Customer Reviews

Tchaikovsky - The Sleeping Beauty / Kolpakova, Berezhnoi, Kunakova, Kirov Ballet

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

 

 

As a huge fan of Russian ballet, and The Sleeping Beauty in general, this DVD is the best full length Beauty we have available. Until they wise up and film the current Kirov/Mariinsky reconstruction fot he original 1890 production (you can find a glorious performance of Act III on the DVD New Year's Eve in St Petersburg), this probably will remain the best filmed version despite worthy and interesting productions on DVD from the Royal Ballet nad the Bolshoi.

This is the production Konstantin Sergeyev premiered in 1953, and has remained in the repertoire of the Kirov/Marrinsky since then and is something of a classic in its own rights. It's also, arguably but to my mind, the most faithful to the original Petipa choreography we have. Yes Sergeyev replaced a lot of the mime and made some other changes (some of which, like the new male variations, are, while far from authentic, admirable additions), but we get the basic text of this ballet down to all of the charming wedding divertisements, most not performed in the West.

Kolpokova was nearing the end of her career when this was filmed in 1983, and I admit the idea of a 50 year old Aurora can be off putting--but the lady dances spectacularly and is a great and welcome presence. Everyone else is in fine form--the men and the classic female corps of the Kirov in particular.

A must for any classic ballet lovers and Sleeping Beauty fans out there.

The ballerinas in this production by the Kirov are dazzling. One wonders how one company can have so many dancers operating at such a high level of brilliance. The set for Act 2 - enormous background paintings in fall colors - stands out in particular. But it is the dancing of the Corps, along with the individual fairies and Aurora herself, that make the viewing of this DVD a reason to go on living.

If you read between the lines of the Product Review, you should be forewarned enough not to buy this DVD. Irina Kolpakova may not have performed it in 1890, but she's no "spring chicken" here. She reminds me of Margot Fonteyn when she was way past her prime in Swan Lake with Rudolf Nureyev (on DVD, and also not the best). Neither had two feet off the ground at any time, although Fonteyn was vastly more graceful in her performance. The length of this performance (2:50) helps to make it unwatchable for any but those wanting to see it "as performed in 1890". Which leads to my main complaint. I have Swan Lake by the American Ballet Theatre and the Nutcracker by the Bolshoi (both 2005 editions), and the choreography and dancing skills are AWESOME - and even more so when compared to this production, which I suppose points out that these skills have improved over the years, especially when compared to a ballet company that seems to be stuck in 1890. I will say, though, that the Kirov did a good job with their Nutcracker (a 1994 edition, but danced in the '70's). The lighting in the second act made everything annoyingly pink, but otherwise not a bad production.