Houston Ballet Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Stanton Welch’s Giselle

It was an epic weekend for Houston. While the city is known for its diversity and philanthropy, it is also very rich in art and music. This week, Houston Ballet nods to its beginnings as it opens its 2019-2020 season with Giselle. The city, along with Houston’s living legend Lynn Wyatt, was ecstatic to celebrate 50 years of creativity. Houston Ballet has evolved from a Company of 16 dancers to one of 61 dancers with a budget of $33.9 Million and an endowment of $79.2 Million (as of June 2019), making it the country’s fifth largest ballet company.

Giselle is a two-act ballet filled with stunning creations by Italian designer Roberta Guidi di Bagno. The magnificent performance by Yuriko Kajiya, as ‘Giselle’, on September 6 opening night naturally demanded a standing ovation.

In 1967, Giselle was the first full-length ballet performed by Houston Ballet Foundation, and Houston Ballet Artistic Director Stanton Welch AM is fittingly bringing it back to kick off the 50th anniversary season.

“I really wanted to honor what brought ballet to Houston and what inspired this city to build a professional ballet Company,” says Welch.

In my opinion Giselle is one of the finest performances I have seen, and I found myself moving in my seat, swinging along the movements. According to the Ballet, 1,335 yards of tulle were used to make the costumes in ‘Giselle’ which glides you on a magical journey of a story of love, betrayal, and forgiveness.

This performance was dedicated to Mrs. Lynn Wyatt, as production underwriter. Don’t miss Houston Ballet’s celebration of 50 years of creativity and the beginning of the 2019-2020 season with Welch’s Giselle. To learn more and secure your seats, visit HoustonBallet.org or call 713.227.ARTS(2787).

Photos by Amitava Sarkar (2019), Courtesy of Houston Ballet.

Principals Yuriko Kajiya as Giselle, Connor Walsh as Albrecht, and Soo Youn Cho as Myrtha with Artists of Houston Ballet as Wilis in Stanton Welch’s Giselle