Product Details

• Actors: Natalya Bessmertnova, The Bolshoi Ballet, Michail Gabovich, Irek Mukhamedov, Maria Bylova
• Format: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Kultur Video
• DVD Release Date: March 28, 2006
• Run Time: 128 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000EGDBLK
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #72,188 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Spartacus, the story of a Roman slave’s fight for freedom, is one of the great epic adventure stories. Grigorovich’s choreography fills the huge Bolshoi stage with dynamic scenes of tension and conflict, which give full expression to the virility and strength for which Russia’s male dancers are renowned. Irek Mukhamedov brings to the title role a conviction and assurance made possible only by prodigious technique. His partner is Natalya Bessmertnova, supple and expressive in the love scenes, intensely moving in her final grief. The Bolshoi Ballet with music by Aram Khachaturian, and choreography by Yuri Grigorovich. Production Staged By Yuri Grigorovich with Designs By S.B. Virsaladze. Spartacus: Irek Mukhamedov, Crassus: Mikhail Gabovich, Phrygia: Natalya Bessmertnova, Aegina: Maria Bylova, Gladiator: Mikhail Tsivin. Orchestra Of The Bolshoi Theatre, Conductor Alygis Zhyuraitis. "Spartacus is a celebration of male dancing at its most spectacular." THE OBSERVER "Mukhamedov is a dancer of extraordinary technical power and an actor of total dedication." THE GUARDIAN "Even when sitting motionless, Mukhamedov radiates power, and when he bounds the stage he is really awesome." THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nonessential, June 29, 2006

By 

Gary - See all my reviews

This review is from: Khatchaturian - Spartacus / Irek Mukhamedov, Natalya Bessmertnova, Maria Bylova, Yuri Grigorovich, Bolshoi Ballet (DVD)

*If you're reading this review, I assume you have already read the one I wrote about the 1977 film-version of the Spartacus ballet (starring Vasiliev), entitled "A Problematic Film: some remedies". If not, I urge you to read that one first. You can locate it and my reviews about other videos of this ballet in my archives by clicking on my name above.

I will keep the number of words to a minimum. Shot live in 1984, Mukhamedov is a leaner and faster Spartacus here than he is in the 1990 version. His older partner, Bessmertnova, is always elegant as Phrygia, although always somewhat lacking in facial expressiveness. Maria Bylova (Bilova) is already a great Aegina here; she repeats the role with greater precision in the '90 version. Unfortunately, they again cast the horrible Mikhail Gabovich in the role of Crassus (he was also in the '79 version), whose performance is predictably mediocre. Expectedly, the corps de ballet gives a solid performance. Picture and sound quality are generally good in this video, but are still inferior to that of the '90 version.

As I said in one review, I consider the '84 Mukhamedov to be one of the better complete Spartacus videos of the Grigorovich/Bolshoi production out there. However, since the 1990 version--which I deem to be the best of them all--is currently available (also the cheapest among the versions), the present one is superfluous.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spartacus Marches On -- Again!, April 9, 2006

By 

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

This review is from: Khatchaturian - Spartacus / Irek Mukhamedov, Natalya Bessmertnova, Maria Bylova, Yuri Grigorovich, Bolshoi Ballet (DVD)

Well, Irek Mukhamedov has, with this, two Spartacus dvds out. They are both marvelously done. Here, his leading lady is Natalya Bessmertnova as Phrygia(in the other it was Semenyaka). Here, Crassus is played by Mikhail Gobovich(Vetrov in the other), and Aegina is played by the awesome Maria Bylova in both versions. Irek dances with enormous energy and mastery of technique. He has a unique repertoire of choreographic tricks which he generously demonstrates for us every chance he gets. He surely is one of the greatest dancers to come out of Russia. The rest of the cast also put in impressive performances. The sound and image quality are also perfect. This is one of the best choices in Spartacus dvds(the one with Vasiliev, although not as complete, is my other choice).

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "once in a lifetime performance" A Must See!, May 7, 2007

By 

Amanda M (London/Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Khatchaturian - Spartacus / Irek Mukhamedov, Natalya Bessmertnova, Maria Bylova, Yuri Grigorovich, Bolshoi Ballet (DVD)

When I saw this production, my first thought was: Wow! They don't make Men like that very often! Mukhamedov's performance, with his passion, true understanding of the flow of movement and his physical strength, has such beauty and is something you will always remember. For any young (teenage) male dancer in the making and for girls too, this wonderful production will inspire you and let you see what ballet is really about.
Enjoy!