The story behind Le Villi

The Story of Le Villi

Le Villi is an opera that is similar to the classic ballet Giselle. In act I, Anna thinks that she is in love with Roberto, but little does Anna know that Roberto is in love with someone else. Before the end of act I, Roberto pretends to be married to Anna. Instead of there being a mad scene, there is narration that explains what happened between Anna and Roberto, and how Anna died. After the narration, groups of vampire like women (the Willis) take Anna away, and in act II Anna is the queen of the Willis. During act II when Roberto arrives, he is called by the Willis to pay the price for betraying Anna. Roberto shows no form of resistance and is willing to take his punishment of death. In the ballet Giselle, the wilis force the man who betrayed their woman to dance until he dies. In Le Villi, Anna gets her revenge by having the Willis dance around Roberto, using their magical powers until Roberto dies. After Roberto dies, Anna gets her revenge, and the opera ends.