Product Details

• Format: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Video Artists Int'l
• DVD Release Date: March 11, 2008
• Run Time: 141 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0014D5Q3S
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,380 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • #37 in Music > Classical > Ballets & Dances > Historical Periods > Romantic (c.1820-1910)

Editorial Reviews

SWAN LAKE - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Plisetskaya's Legacy, April 19, 2008

By 

Luigi Tchai "Pietro" (Ocala, FL) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake [DVD Video] (DVD)

I was surprised to get a msg from Amazon asking me to write a review for this Swan Lake. Obviously, I must be one of the early buyers and perhaps there has not been a rush of buyers and reviewers. It puzzled me because Maya Plisetskaya is arguably the greatest dancer of our generation. Some compare her position in ballet to Maria Callas' in opera, unequaled and unchallenged in their respective spheres.

However, for people who may not be familiar with Plisetskaya, I can understand the price tag could be a "show stopper". Maybe she's not current enough for the younger ballet enthusiasts. I would suggest watching a few clips on Youtube of Plisetskaya dancing in her prime to convince them what a phenomenon Maya Plisetskaya was and still is.

I was fortunate to have seen her perform Swan Lake in San Francisco in 1959, the first time she was allowed to leave the Soviet Union to tour with the Bolshoi. She was in her early 30's by then. This DVD is a 1976 performance to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Swan Lake at the Bolshoi. Maya Plisetskaya was 51. Think about it.

For the sake of comparison, I viewed her earlier version taped in late 1950's with the Bolshoi. Trying very hard to be objective, I really couldn't see she had lost anything. Unbelievable! With age, she had deepened her emotional expressiveness a great deal, especially in Act 4. You could see the Swan Queen was so wounded even physically that you couldn't withhold your emphathy. I also liked the "happy ending" that the Russians favor over the sad one. When she stepped in front of the prince to protect him from getting killed, timed perfectly to the music, it was overwhelmingly moving.

The taping of this performance was not world class as the cliche goes. There were moments I'd like to put my hands around the necks of the lighting designer, the sound technician, and a few in the audience (for some very inconsiderate coughing). What clots! But the audience (in the Kremlin Palace Theatre, not the Bolshoi) was super enthusiastic. Maya was getting flowers thrown to her feet starting at the end of the Act II curtain calls.

Yes, the corps de ballet and the principal dancers and soloists all showed up to play this evening. Also, Bogatirev dancing the prince was wonderful. Fluid, lyrical, handsome with a great body. The corps was precise, beautiful, and held their lines straight as a ruler. I had again compared them to the Swan Lake of the Royal Ballet and the recent ABT performances. I have to give edge to the Bolshoi.

No, this may not be the Swan Lake for the ages. But for the dancing and the occasion, I could not rate it less than 5 stars. Most of all, it was for Maya Plisetskaya, a teasure to last for our days.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Special Swan Lake, April 20, 2008

By 

Titus orange - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake [DVD Video] (DVD)

I bought this DVD a few days ago because I had never seen Maya Plisetskaya dance and I'd read so much about her I just had to see what she was all about. I'm glad to say she is fantastic. I have a lot of Swan Lake DVD's and Maya's Odette/Odile is one that stands out. She really creates characters like I've never seen before. Beautiful dancing and drama. On the down side, the lighting of the stage was not very good. Much of the background was in darkness and only the person(s) dancing had light on them. I like to see everything on the stage so I was disappointed with the lighting. I'm still glad I have this recording of Maya Plisetskaya. Now I'll be looking for more of her on DVD.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A tribute to Maya Plisetskaya., June 22, 2010

By 

Thomas E. Ascher (Sedona, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake [DVD Video] (DVD)

Despite poor lighting, marginal sound, a lack of sets and mind numbing assaults on the choreography of Petipa and Ivanov by Yuri Grigorovich, Maya triumphs. By this performance, in 1976 when Maya was 51, she had performed Swan Lake over 800 times. For those of us who have followed her career, admired her art, and come to love her, this is a heart warming momento. Surprisingly, or perhaps not surprisingly at all, she still dances with the same charm and charisma that she possessed 30 years earlier. No, she does not still do Odiles 32 fouettes or some of the other more athletic variations of her earlier career. But she still exhibits the same grace, delicacy and charm. The audience must have had the same memories, as they applauded her over and over, hardly letting her finish an act without stopping the action with standing ovations. This is not a DVD to become enmeshed in the story of Swan Lake. It is a backdrop to celebrate 100 years of Swan Lake at the Bolshoi and to commemorate the contributions and fortitude of Maya. It is also a transitional piece, exhibiting many of the up and coming Bolshoi hopefuls. Of interest is that in some scenes, other ballerinas are in the background mimicking Maya's movements. Perhaps this is a bow to the role of Maya as a teacher and model for those who come after her. I thoroughly enjoyed this celebration and I am delighted to add this disc to my collection.