Product Details

• Actors: Wilfried Romoli, Nicholas Le Riche, Latitia Pujol, Marie-Agns Gillot
• Directors: Franois Roussillon
• Format: Classical, Color, Widescreen
• Language: Italian (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: French, English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Tdk DVD Video
• DVD Release Date: November 17, 2009
• Run Time: 111 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B002QEXC58
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #210,464 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It'll be a long time before a better Giselle comes along ..., July 8, 2008

By 

Andrew Heenan "Andrew" (London, UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Giselle (DVD)

This is a marvellous version of the ballet, very traditional, rich in mime (done properly, so far as I can tell, but I'm no expert).

The leads are both excellent, Laëtitia Pujol on top form, and with good 'chemistry' between them. Good camera work and direction allows us to see almost all the footwork, with a variety of angles - but no pointless changing angles every few seconds. The company, as ever, is superb, which shows not only in the second act, but in the villagers' dances in the first act too.

Dramatically, Giselle is well portrayed as the innocent maiden, and the 'mad' scene is horribly convincing, while her 'white act' is as good as any you'll find.

Albrecht changes seamlessly from 'bad boy caught out' to concern to guilt and then to horror; nice one, Nicolas Le Riche! Myrta seems technically fine, but not as strong a presence as in some versions, while Hilarion, always an ambiguous character, comes across as little more than a bully; perhaps that's why the Wilis show him no mercy?

Throughout, the direction is smooth, the camera work and lighting is good - though I felt the spotlight following the leads was overly bright and a little distracting in the first act.

I was very impressed by the orchestra and the sound quality; so often ballets on DVD are let down by poor sound

I've probably missed several key points here, but, all-in-all it really is an excellent Giselle; all involved clearly understood the ballet and respect its history and traditions. I suspect it'll be a while before we see a better one!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Giselle (Paris National Opera Ballet), December 2, 2009

By 

Maxwell Whipps (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Giselle [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray)

I have five versions of Giselle, this one, Royal Ballet's blu-ray version, and La Scala's DVD version. This one is second best, which is saying a lot. The staging and choreography is essentially the same as the La Scala version, but the dancing is somewhat better and the photography is far superior. Camera shots are judicious, presenting close-ups when appropriate, and wide angle shots when best. There are no jarring changes of view as is so often the case. The only one I know of that is superior is the 2009 production of the Dutch National Ballet, starring Anna Tsygankova, Jozef Varga, Igone de Jongh, Jan Zerer, Michele Jimenez.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The production many have been waiting for-, June 30, 2008

By 

Todd Nolan (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Giselle (DVD)

Well, here it is. This company knows its good, they wear their confidence so well in every step and gesture. Paris Opera has given us basically a seat in front stage/center, not too close, in a comfortable seat, traditional choreography from those secure enough in their ability that they feel no need to shock, wardrobe and lighting artists that know what's pleasing to the eye, and dancers that are among the best in the world.

Laetitia Pujol's acting matches her note-perfect dancing in the lead and she deserved to be handed this role over some rather heady competition within her own company (Clairemarie Osta, Aurelie Dupont, Isabelle Ciaravola, and Marie-Agnes Gillot who dances/plays Myrtha). Appropriately sweet and girlish in the first act, and equally effective in her mad scene, I wanted to follow her even when she wasn't the center of the action. Gillot, who probably has danced Giselle herself over the last few years with the company, is just as bewitching as Myrtha. (I seem to recall reviewers who either loved the dancer who played Giselle, or the dancer who played Myrtha, but not both---yet one more indication that the wait for this company to produce the classic was a shared hope for many).

I love the first act with its peasant pas de deux more than the second act spectacular of the wilis. While some may feel the first act is a mere prelude for how well the corps can wow the audience, in addition to how well the Giselle can entwine her dancing technique with her acting, the finale is always a little bit anti-climatic for me simply because I love the first act dances so much. Every little detail charms me, and Paris does the details better than anyone. I don't think anyone will quibble with how the second act 'looks'. The lighting and filming of night scenes in ballets can be tight-rope dangerous, but here as in all else IMO, there are no flaws. And yes, that legendary corps lives up to their deserved reputation. This review needs a wordsmith here....all I can think of to say is that they're beautiful. Treat yourself and see this.