantic ballet , with such Balletmasters as Jules Perrot , Arthur Saint-Léon , Filippo Taglioni , Joseph Mazilier , Jean Coralli , and Paul Taglioni staging many masterworks for the Paris Opera Ballet . Among these works: La Sylphide (1832), Giselle (1841), Paquita (1846), Le corsaire (1856), Le papillon (1860), La source (1866), and Coppélia (1870). Among

555-487: The 1909 ballet Les Sylphides , another ballet involving a mythical sylph . The latter was choreographed by Michel Fokine for the Ballets Russes , using music by Frédéric Chopin , as a short performance. Though inspired by La Sylphide , it was meant to be performed as an independent ballet with its own merits. Matthew Bourne created an updated version of La Sylphide in his 1994 production, Highland Fling. This

592-457: The Nuns . Nourrit's scenario was loosely based on a story by Charles Nodier , Trilby, ou Le Lutin d'Argail , but swapped the genders of the protagonists — a goblin and a fisherman 's wife of Nodier; a sylph and a farmer in the ballet. The scene of Old Madge's witchcraft which opens Act II of the ballet was inspired by Niccolò Paganini 's Le Streghe , which in its turn was inspired by

629-479: The Opéra for more than fifty years. Many of the great grand operas of the 19th century were presented for the first time on its stage, among them: Rossini's Guillaume Tell (1829), Meyerbeer's Robert le Diable (1831), Halévy's La Juive (1835), and Verdi's Don Carlos (1867). The theatre, which was 14,000 square metres in area with a 104 ft. stage, was quite advanced for its time. On 6 February 1822 gas

666-577: The Théâtre Favart and the Salle Louvois . The Salle Le Peletier was inaugurated on 16 August 1821 with a mixed-bill that opened with the anthem "Vive Henry VIII", and included the composer Catel's opera Les bayadères and the Ballet Master Gardel's ballet Le Retour de Zéphire . Although the theatre was meant to be temporary and was built of wood and plaster, it continued to be used by

703-754: The Varna International Ballet Competition in 1970. She was awarded the charter Ulanova Prize in 2005 for "selfless dedication to the art of dance". In New York she studied acting at HB Studio . Evdokimova later became a dance teacher and ballet mistress at the Boston Ballet and judged numerous international ballet competitions. There are numerous clips of her performances on YouTube although not remastered. She died on April 3, 2009, aged 60, from complications of cancer in Manhattan , New York , according to her husband, Michael S. Gregori. She

740-602: The end, Bournonville mounted his own production of La Sylphide based on the original libretto, with music by Herman Severin Løvenskiold . The premiere took place on 28 November 1836, with the prodigy Lucile Grahn and Bournonville in the principal roles. The Bournonville version has been danced in its original form by the Royal Danish Ballet ever since its creation and remains one of Bournonville's most celebrated works. Modern interpreters of Bournonville's version include Eva Evdokimova and Lis Jeppesen , whose performance

777-514: The girl, who reminded her of herself as a young woman. In 1892, Marius Petipa mounted a revival of Taglioni's original La Sylphide for the Imperial Ballet , with additional music by Riccardo Drigo . A variation Drigo composed for the ballerina Varvara Nikitina in Petipa's version is today the traditional solo danced by the lead ballerina of the famous Paquita Grand Pas Classique. In 1972,

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814-468: The glade. James is stunned. James directs his gaze heavenward; he sees the sylph borne aloft by her sisters. James collapses. Madge exults over his lifeless body. She has triumphed. John Barnett 's 1834 opera The Mountain Sylph is based on the storyline of La Sylphide ; this opera's plot was in turn satirized by W. S. Gilbert in the 1882 Savoy opera , Iolanthe . La Sylphide is often confused with

851-648: The great ballerinas to grace the stage of the Opéra during this time were Marie Taglioni , Carlotta Grisi , Carolina Rosati , Fanny Elssler , Lucile Grahn , and Fanny Cerrito . In 1858 the Salle Le Peletier was the setting for one of the most famous games in the history of Chess , the Opera Game between the American master Paul Morphy (White) and two French aristocrats, the Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard. The game

888-412: The incident and promises to forget it. James' bride-to-be, Effie, arrives with her mother and bridesmaids . James dutifully kisses her, but is startled by a shadow in the corner. Thinking his sylph has returned, he rushes over, only to find the witch , Old Madge, kneeling at the hearth to warm herself. James is furious with disappointment. Effie and her friends beg Old Madge to tell their fortunes, and

925-590: The role of Lacotte's version at the Opera National de Paris include Ghislaine Thesmar (Lacotte's wife) and Aurelie Dupont . Both artists have recorded their work on DVD and video. The Danish ballet master August Bournonville had intended to present a revival of Taglioni's original version in Copenhagen with the Royal Danish Ballet , but the Paris Opera demanded too high a price for Schneitzhoeffer's score. In

962-459: The scarf about the sylph's shoulders and arms for full effect. James is ecstatic. When the sylph returns and sees the scarf, she allows James to place it around her trembling form. As James embraces the sylph passionately, her wings fall off, she shudders, and dies in James' arms. Sorrowfully, her sisters enter and lift her lifeless form. Suddenly, a joyful wedding procession led by Effie and Gurn crosses

999-524: The spot where the chapel would have been built. The Salle de la rue de Richelieu had been the principal venue of the Paris Opera since 1794. Very soon after the death of his nephew in February 1820, the king commissioned the architect François Debret to design a new theatre for the Opéra on the Rue Le Peletier , which was completed one year later. During the construction the opera and ballet companies occupied

1036-413: The sylph materializes before him and confesses her love. She weeps at his apparent indifference. James resists at first, but, captivated by her ethereal beauty, capitulates and kisses her tenderly. Gurn, who spies the moment from the shadows, scampers off to tell Effie what has happened. When the distressed Effie and her friends enter after hearing Gurn's report, the sylph disappears. The guests assume Gurn

1073-510: The tragic heroines of the Romantic era, namely Giselle and La Sylphide , her repertoire encompassed about 150 roles ranging from classical to contemporary works. The last dance created for her (by choreographer Henning Rübsam ) in 2002, prompted New York Times critic Jennifer Dunning to comment, "Both the solo and her performance were celebrations of the kind of artistry that comes only with maturity and experience." The first American to win any international ballet competition, Evdokimova won

1110-402: The witch complies. She gleefully informs Effie that James loves someone else and she will be united with Gurn. James is furious. He forces Madge from the hearth and throws her out of the house. Effie is delighted that James would tangle with a witch for her sake. Effie and her bridesmaids hurry upstairs to prepare for the wedding, and James is left alone in the room. As he stares out the window,

1147-441: The woodland for James. They enter the glade. Gurn finds his hat, but Madge convinces him to say nothing. Effie enters, weary with wandering about the forest. Madge urges Gurn to propose. He does and Effie accepts his proposal. When they all have left, James enters the glade. Madge meets him, and tosses him the magic scarf. She tells the young farmer the scarf will bind the sylph to him so she cannot fly away. She instructs him to wind

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1184-613: Was an American Prima Ballerina Assoluta with the Royal Danish , Berlin Opera Ballets, English National Ballet and guest artist with virtually every major ballet company worldwide. Born in Geneva, Switzerland to Evdokim Evdokimov, a stateless Bulgarian-American father (1919-2008), ]] [father andUnited States|American]] mother, Thora Mary Hatten (1914-1991). Evdokimova, an America an American citizen from birth, began her ballet studies as

1221-542: Was coached by Natalia Dudinskaya , the American Ballet Theatre , and the Paris Opera Ballet . She was frequently paired with Nureyev. Their partnership lasted over fifteen years and they performed hundreds of times together. After a performance with the Kirov Ballet she was awarded the title " Prima Ballerina Assoluta ." Subsequently, she was billed that way internationally. In addition to her interpretations of

1258-514: Was fatally stabbed on the night of 13 February 1820 in front of the former theatre of the Paris Opera, the Salle de la rue de Richelieu , the king decided that the theatre would be demolished in order to build a commemorative chapel in its place. However, the project to build a chapel was never carried out due to the 1830 revolution . Today the Fontaine Louvois in the Square Louvois occupies

1295-565: Was not merely an acrobatic stunt, often involving ungraceful arm movements and exertions, as had been the approach of dancers in the late 1820s. Marie was known for shortening her skirts in the performance of La Sylphide (to show off her excellent pointe work), which was considered highly scandalous at the time. The ballet's libretto was written by tenor Adolphe Nourrit , the first "Robert" in Meyerbeer 's Robert Le Diable , an opera which featured Marie Taglioni in its dance section, Ballet of

1332-428: Was played in the Duke's private box during a performance of Bellini's Norma . On the night of 29 October 1873, the Salle Le Peletier met the same fate as many of its predecessors: it was destroyed by a fire which raged for 27 hours, believed to have been started by the theatre's innovative gas lighting. Fortunately, in 1858 Emperor Napoleon III had hired the civic planner Baron Haussmann to begin construction on

1369-564: Was used for the first time in order to light the stage effects in Nicolas Isouard 's opera Aladin ou La Lampe merveilleuse . The stage and orchestra pit were able to be removed in order to transform the auditorium into a massive hall which could accommodate large balls and other festivities. Along with the Ballet of Her Majesty's Theatre in London , the Salle Le Peletier played host to the heyday of

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