Customer Reviews

Sleeping Beauty [VHS]

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

 

 

The uppers:
This was such a great performance of this ballet. The camera angles helped compliment the dancers and Larissa is adorable as Princess Aurora. The set, costumes, and corps helped to accent the principle dancers. The choreography was well done to the music and the orchestral balance was fine tuned. They also included all the most memorable songs and themes. Many movie verson cut some out due to available tape time, but this one kept to the original main themes.

The downers:

They tried to add some Computer Graphics at one point that was rather annoying, but they did not interfere with the ballet so it is permissible. They DID happen to cut off the corps at some points and the corps got rejected for more intricate choreography, and they repeated their movements quite a bit. Still, it is one of the better corps parts that I have seen.

*I hope that you enjoy this ballet and that this review was helpful to you!

Tchaikovsky's second ballet, presented at a prestigious Russian theater in the 1880's, became successful and standard for ballet dancers and is still a ballet enjoyed by many in several levels. It is the age-old Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. Aurora is the princess under the curse of a wicked fairy, doomed to sleep forever until a prince awakens her with a kiss. Bits and pieces of the Tchaikovsky score was used in the 50's Dysney animated film, Sleeping Beauty. This DVD is visually striking and the Russian ensemble who perform the ballet are exceptional. The costumes are gorgeous, true to the French-style that Tchaikovsky was going for when he wrote this (he was said to be modeling the court of King Louis XIV). The principal dancers in the roles of Aurora and Prince Desire, as well as the evil fairy, express themselves fully in their solos. Fancy footwork, pas de deux, lavish corp and the ensuing divertissements in Aurora and the Prince's wedding are fine examples of how great the ballet is visually on DVD and in the hands of the Russians.

Act I begins with the theme associated with the evil fairy, dark, powerful and fatalistic, but is subdued when the hopeful, romantically melodic theme of the Lilac Fairy (Aurora's fairy godmother) erupts into a glorius introduction. The kingdom prepares for Aurora's christening (The March) and congregate in the hall of the castle. The fairies endow the child with special qualities, beauty, grace, song, etc..keep in mind this is not all that different from the Dysney film or the fairy tale. When the Lilac Fairy is about to bestow her gift on the baby, the evil fairy and her minions storm the castle and the evil fairy rages in her fury about not being invited. In revenge, she casts a dark spell on the child. She will prick her finger on a pointy spindle and die. Of course, the Lilac Fairy offers hope and reverses some of the spell. Aurora will sleep and not die, awaken only after the kiss of her true love prince. Also, the entire kingdom will sleep with her. Act 2 features Aurora as a young woman who is awakening to her femininity, celebrating her sixteenth birthday, surrounded by loving and doting parents and many interested princely suitors. The Waltz, the Rose Adagio and Aurora's Death are the highlights. In the final act, the Prince, with the help of the Lilac Fairy, defeats the evil fairy, penetrates the castle and awakens the sleeping beauty with a kiss. Their wedding features many characters from fairy tales, including Cinderella and Puss'N'Boots. The Apotheose ends gloriously, and is without doubt Tchaikovksy's most brilliant work for orchestra.

This ballet is a great introduction for ballet novices, a lesson in good choreography and over all, a glittering rendition of the masterful art. Who says ballet is sentimental nonsense ? It is a passionate, engulfing and living art form that requires stamina, endurance and precision, full of magnetism and full of life. This particular ballet can be enjoyed in many levels. Children will like the fairy tale ambiance, adults will enjoy the developing ballet structure and balletomanes will be in heaven. I am a ballet/ music and opera teacher and encourage any medium to instill a love of the arts. On DVD, ballet is a must see, almost, but never quite, like, seeing a live performance.

This DVD is exceptional! I am very pleased. The quality of the digital images is clear and crisp and the audio is wonderful. The Kirov's Sleeping Beauty is staged, choreography and danced beautifully. I highly recommend anyone interested in romantic/classical ballet to purchase this DVD.

Although there are two other excellent videos of `The Sleeping Beauty' by the Kirov, you will probably want this one as well, since the glorious Altynai Asylmuratova dances Aurora, partnered by her husband, Konstantin Zaklinsky.

Unfortunately, Kultur videos has an annoying habit of not including cast lists, but the performance is conducted by Viktor Fedotov and Kirov fans will spot a number of familiar faces, including Elena Pankova and Zhanna Ayupova.

It's a lovely performance. You won't be sorry you bought this.

Having been part of the ballet scene many years ago as dance accompnanist to Makarova and Barysnikov, Lynn Seymore and many others, I offer my humble opinion as, I hope, an antedote to Gary Shen's (in my opinion) misguided review. Whatever shortcomings this production has: yes, the lighting is bad but I suggest you turn up the brightness level on your TV as I do each time I watch this video; yes the choreography is not completely the original Petipa (but neither is the Royal Ballet's version whose modern sets I find completely distracting); and a female Carabose is to my mind definitely not a plus...HOWEVER, this video has probably the greatest Aurora you will ever find on commercial video:Altynai Asylmuratova. This great dancer now heads the famous Vanganova School in St. Petersburg and has retired from dancing (since 2001). It is a pity that so little of her glorious work remains on film for posterity. In many ways she is reminiscent of Galina Ulanova, arguably the greatest dancer of the 20th century, especially in the use of her long arms and in her uncanny ability to continue the movement of one step on into the next. The emotional depth of her dancing is in a class by itself and I urge all dancers to study her work. What a pity no one filmed her farewell Aurora in London in 2000 when the Kirov brought their newly-reconstructed original 1890 version to the west. That version (hopefully on film in the not-too-distant future???) will leave all other productions in the dust.

This 1992 live Kirov film of The Sleeping Beauty suffers from very poor film quality. It is too darkly lit and some of the ballet, particularly during the second act, are practically in pitch darkness, with the Prince and Lilac Fairy merely fuzzy shadows. They look like figures in "night camera" footage. Disappointing, especially for a relatively recent film.
On the other hand, the lead roles feature among the finest dancing I've ever seen in a ballet performance. Husband and wife team of Altynai Asylmuratova and Konstantin Zaklinsky star as Aurora and Prince Florimund.
If there's a ballerina more lovable than Altynai, I havent seen her. She has the most radiant smile, the most enchanting stage presence. She's not a perfect Aurora. For one, despite her obviously disciplined classical Vaganova training, she doesnt have the toes of steel to really make the Rose Adagio a bravura moment. Margot Fonteyn was famous for wowing the audiences with seemingly endless balances, and you can see this in the film she made. Asylmuratova's balances in the Rose Adagio are well-held and steady, but not exceptional. Asylmuratova is also not a fast turner -- her turns in the Act 3 pas de deux seem a bit slow and labored. On the other hand, Asylmuratova's extensions are breathtakingly beautiful. In the Rose Adagio she swoops down in six-o-clock penchee arabesques that very effectively accompany the sweeping string chords. It's one of her charms that the penchee arabesques are not quite 180 degrees, but are carefully placed at around 175 degress (5:55, I'd say) and thus give her profile a softer, more feminine look. Altynai also has wonderfully soft, fluid arms, and most of all, an unpretentious, down-to-earth stage persona that makes her Aurora genuinely adorable and not just a classical showpiece role. This is important, as Aurora lacks the natural pathos of Giselle or Nikya, the majesty of Odette/Odile, and the spunk of Swanilda. I particularly love the way Altynai smiles not to the headlights but with her head slightly lowered. She looks both flirtatious and shy.
Konstantin Zaklinsky, blond and handsome, is a wonderful turner, an exciting leaper, and a sensitive partner. He has the noble bearing of a prince. His *one* weakness is a tendency to bend his leg slightly during his grand jetes. He complements his wife well - while she's Oriental looking he's very Slavic in apperance. While she's wonderful at extensions and positions he's more of a classical dancer and athlete. While she's innocent and adorable he's majestic and regal.
The Lilac Fairy is Zhanna Ayupova, who is saddled with a hideous powdered wig, but has the kind of slim, wispy figure and graceful style that's perfect for this role. Despite some questionable costumes, I really enjoyed the Kirov production. Their corps are excellent as usual, but the conductor deserves a lot of credit. He doesnt barnstorm through Tchaikovsky's revered score, but he conducts with great energy and flair. The whole production has unexpected energy, even for this very long and occasionally static ballet (sometimes I wonder if the divertissements will *ever* end). One definite negative about the choreography is that in the third act pas de deux there are practically no fishdives, which are prominently featured in the Royal Ballet productions. So, if you want to see your Aurora leaping into the Prince's arms in a fishdive, you wont see them here.
I hope this performance gets released on dvd very soon as it's certainly one Sleeping Beauty to treasure.

This should have been a wonderful performance. Great dancing by Asylmuratova and Zaklinsky and several others who annoyingly are nowhere identified! No cast list on the video or the liner notes. Unfortunately, in many scenes, strangely in the Prologue and also in the Awakening Scene (Act 2), the lighting is so dim you can hardly see the dancers or the beautiful sets and costumes. The scale of this ballet is one of the things that makes it so enjoyable. In this filming, it is often lost. If you are a fan of Asylmuratova (as I am - saw her dance this role exquisitely with the Kirov in NYC in June 1999) this tape is worth having for your collection. She's a delight as Aurora and at least has a spotlight on her most of the time. Otherwise, chose one of several other Sleeping Beauty's available.

Although it is annoying that the credits are in Russian,it's an amazing video.
Altynai Asylmuratova is charming as Princess Aurora.
Konstantin Zaklinsky is her high flying prince.
The fairies (whomever they may be),were gracefull and entertaining.
The corps de ballet was together and beautiful.
On a warning note:there are several parts during the ballet where the lighting is terrible.You don't need my review to tell you that.
Other then poor lighting and the annoyance of the russian language,it is a wonderful video.I highly recommend it.

This is one of the best video I have ever purchased on Laser Disc and now I am replacing it with the DVD version. Everything works very well: the right movement of the camera, the melodious music, the correct conduction of the orchestra, the beautiful scenarios, the rich production and the brilliant performance of the dancers. This is a must for any ballet-lover. I have been waiting for this DVD release for a long time.

I am a big fan of the Russian Ballet. I celebrate the Russian approach of fine bravura dancing. However Sleeping Beauty requires a certain degree of restraint stylistically. This is a very fine production. The dancing is good technically and I like all the ballerinas. However Mr. Rouzamatov provides the same performance whether he is dancing Don quixote, Scheherazade or Sleeping Beauty. Each piece is very different and Sleeping Beauty requires constraint in order to capture the elegance of the character. It is not all about big jumps and virtuosic turns. For this reason, in my opinion, the piece suffers.

I much prefer the Royal Ballet's treatment of sleeping Beauty.