VIENNA Festival Ballet returns to York next week to present the classical ballets Swan Lake on Tuesday and Giselle on Wednesday at the Grand Opera House.

Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake centres around Prince Siegfried, who, while out hunting, meets with a flock of swans led by a Queen Swan under the evil spell of the magician Baron Rothbart.

The Prince falls in love with the Queen and tries to free all the swans but the magician has a few tricks up his sleeve. Will everything turn out well for the Prince and the Queen?

This production of probably the most popular of all ballets offers specially designed glamorous costumes and beautiful sets that project colour and vitality to enhance the workings of the dancers, the choreographer and the composer.

The romantic ballet Giselle is a tale of innocence, love, betrayal and madness, presented by Vienna Festival Ballet in a traditional staging of Nicholas Beriosoff's 1841 choreography, which moves from the sunny optimism of Giselle’s idyllic village life to an ethereal world of mystery and menace.

Giselle, a young peasant girl, is in love with the handsome Duke Albrecht but when she discovers that he has deceived her, the heartbroken Giselle is driven to madness and death.

By Giselle’s grave in a mist-wreathed forest glade, vengeful spirits of jilted brides led by Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis, force men to dance to their death. Giselle cannot bear to see Albrecht consigned to such a fate and returns as a ghost to save him. At dawn, Myrtha loses her powers and as the sun begins to rise the Wilis are forced back into their graves. After a final farewell, Giselle and Albrecht are parted forever.

Danced to the 19th century music of Adolphe Adam, Giselle will be performed by Vienna Festival Ballet in their 35th anniversary year under the artistic directorship of Austrian dancer Peter Mallek, who attracts blossoming dancers from all over the world.

Tickets for the two 7.30pm performances are on sale on 0844 871 3024 or at atgtickets.com/york