Adolphe Adam is best known as the composer of Giselle which is in every ballet company’s repertory. Equally successful and popular in its day was the earlier Jolie Fille de Gand which here receives its world premiere recording. With its bright melodies, striking rhythms and colourful orchestration, Jolie Fille de Gand deserves to be as well known as Giselle. The ballet opens and closes in Ghent where the heroine Beatrix is about to marry Benedict. She is distracted from this by the attention of the Marquis of San Lucar and a central dream sequence that demonstrates the folly of elopement. All ends happily with dismissal of the Marquis and marriage to Benedict imminent.