Product Details

• Format: AC-3, Classical, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: Dutch, German, English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Tdk DVD Video
• DVD Release Date: November 21, 2006
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000IY06A2
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,950 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

LE JEUNE HOMME ET LA MORT - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice dvd release, although why was L'Arlesienne excluded?, November 26, 2006

By 

Ivy Lin (NY NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Roland Petit: Le Jeune Homme et la Mort - Carmen; Opera National De Paris (DVD)

In an age when many ballet companies think that releasing videos will reduce ticket sales, Paris Opera Ballet continues to release wonderful dvd's, including their lavish production of Balanchine's Jewels. This is their latest release, a double-bill of two of Roland Petit's most famous works, Jeune Homme et la Mort and Carmen. As always, the production values are great, the dancing is stylish, and I have few complaints about the videotaping.
Jeune Homme, made in 1946, is a strange ballet. Set to Bach's Passion, it's an intense, macabre ballet. To be blunt, it's somewhat creepy. After a fight with a cold and sinister mistress, a man hangs himself, and the mistress literally turns out to be the Grim Reaper. It stars Nicholas LeRiche and Marie Agnes Gillot. Gillot is an unusual dancer -- extremely tall and wide-boned, with strikingly beautiful features, she dances with bolder strokes than the usually elegant and refined POB etoiles. This makes her perfect for the role as the Mistress. LeRiche is also slightly bigger-boned and more broad-stroked than the POB danseurs, but I would like to see someone else essay this role, as LeRiche has had a virtual lock on all the Petit male roles in videos.
The other Petit offering is the more famous Carmen, which is extremely popular in dance galas. Again, Don Jose is Nicholas LeRiche, but he dances with his real-life wife, the lovely, doe-eyed, petite Clairemarie Osta. As much as I love watching Osta in anything, I feel she's slightly miscast as Carmen. She's kittenish and sexy, but not much of a femme fatale. This Carmen would never be callous enough to drive a man to murder. Nevertheless, the husband and wife team have wonderful chemistry, and, as I said, I'd pay to watch Osta in the chicken dance.
Something irks me: a friend of mine in Europe told me L'Arlessienne was also videotaped and part of a telecast. So why isn't it released on dvd?

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Recomended, April 2, 2008

By 

Madhu Avasarala (Bangalore, India) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Roland Petit: Le Jeune Homme et la Mort - Carmen; Opera National De Paris (DVD)

The reviewers before me have done a splendid job so I will add what I think will maybe additionally helpful:
First of all do buy this DVD as it features dances that are fairly rare and also superbly produced (POB after all).
The Le Jeuene Homme is what I would call a likable modern ballet: The setting is modern but the dancing is classical and so is the music. Note that the theme itself is macabre, featuring suicide. However just like a Dostoevsky work the execution is still finally a celebration of proper human values even if the theme is dark. The virtuosity of Nicholas is extraordinary. There is a moment when he is horizontal in mid air which is a consummation of ballet technique to show sheer spirit through sheer material human effort. This ballet is short and the end is disturbing but nevertheless a treasure to be repeatedly enjoyed.
I know of only 2 productions of Carmen: The one with Baryshnikov (ABT?) and this one. This one is much better - better dancing, better production. Interestingly the interpretation is similar.
All classical ballet lovers should also like this dance.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ONE TREMENDOUS HIT and one acceptable, June 26, 2007

By 

James A. Rosenfield - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Roland Petit: Le Jeune Homme et la Mort - Carmen; Opera National De Paris (DVD)

This is an excellent presentation, although I am far more impressed with LE JEUNE HOMME than CARMEN, which takes up most of the latter two thirds.
The ballet language is very much the same, but it is much more suited for the contemporary (even though done in 1946) existential story of LE JEUNE HOMME. Also, the marvelous Nicolas le Riche is far better used in LE JEUNE. Here the combination of classical technique and pure athleticism is exciting viewing. The first is thrilling; CARMEN drags. Even so, I think this is a valuable item for a dance lover's collection