Giselle was slipping through his fingers, and Mr Gomes did an amazing job helping Ms Osmolkina become a real specter, an illusion, a reminder of feelings once lost. Yekaterina Ivannikova as Myrtha, who is usually quite demanding and relentless, that night seemed more merciful, and one could only speculate why the Wilis didn’t let Hans go eventually. Their queen surely seemed inclined to do so. All in all, it was another interesting portrayal of a complex character role which most people take for granted.
The Mariinsky corps de ballet was at its best, and the whole tableaux, among all celebratory events, finally seemed worthy of the genius of storytelling, the one and only Marius Petipa. Pedantic as he was, he probably could have picked some flaws in it, whereas the audience should consider themselves lucky to have enjoyed a show like that.