Customer Reviews

The Perfect Partnership - Fonteyn and Nureyev

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Though I have some quibbles with some of the content chosen for this documentary, overall I highly recommend 'Fonteyn and Nureyev: The Perfect Partnership' as a wonderful souvenir for fans of this legendary partnership.
The real 'draws' of this video are, IMO:
- long stretches of Marguerite and Armand, which was THEIR ballet and until recently hadn't been performed by any other dancers.
- rehearsal footage of F&N, just to see how much these two dancers enjoyed dancing together.
- bootlegged videos of the two of them during their curtain calls. The rain of roses is something to see.
- dress rehearsal footage of 'Birthday Offering.' You get an idea of how brutally demanding the ballet profession is, when after a seemingly perfect variation, the rehearsal coaches says sternly, "Margot, you want to do that again?" And this was *the* most famous ballerina in the world!
- some newsreel footage of F&N after they were busted during a party at Haight Ashbury. First of all, the thought of Margot Fonteyn, perfectly coiffed with a fur coat, smoking up at a wild Haight Ashbury party is priceless. Then the scene of them getting into a cab, and the two of them impatiently tapping the cabbie to drive off, is pretty amusing.
- an interview with Keith Money that I thought was wonderful. He relates an anecdote about a dress rehearsal that went very poorly, and Margot declaring "Keith thinks I should retire RIGHT NOW instead of after lunch."

Some things I thought they could have left out:
- extended clips from Les Sylphides, Romeo and Juliet, and Le Corsaire. Especially R&J. All of these clips are widely available elsewhere, in their entirety. Les Sylphides and the Corsaire pdd are available in "An Evening with the Royal Ballet," and the complete Romeo and Juliet is available on video as well.
- an interview with Rudolf Nureyev in which he relates how he felt marginalized by the Royal Ballet after Fonteyn finally retired.

Stuff I wish they had added:
- the complete pas de deux from Act II of Giselle that was filmed for television following F&N's legendary Giselles in 1962. I've seen excerpts of this footage, but never the whole thing together. I wish this could have been the dvd to show the entire pdd, but oh well.

Overall, though, as I said, this was a wonderful souvenir for fans of F&N, among which I count myself. Every time I see a photo or video clip of them dancing together, I remember Nureyev saying that they danced with "one body, one soul." And they were there for each other until the very end, when Nureyev was dying of AIDS and Fonteyn of cancer. What a beautiful couple they were.

Once again it is refreshing to see such videos that are important historical accounts of ballet dancers. Margot Fonteyn, the lady of the dance world, and Nureyev, a maverick, formed such a pair and complemented each other so well and this is clear from watching this footage. Both gained much from the partnership, Fonteyn becoming more bold and passionate and Nureyev absorbing all of her proper schooling. The dancing was wonderful but more importantly, the descriptions of how they worked together to become a dance couple of the highest attainable quality make this a worthwhile addition to any dance library.

What a treasure! A fascinating history of the incredible dancing careers of two of the biggest stars in the world of ballet. Fonteyn and Nureyev were extraordinary in their dynamic dancing, with fire, energy and virility coming through on the part of Nureyev. I for one am very glad that Nureyev defected from Russia while on tour in France. Otherwise, many of us would never have the opportunity to witness and enjoy his incredible dancing abilities. His grace, presentation and leaps leave me breathless and in awe. The commentaries by people from the world of ballet are very interesting and informative. A wonderful addition to anyone's music library, not just for the beauty of the ballet, but for the history of their work together in a ballet partnership to be long remembered.

That overworked word "magical", seems to be the only appropriate one.
Their artistry and chemistry was mesmerizing. I understand that an updated, enhanced edition was made and I would love to have it, if available.


Wanda G.- Chicago

I vividly remember watching this documentary in about 1993 on PBS. The documentary has about 30 extra minutes that is not included on this release. It went into greater detail about the final years of Fonteyn and Nureyev's partnership (even footage from these years). For some reason, BBC documentaries are often trimmed when released onto DVD/video in the States. It would be nice if this would be released.

I strongly recommend this DVD,
both Fonteyn and Nureyev are magnificant here.
What a sparkling performance!!
Especially the excerpt from "Marguerite and Armand"
- that is pure magic!!!
So don't miss this...I repeat: PURE MAGIC!!!
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Loved it loved it but downgraded it one star for not being as good as a similar story, maybe even the same story, as I saw on PBS.

I enjoyed this film. Its easy to understand. It has clips throughout of some of their original performances which are a treat to those of us who never got to see them live. I definately recomend this to all ballet lovers. Its any important piece of history that needs to be known.

If you didn't live it you will in this DVD. "Electric" was the only descriptor one can implement to accurately define this partnership. Often I have shared this DVD with yet to be ballet artists that instantly are captivated with the completion of an electric circuit found with the novice Nureyev and the older established prima ballerina Fonteyn. Through the support of their personal photographer, Keith Money, the viewer is permitted some discrete inside information that adds reality to their true characters. Within this recording is a rare piece of filmed "Camilla" as well as their arrests in the California. True hearts of the sixties was the magic found between this extraordinary dance couple.
Within any partnership one leads while the other follows. Within a workable partnership the leader alters to follower when the occasion arises for no one is consistently correct. Please take the time to discover such partnerships in novel form. As always it is best to go in order:
Hear the Calliope: A sentimental journey on the Earth Ride
Legacy: Let the games begin (Volume 2)
Reason Void of Reason: Spirituality Honeymoon Style (Volume 3)
BREATHE: Noumenon (Volume 4)

As a long time fan of Margot, this documentary about her time with Rudoph Nureyev was definately worth a watch. Any one interested in dance and Fonteyn will love it.