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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tastefully executed minimalistic masterpiece!, December 26, 2006
This review is from: Roland Petit - Notre-Dame de Paris / Isabelle Guerin, Nicolas Le Riche, Laurent Hilaire, Manuel Legris, Paris Opera Ballet (DVD)
"Notre-Dame" has been brought to stage and screen countless times, and every time the director/choreographer is faced with the same challenge - the recreation of the cathedral. One either recreates the cathedral in great detail (think the black and white film versions) or uses minimalistic symbols such as statues and gargoyles (think the French-Canadian rock opera by Cocciante). It's hard to find middle ground. In this particular production the cathedral is reduced to a backdrop screen with a rectangular shape drawn upon it. This set design is very effective, because it goes along with the very clean, minimalistic production. The costumes are very tasteful and flattering. They do not distract from the unfolding drama. The viewer's attention is focused on the main characters.
I was especially impressed by Quasimodo. He does not have much in terms of makeup. He does not have a prosthetic hump. All of his physical deformities are conveyed by the movements of the lead dancer. Nicholas le Riche is a very handsome and graceful man, and it must have taken a lot of skill to play a deformed bellringer.
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9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Ballet Version Of The Hunchback Of Notre-Dame., April 22, 2006
This review is from: Roland Petit - Notre-Dame de Paris / Isabelle Guerin, Nicolas Le Riche, Laurent Hilaire, Manuel Legris, Paris Opera Ballet (DVD)
Roland Petit has done a fine job choreographing this modern ballet. As it always is with the Paris Opera Ballet, the dancing is fantastic! The camera work is excellent, showing every detail of motion on stage. The sets are interseting, with good stage depth, and the costumes are unusually colorful! Isabelle Guerin(she is also featured in two other POB dvds: the La Bayadere performance dvd and the La Bayadere documentary dvd; see my reviews of them) plays Esmeralda and dances with great feeling and dynamism, as do the others. The choreography is very classical with plenty of modern moves thrown in to impart a surreal feel. The image and sound are super crisp! All ballet fans should enjoy this.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worth it just to see it, June 12, 2009
This review is from: Roland Petit - Notre-Dame de Paris / Isabelle Guerin, Nicolas Le Riche, Laurent Hilaire, Manuel Legris, Paris Opera Ballet (DVD)
Without repeating what others have said about how good this is (and it is) the thought I have is to appreciate being able to see it at all. Given the production values (high) the cast (superb) the sound (excellent) - to be able to watch this piece in 16:9 on a large screen is an absolute delight. And what a performance- Le Riche in a tour de force of dancing and acting with other etoiles of the POB at their best. The only caveat is that some of the camerawork does not show crowd scenes to their best advantage being too low on the screen otherwise this fine production is highly recommended.
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