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Editorial Reviews
Frederick Ashton's delightful ballet has proved irresistible to audiences of all ages and The Royal Ballet's production has immediate appeal for newcomers to ballet as well as for those who return time and again to enjoy its lyrical comedy.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I've waited years to own this performance, ever since I taped over the cable TV broadcast. On DVD, it's brighter and better sounding than ever, and viewing it for the first time in many years, I didn't realize how much I missed it. I cannot imagine Leslie Collier in any other role - her Lise is vivacious, charming, and completely unforced and natural. Her rapport with Michael Coleman as Colas is sweetly endearing, and Brian Shaw's performance as the Widow Simone - who dances a wonderful Clog Dance in wooden shoes, right out of the British music hall - is comic perfection. Sir Frederic Ashton has fleshed out the supporting roles brilliantly, each one quirky in their own way. (Just watch Graham Fletcher in the minor role of the Notary's Clerk - very funny indeed!)
The score is conductor John Lanchberry's buoyant adaptation of the music of Frederic Herold, with liberal borrowings from the operas of Rossini and Donizetti, and the orchestrations are splashy, romantic, and altogether delightful. This ballet is one to treasure.
The score is conductor John Lanchberry's buoyant adaptation of the music of Frederic Herold, with liberal borrowings from the operas of Rossini and Donizetti, and the orchestrations are splashy, romantic, and altogether delightful. This ballet is one to treasure.
14 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Sir Frederick Ashton's Fille Mal Gardee may be fluffy (it includes a rooster dance), but it's charming fluff. When the Royal Ballet visited Russia in the early 1960s, Fille Mal Gardee was a huge hit with the Russian audiences. The story is slight, the music (a pretty pastiche of a score, sharp listeners will detect the melodies of Rossini's "Barber of Seville" in Act 1) even slighter. The ballet's storyline centers around a pretty village lass named Lise (Lesley Collier) whose mother Widow Simone is intent on marrying her off to Alain, a simpleton. Lise of course has her beloved, Colas (Michael Coleman). In the end all ends happily, and even Alain is reunited with *his* beloved, an umbrella. Not very deep, yet the whole ballet has an easygoing, down-to-earth appeal. Ashton choreographed many cute, clever moments. How many ballets do heroines get to churn butter and play cat's cradle?
This video, a Royal Ballet performance, is competent without being truly enchanting, and thus the one-star deduction. Both Collier and Coleman dance very well, but they dont really project much youth or joie de vivre. I've seen the recent BBC telecast with Carlos Acosta and Marianela Nunez, and IMO Acosta and Nunez dance with more vigor and charm than Collier and Coleman. Let's hope that performance gets released commercially on dvd.
This video, a Royal Ballet performance, is competent without being truly enchanting, and thus the one-star deduction. Both Collier and Coleman dance very well, but they dont really project much youth or joie de vivre. I've seen the recent BBC telecast with Carlos Acosta and Marianela Nunez, and IMO Acosta and Nunez dance with more vigor and charm than Collier and Coleman. Let's hope that performance gets released commercially on dvd.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This ballet is sweet. I saw it done live in Chicago when my daughters were taking ballet. They insisted I see it and since then it has been my favorite ballet and I have seen many, many different ballets. This one in particular, takes place in the country and on a farm. Even the chickens are en pointe! The musical score is just beautiful, the plot is sweet and if you buy this DVD, you will be charmed throughout.
I did manage to get a copy on VHS a long time ago and have been anxiously awaiting it's arrival on DVD. The sound and video qualities are superb on the DVD.
This is an absolute must for your ballet collection if you have not seen it. Don't let the title discourage you. You will take a magical trip down Lover's Lane in the country.
Another wonderful ballet is "Napoli", equally a favorite of mine. I have Napoli on VHS and will purchase a copy on DVD. This ballet is just beautiful also. If you purchase "La Fille Mal Gardee", also buy "Napoli". You won't regret it, believe me. The music and dancing are gorgeous!
I did manage to get a copy on VHS a long time ago and have been anxiously awaiting it's arrival on DVD. The sound and video qualities are superb on the DVD.
This is an absolute must for your ballet collection if you have not seen it. Don't let the title discourage you. You will take a magical trip down Lover's Lane in the country.
Another wonderful ballet is "Napoli", equally a favorite of mine. I have Napoli on VHS and will purchase a copy on DVD. This ballet is just beautiful also. If you purchase "La Fille Mal Gardee", also buy "Napoli". You won't regret it, believe me. The music and dancing are gorgeous!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A common man's point of view.
This is a very cute ballet, and has a very very cute ballerina in the lead role. Lise, the lead "La Fille" is played by Lesley Collier and her heart throb is played by Michael... Read more
Published on June 28, 2009 by Richard Rawls
Liked it
Had heard this work mentioned many times and seen some scenes of it, but this is my first exposure to the whole thing. Read more
Published on May 23, 2009 by J. A. Urquidi
La Fille Mal Gardée
This is a very good DVD, even being copied from a VHS it is still a very good copy; good sound and image!!!!
Published on February 23, 2008 by Cybelle C. P. Soares
Adorable!
La Fille Mal Gardee is an adorable ballet. The music, choreography, sets, costumes and cast are all perfect. It is a very light hearted ballet with a lot of humer in it. Read more
Published on May 24, 2007 by Irish QT
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