La Sylphide - Bolshoi - Act I

Bolshoi Theatre 2010. Ekaterina Krysanova - Sylph, Andrey Merkuriev - James, Anna Antropova - Effie, Gennady Yanin - Madge, with artists of The Bolshoi ballet. Music by Herman von Lovenskjold, Choreography by Johan Kobborg and August Bournonville. Act I a Scottish manor-house. The morning of James’s marriage to Effie, he is asleep in his armchair. A winged figure is kneeling by his side. She kisses him and he wakes up, confused. Enchanted by the vision of the Sylph, he attempts to capture her, but she escapes. Troubled, James wakes his companions but none of them have seen the Sylph. Gurn, James’s rival, arrives and learns that James is infatuated with someone other than Effie. The preparations for the wedding are in full swing. James hardly notices Effie; instead she is wooed by Gurn whom she ignores. James joins in the preparations but gradually realizes that, as Effie dreams more and more of the wedding, his own dreams are of the Sylph. An old woman, Madge, has slipped into the hall. James, sensing that she is a sinister presence, takes an immediate dislike to her and cannot bear to see her sitting where he last saw the Sylph. He orders her to leave but Effie calms him and persuades him to let Madge tell the fortunes of some of the guests. Madge prophesies that Effie will marry Gurn, and James, furious at this, threatens Madge, who curses him. Effie runs off to dress for the wedding, leaving James alone and in turmoil. The Sylph again shows herself to James and declares her love for him. Gurn enters and, believing that he may have caught James talking to another woman, attempts to reveal the situation to Effie but fails. As the wedding festivities begin, the Sylph reappears and, unable to resist her enticements, James follows her into the forest. Effie is left brokenhearted.

[@sofiabn1103]

Another beautiful performance! :)
Thank you very much, dear!
I wait for the 2nd act!

[@raoulbanzon]

Lousy cameraman though. Missed some important parts