Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis

Adèle Dumilâtre (1821-1909) as Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis

Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis (sometimes spelled Myrta) is a character from the famous Romantic ballet, Giselle which premiered at the Paris Opéra's Salle Le Peletier on 28 June 1841. This ballet was choreographed by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot and the role of Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis was first performed by ballerina Adèle Dumilâtre.

History of the character

The character of Myrtha is somewhat enigmatic, but what the libretto of the ballet Giselle seems to tell us is that she, as the queen of the vengeful, ghost-like wilis (pronounced willees), holds ultimate power over the magical sisterhood. The wilis do her bidding in the Bavarian forest each night between twilight and dawn, seeking only male prey whom they force, with the help of seemingly magical mistletoe twigs, to dance until their hearts give out—or at least until they are so weak that a few wilis can throw them into a lake if there one is conveniently located nearby.

The Legend

A wili is a vengeful, ghostlike creature who was a young virginal woman who has died before her wedding day. This ballet has its origins in a concept by poet and critic, Théophile Gautier, in collaboration with the dramatist Saint-Georges. They took their inspiration from the theme of a Slavic legend known as the "Wiles" or "Wilis" described in the poems of Heinrich Heine. According to Heine, "the Wilis are affianced maidens who have died before their wedding day, but are unable to rest peacefully in their graves, since they could not satisfy during life their passion for dancing. Hence at midnight they rise up and gather in bands on the highway, and lure any young man they meet to fancy with them until he falls dead."

External links

• An eight minute video of Myrtha and the Wilis dancing their mysterious nightly ceremony