Roberto Bolle: An Athlete in Tights [Hardcover]

Roberto Bolle (Author), Bruce Weber (Creator)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 20, 2009

First recognized by Rudolf Nureyev, Roberto Bolle is renowned for his athletic ability, stylistic grace and a sizzling movie star presence. Possessing broad appeal, his performances draw acclaim from the dance world and general public alike. This stunning book is the culmination of a three-year collaboration between Bolle and the photogrpahic superstar Bruce Weber. Weber's masterful images capture the dazzling charisma of a world-class talent.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Indispensable for all lovers of dance

About the Author

Morante, Elsa

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: teNeues; First Edition edition (December 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3832791965
• ISBN-13: 978-3832791964
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 9.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #372,239 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Snore Pie with Yawn Sauce, January 11, 2010

By 

Harry Jordan (NYC, NY USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Roberto Bolle: An Athlete in Tights (Hardcover)

I tried to find the book here in Manhattan and no one had it in stock so I went ahead and ordered it from Amazon. I always preview a photography book before making a purchase, however, since it was Bruce, I figured I couldn't go wrong.

I went wrong.

The book is a 10-page editorial spread spread over 192 pages. It's filled with variations on the same stock Weber images we've seen for the last 30 years - shockingly, the only thing that's missing from the book is the ubiquitous golden retriever.

There's only one killer image in the book and then Bruce goes and dilutes its impact by running the B Version of the shot on the very next page - stunning.

The book has Bruce's tired (at this point in his career) musings and is scattered with unrelated photos that add nothing to the larger presentation. I guess Bruce thinks it looks cool but it's simply pretentious.

It's sad that, at this point in Bruce's amazing career, he can spend three years shooting this guy and come up with such a lame and derivative group of photos that tell me basically nothing about the guy.

Roberto is attractive yet somehow his sex appeal is completely bloodless. Yes, there are some nude shots but even those are perfunctory and about as sexy as Alice Ghostly on "Bewitched". In addition, surprisingly there isn't a single frontal nude shot in the entire book. All the frontal shots (if you can really call them that) have his leg or some object strategically placed to obscure the weinage. Europeans are always lecturing Americans about how uptight we are about nudity yet this Italian dancer appears to be as uptight as someone from Cleveland.

Bruce obviously has great talent but I suspect he's surrounded by people who tell him he's fabulous and no one has the guts (or the taste) to tell him: "Hey Bruce, the pictures suck." If there had been, he'd still be working on this book and teNeues wouldn't have foolishly chosen to publish it.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars NOT AS BAD AS THE OTHER REVIEWS SAID IT WOULD BE, January 21, 2010

By 

G. Gurler (Sydney, AU) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Roberto Bolle: An Athlete in Tights (Hardcover)

Firstly, the reaction one will have to this book completely depends on what that person is expecting. If you're expecting pages of gay Bruce Weber like pictures of Roberto nude and posing in suggestive manners, than this book isnt for you. Nor you if you are expecting a book with pages of texts written by Roberto himself, than this book is also not for you. If you are someone who appreciates Roberto's sculpture like body and just loves to gaze on his beauty than the book is not dissappointing. There are some gorgeous portraits of Roberto that I have'nt seen previously. Most of the photos are a sheer delight to view, absolutely stunning in a artsy sense.

Yes,the book may lack in sex appeal. However to me personaly sex appeal is not essential to be asbolutely stunning and beautiful man, and that Roberto Bolle is. Some pictures are set in Naples, a few of Roberto as a child on stage, a few man to man photos on the beach. Others with women which are more dance oriented. I was actually afraid when after I read a number of reviews where people had expressed their dissapointment that made me regretfull of my purchase. Upon recieving the book I was relieved as I did enjoy the book from front to back and was worth my money. I'm not very familiar with Bruce Weber's work so keep that in mind when judging my appreciation of the book. If you're a major fan of Roberto Bolle'a god like body, purchase the book. If you're a fan of Bruce Weber's work than this book might be dissapointing.

23 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I expected alot more from this book!, December 26, 2009

By 

Anthony cruz "pointer165" (new york, new york USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Roberto Bolle: An Athlete in Tights (Hardcover)

I ordered this book in July 2009 & just received it 12-27-09..of course I PAID IN FULL, IN JULY!!...I can wait..no problem..I am very familiar with Bruce Weber's work... I adore Roberto and have seen him dance several times and joined ABT because of HIM because I was never a ballet fan but now I am.. IF there had been alot more shots of him dancing ,MAYBE???? I'd like the book better.. ....some of the pictures are just sheer beautiful of Roberto...but if this book is about Roberto ..I DO NOT NEED AN ENTIRE INTRO on someone else, pictures of someone else..not at all needed..if you want to express your art Bruce , DO IT WITH YOU OWN CHECKBOOK, not mine!.IF I had seen this book before buying it for this amount of money, I would NEVER have bought it..I really thought this book was totally about Roberto..NOT SO!!..so if you're EVEN THINKING of purchasing this book, I suggest you look at a copy FIRST!..Take a good look at that cover shot...well that is about it...and the shots of him where he has a beard are sexy...but I just think it could have been done 50% better!

Tony(nyc)