LA SYLPHIDE

Ballet in two acts based on Trilby, ou Le Lutin d'Argail of 1822 by Charles Nodier. A young farmer, James, meets the Sylphide on the eve of his marriage to Effie. He abandons fiancée and friends and follows her to the woods. Made, a witch, presents James with a magic shawl to secutre the Sylphide's love. When the gift is placed on her shoulders the Sylphide loses her wings and dies. The ballet ends with the wedding procession of Effie and her previously rejected suitor Gurn
ORIGINAL PRODUCTION

Composer: Jean Schneitzhöffer
Choreographer: Filippo Taglioni
Designer: Pierre Ciceri (sets); Eugène Lami (costumes)
Première: March 12, 1832, Théâtre de l'Académie
royale de musique (l'Opéra), Paris

NEW PRODUCTION

Composer: Herman L*o*venskjold
Choreographer: Auguste Bournonville
Designer: Christian Christensen (sets and costumes)
Company: The Royal Danish Ballet
Première: November 28, 1836, Royal Theatre, Copenhagen

NEW PRODUCTION

Choreographer: Erik Bruhn, after Bournonville
Designer: Robert Prévost (sets and costumes)
Company: The National Ballet of Canada
Première: December 31, 1964, Toronto, Canada
Nureyev's debut: 1965