Product Details

• Actors: Svetlana Zakharova, Pierre Lacotte, Bolshoi Opera Ballet, Sergei Filin, Maria Alexandrova
• Format: Classical, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: German, English, French, Spanish
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Bel Air Classiques
• DVD Release Date: July 12, 2005
• Run Time: 130 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0009Y26A4
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,243 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfully reconstructed Petipa classic!!!, July 18, 2005

By 

Dances with Kangaroos (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cesare Pugni - La Fille du Pharaon (The Pharoah's Daughter) / Zakharova, Filin, Alexandrova, Yanin, Lacotte, Bolshoi Ballet (DVD)

Finally, this DVD became available at AMAZON, just before the Bolshoi's US tour in July. Filmed on 31st, October 2003 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, with dream cast: Serguei Filin, Svetlena Zakharova, Maria Alexandrova. The Pharoah's daughter was the first full-length ballet Petipa created in St Petersburg, in 1862, seven years earlier than his DQ. But unlike most of his work, such as DQ, la Bayadere, which are still performed in Russia and many other countries nowadays, Pharaoh's daughter was last seen at Moscow in 1928. Nureyev had an idea of restage this Petipa's classic for Paris Opera Ballet, but his early death ended his dream. In 1999, Vasiliev, the director of Bolshoi ballet at that time, commissioned Pierre Lacotte this project, re-construct this ballet for Bolshoi ballet. In this DVD, there is a 13 min documentary film and a 16 min interview with Pierre Lacotte. What I have is the European Pal version DVD. It contains a 32 page illustrated booklet in different languages. I guess this NTSC version will do the same, at least including English booklet that is enough for most of us. So lucky! this disc was not released by KULTUR, who never accompany its DVD with any readable booklet.

Story is a little bit simple. An English man, Lord Wilson, traveled in Egypt, while taking shelter in the Pyramid, he smoked opium, which made him into the dream world. He met and fell in love with Pharaoh's daughter, Aspicia. After adventure and adventure, united with his love before weak up. If you've watched Paris Opera Ballet's Paquita and La Sylphide, which are reconstructed by Pierre Lacotte as well, you will find the choreography is similar in some way. The dancing are so brilliant and disciplined, both principal dancers and corps. Zakharova's fouette is probably the most beautiful Russian fouette I've ever seen. The male part has lots of tour en air and beating (six), very physical demanding. I think the male variations are mainly Pierre's own choreography, since it is beyond the male technique level of 19 century. Let's go back to Petipa, all his original full length ballets have a vision scene, so this one wouldn't miss. It is in Act II, kingdom of river Nile. In fact, the entire ballet seems to be a larger vision.

This is one of the few great performances in recent years released on DVD. I used to have negative view toward Bolshoi ballet more or less because all my impression of this company is from the video series Bolshoi at the Bolshoi, made in 1989-90. Some dances, especially male part, are not so elegant in those old films. But this Pharaoh's daughter is definitely different. The whole company almost reaches Paris opera ballet's level. In the interview, Pierre mentioned he wished to restore the classical Petipa style to Bolshoi ballet by restage Pharaoh's daughter. He's done it. Bravo!

No hesitation! This DVD is a must have by all the ballet fans. Terrific dancing, beautiful costume. You can hear some of Drigo's insertion for other ballets, i.e. Esmeralda, Talisman male variation.

You might be interested in the following link: ballet.co's interview with Pierre Lacotte in 1999 regarding to this production and website of Kirov trained superstar Svetlana Zhakharova.

http://www.ballet.co.uk/magazines/yr_00/aug00/interview_pierre_lacotte.htm
http://www.svetlana-zakharova.com

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Fun Than A Barrel Of Mummies!, November 3, 2006

By 

J. M WILINSKY (teaneck, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cesare Pugni - La Fille du Pharaon (The Pharoah's Daughter) / Zakharova, Filin, Alexandrova, Yanin, Lacotte, Bolshoi Ballet (DVD)

This is one exhilarating ballet! It is packed with choreography of gorgeous, aggressive, and brilliant intensity. Lacotte has attempted to reconstruct this ballet from first hand accounts of dancers who actually remembered when they had danced it long ago, before it fell into obscurity. But he did much more than reconstruct it--he modernized it to reflect the contemporary intensity of classical ballet technique and modern staging techniques. There are an enormous number of solo petit and grand allegri, as well as other types of dances. Lacotte's use of the corps de ballet is wonderful, with a masterful use of angle and space. The costumes are also very well done, and it is amusing to see some ballerinas dancing in Egyptian pencil skirts--not an easy feat!
There is a definite comic undertone to this ballet, including, in fact, some comic solos. If that is not enough to establish the comic mood, there is also a Spanish dance, accompanied by castanets! I'm still trying to figure that one out, but I loved it.
There is one very serious aspect to this ballet, and that is the whole concept of having such a dream in the first place. What does this dream of intense love of someone never encountered in reality mean? Was it really only a dream, or was it beyond that? Could a dream include an entire lifetime of experience? And finally, we are left wondering why doesn't love transcend the confines of the dream? Perhaps I have an overactive imagination and am an incurable romantic, but I felt these issues strongly.
I enjoyed watching this dvd many times over. The intensity always captures my attention. The musical score by Cesare Pugni is also enchanting and romantic, and never fails to inspire.
The dancing itself is of the highest standard, and the acting is very convincing and charming. Zakharova is so sweet and endearing in the use of her mime. I especially loved the way she told her father that she was almost murdered.
The image and sound are at the highest quality level, and the inclusion of half an hour of interviews and rehearsal clips makes this a real keeper!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another beautiful reconstruction by Lacotte, January 8, 2006

By 

Christian Bernard - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cesare Pugni - La Fille du Pharaon (The Pharoah's Daughter) / Zakharova, Filin, Alexandrova, Yanin, Lacotte, Bolshoi Ballet (DVD)

Sound and image quality of this DVD are excellent.
The ballet was unknown to us. We bought it after reading the reviews on Amazon. We are delighted as the dancing by S Zakharova and her partner Filin is superb while set and costumes are magnificent.
Highly recommended