Review: Dorothée Gilbert's livestreamed adieu - retiring at her prime
Updated: 1 hour ago
There is nothing better than going to a theatre and watch a live ballet performance. However, when Dorothée Gilbert's final show before her retirement was announced and by the time I checked the Paris Opera's website, the show was already sold out.
It was not unexpected. I felt disappointed nonetheless. So, when Paris Opera announced Gilbert's adieu would be live broadcasted on its online streaming platform, Paris Opera Play, from Palais Garnier, it was a no-brainer. I reactivated my account and paid the monthly subscription fee of €9.90.
Gilbert is from Toulouse, South of France. She joined the Paris Opera Ballet School in 1995 and the company in 2000. In November 2007, she was promoted to an Étoile, the highest rank of Paris Opera Ballet's active dancers. The official retirement age for Paris Opera Ballet dancers is 42-1/2 years.
As a personal memory, I watched her performance live on stage in Tokyo many years ago. It was not a part of a Paris Opera Ballet tour but it was a small gala concert. She was a Sujet back then. But she was already being talked about as a future Étoile. And I understood why and simultaneously did not understand why. I understood because her star quality was undeniable. She executed highly technical steps beyond effortlessly as though they were nothing and she engaged the audience. She was mesmerising. That was the only time I saw her on stage. On the other hand, I never understood why some dancers had star quality and others did not despite the fact that everyone's technical level was pretty even in a world class ballet company like Paris Opera Ballet.
That was the only time I saw her on stage. But I feel privileged about this experience.
Anyhow, I learned how to switch the internet broadcasting on the TV in advance and I sat on the cosy sofa in my living room in the evening of 15th October 2026. Gilbert's swan song was Manon in Kenneth MacMillan's L'Histoire de Manon, or Manon with other companies, alongside Hugo Marchand as Des Grieux, Thomas Docquir as Lescaut and Bianca Scudamore as Lescaut's mistress (splendid). This was also the opening of my 2026-2027 ballet watching season.
And I was glued to the TV screen. What a performance. This happens when the story and ballet techniques fuse seamlessly.
It was obvious that Gilbert was at her prime. She became Manon as if she was breathing air. Ballet techniques were so natural that she did not make them look like classical ballet techniques. I had seen Manon numerous times but it was probably the first time for me to see Manon as a 15-year-old in the ballet as in Antoine François Prévost's book. She was native, yet so happy with attention from men in the sophisticated Paris society. She knew she was in the centre of the admiration but her mental development did not keep up with it. And do not forget other cast members were absolutely superb. They were all true to their respective character roles. It was gripping to see Manon, her brother and her lover spiralling into tragedy completely out of control. It was probably one of the best story telling ballet performances I have ever seen.
In the intermission, Gilbert's recorded interviews were broadcasted. She told that how she and Marchand, who was about ten years younger than her, grew together through performing many roles together including Manon, how they trusted each other as partners on stage and how easily they could get into the characters without thinking about techniques because they were there. I was glad I was not wrong. You can watch the same interview here. The Pointe magazine published an interview with her on 12th October. She talked about the similar subjects.
Then, it always boils down to the same question. Does a world-class artist like her really have to retire from the stage? To me, the answer is no. But to her, it seems the answer is yes. She has danced with Paris Opera Ballet for more than 25 years. It was time for her to step back and take a breath. One day, she might come back to ballet.
Are audiences ready to let her go? I am not sure. The curtain calls lasted forever. The live broadcast cut it off after about 40 minutes but it was still going. I do not know how long it lasted in the theatre. It was also pleasure to see many Paris Opera Ballet legends - she jumped on Manuel Legris - together on stage. Also, she threw her pointe shoes into audience seats. I wish I had been there!
Gilbert's adieu performance is available on Paris Opera Play until 14th November 2026.