Production by National Ballet of China 

Producer: Feng Ying

Composer: HermanSeverin Løvenskiold

Choreographer: August Bournonville

NewStaging: Eva Kloborg and Frank Andersen

Assistantto New Staging: Sasha Evtimova

Répétiteurs: Xu Gang, Yu Guohua, Chen Li'e, Wang Hao, Liu Qi, Wang Sizheng, Wang Qi

Stage Designer:Mikael Melbye

Lighting Designer: Jørn Melin

World Premiere: Royal Danish Ballet, Copenhagen,November 28th, 1836

NBC Premiere: Beijing Exhibition Hall Theater,September 21st 1999

LA SYLPHIDE

Libreto: Auguste Bournonville,1836 - Frank Andersen,2015

ACT  1

A spacious room in a farm house. In the background, adoor and, to the right a window and further right a staircase leading to the sleeping chamber. To the left, a fireplace. Dawn.

James is asleep in a large armchair. The Sylphide is kneeling at his feet with her hand beneath her chin; She expresses the joy shefeels in being near the one she loves.

The Sylphide now approaches him and lightly blowing hishair. He suddenly wakens and pursues her around the room as far as to the fireplace, into which the Sylphide vanishes.

Beside himself at the sight of the vision, James comesto himself again.

The Farmhands and the servants are now beginning to make everything ready for the wedding between Effy and James. His mother, Anna,brings in Effy. Gurn is immediately at her service. He gives her a bouquet offresh wildflowers. Effy rather absent-mindedly accepts his compliment, thensees James and goes over to ask him what he is brooding about. He begs her to forgive him for being so distracted and assures her that he is really veryhappy, now that he shall be united to the one he loves. Effy accepts his explanation.

Girlfriends of Effy, come to surprise and congratulatethe loving couple. They bring presents for the bride.

James once more becomes lost in thoughts. Anna remindshim about the tradition and she brings forward the family plaid that shallensure their engagement, and then he presents it to Effy. Now they approachesthe fireplace - but what he does see! A loathsome figure! Madge, thefortuneteller. 'What are you doing here?' 'I am warming myself by the fire!''Get away from here, witch! Your presence is an evil omen.' James is about todrive her away from the house, but Effy and the girls plead for her. Gurn bidsher to be seated and offers her a glass of spirits, which she greedilyswallows.

Madge knows hidden things. The girls surround thewitch and hold out their hands to have her predict their fortunes. Finally,Effy asks Madge if she will be happy in marriage. 'Yes!' is the answer. 'Butwith James' 'No!' - James begs Effy not to believe this hateful old woman. Gurnalso gets the desire to question Madge. 'Ah!' she says, 'this man loves you,Effy, with his heart, and you will soon come to realize the fact that you shallmarry him.' James now becomes furious, seizes the fortuneteller, and hurls herto the door. Now Effy and her girlfriends calm James by reassuring him thatthey do not believe at all in the prophecy. The friends are leaving andEffy blows James a parting kiss on her way to her room from the top of the stairs.

James is alone, but by a gust of wind, the Sylphide issuddenly standing in the open window, melancholy and sad, as if she has beenweeping. He asks the cause of her grief, and she finally confesses that hisunion with Effy constitutes her misfortune; from the first moment she saw himher fate was joined to his. James has listened to her with mounting agitation.He is touched by the Sylphide's love, but does not dare to return it. Effy hasreceived his vow: his heart belongs to her alone. The Sylphide reactsdesperately. James cannot hide his confusion; he does not understand whatsorcery is controlling him; but despite his love for Effy, he is enraptured bythe Sylphide, and she expresses the liveliest joy. Finally the Sylphide has wrapped herself in Effy's plaid, andwhen he sees her, he finds that she is reminding him of his beloved. James isintoxicated at this sight.

Gurn, who has come into room again, seeing Jamesacting very strange and running about in the room following a flying scarf. Itis understood, that only James can see the Sylphide. He now hastens to acquaintEffy with everything that has happened. James now hears a noise he hides theSylphide in the armchair and covers her with the plaid. Gurn has summoned Effyand Anna in order to take the bridegroom by surprise. Effy does not understandthe situation and James feels relieved. Anna is asking Gurn what is going on, buthe simply answers that James is mad. Anna shows him away.

All the villagers now arrive to celebrate thebetrothal of James and Effy. The young ones enjoy merry dancing. James is sodistracted that he forgets to ask his bride to dance. But in the midst of thedance, he perceives the Sylphide, who shows herself to him alone, and Effy andthe guests show concern for his behavior.

Effy is now being prepared for the wedding andeveryone surrounds her with congratulations. James is alone in melancholy. Hestands apart from the others with the betrothal ring in his hand. The Sylphideemerges and snatches the ring from him. The Sylphide is looking so beautiful,that James cannot resist her sensuality anymore. They depart for the hillstogether.

Now the wedding toast is being given and they summonthe bridegroom, but he is nowhere to be found. General astonishment. Everybodyis looking for James, and Gurn, running in from outside, claims that he hasseen him flee to the hills. Effy remembers what Madge has told and is plungedin grief.

ACT  2

The forest at night. A dense fog permits only aglimpse of the foremost trees and cliffs.

Madge is meeting with other witches. They dance aboutthe fire in a circle, but Madge calls them to work. They now work their spell ona rose-colored drapery, whilst dancing. The spell is complete. They drink afarewell, and the flock of witches disappears into the cave.

Dawn gives way to sunrise, and the landscape presentsa charming blend of woods and mountains. The Sylphide leads James from amountain path. This is her domain. Here she will live for the one she loves.James is enraptured with delight and admiration. The Sylphide seems to fathomhis every desire and refreshes him with fruits and spring water. James forgets everything for the one he loves. He follows the Sylphide in her easy flight,and their dancing blends together in harmony. This is their happiest moments.

The Sylphide is constantly trying to impress him andat a signal all her sisters come into view through the bushes. Their dancingand delightful groupings arouse James's enthusiasm. He is more than ever takenwith the Sylphide, but she eludes his embrace and leaves. Anxious andgrief-stricken, James cannot remain alone but rushes after the enchantingcreature.

Gurn and his friends come into view on the hill alongwith Effy and Anna. They seek and question one another about the run away, butuntil now their search has been fruitless. They spread out, and Gurn discoversa hat. It belongs to James. He is about to call the others, but at that momentMadge appears, seizes the hat, and flings it away. Gurn is frightened by thewitch's sudden appearance, but she calms him and orders him to be silent andclever. Madge now tells Effy, that her prophecy will be fulfilled; for Gurn,that fine, goodhearted young fellow, is destines by fate to be Effy's husband.Effy, although deeply distressed, is nevertheless moved by the slighted Gurn'saffection and allows him to escort her home. Madge remains alone.

James returns without having overtaken the Sylphide.His heart is a prey to regret and despair. He sees Madge and readily tells hereverything and sees the rose-colored drapery, that hangs from her waist.'Please give me that, so I can give it to the Sylphide.' 'I cannot give to theeand you cannot buy it: 'Give it me! In return I will bestow upon you all that Ipossess.' Kneeling James begs her to forgive him for his hardness and to givehim life through the possession of the Sylphide. Madge suffers herself to bemoved and meaningfully hands him the rose-colored scarf. 'Believe in its powerand you shall succeed! Entwine her with this gauze. Then her wings will dropand she is yours forever.' Beside himself with joy and gratitude, James kissesthe scarf and gives Madge thousand expressions of thanks.

He sees the Sylphide and waves the scarf; She sees itand pleads for the pretty scarf, which he purposely refuses her. She begs himfor it promises never more to flee from him. Greedily, she reaches for thescarf, but at the same instant he twists it about her so tightly that shecannot move her arms. The Sylphide is captured and James presses her to him inexcitement but she pushes him away from her. Her wings are now falling off.James is first now realizing what he has done. The Sylphide puts her hand toher heart as if she felt mortally wounded. "Take your wedding ring. Makehaste, return it. You can still marry her whom you loved before me. Farewell! Idie with hope of your future happiness.' The Sylphide's strength is decreasinglittle by little. The sylphs, her sisters, surround her, and in their arms shebreathes forth her spirit. The Sylphs veil the beloved body and carry it awaythrough the air.

At this moment the Madge enters to rejoice at James's despair and counters his reproaches with the icy laughter of revenge. She points to the background, where Gurn is leading Effy to the altar. Overcome with grief, the unfortunate James casts yet another look at his airy mistress and falls to the ground in a swoon.