Customer Reviews

Australian Ballet [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a far better interpretation than the older Bolshoi performance that was recorded in the 1970s on murky Russian film stock. The choreography and dancing in that version were dull to say the very least - cinematography and editing uninspired and choppy, respectively. It was also half an hour shorter than this performance.

This newer version with the Australian Ballet is superbly choreographed and strongly danced. It is perhaps the most virile ballet performance every captured on film or videotape. This is a videotaped performance and is overwhelmingly powerful and passionate. The male dancers are all quite strikingly handsome and every movement is devoid of the "elegance" and effeminacy in the earlier Bolshoi performance. This is rugged, but in its sheer masculinity, it is a tribute to the beauty of the male body in movement.

This screams to be converted to DVD before the VHS goes out of print.

Khatchaturian's music, the dancers and the choreography are sublime. I assign 4 stars because there is nothing to fault the performance. However, this video is disappointing because it is so dark. The stage backgrounds are dark as to be unimaginable. The lighting often seems to simulate deep twilight and only very partial outlines of the dancers are visible. Sometimes you can barely distinguish forms and movement. I found I got tired straining to see.

This ballet is beautifully performed from beggining to end. The dancers perfectly portray the story of Rome, war, and love. Spartacus is a wonderful ballet that I have watched many times. If you enjoy this you should see other ballets by this title.

This video is enchanting. With a mixture of fantasy and original songs, it is another hit from Cannon Videos.