Giselle was first seen in Moscow in 1843. The ballet’s history in Russia since that time has shown a continuous sequence of performances, with Jules Perrot – one of the great originators of the choreography – providing a basic text which has been illuminated by the genius of generations of ballerinas and producers. Giselle is the classic ballet that tells the story of a young, innocent village maiden who is in love with a man she knows only as Loys. In reality, the man is Albrecht, a nobleman disguised as a peasant, who is betrothed to Bathilde, daughter of the Duke. The ballet roles in Giselle are some of the most sought-after, as the choreography demands technical perfection and outstanding lyricism, as well as great dramatic skill. The Russian National Ballet Theatre, Directed by Elena Radchenko, is a cut above many of its rivals maintaining the Russian tradition of scrupulous production and loving concern for this gem of the Romantic ballet.