Adam - Giselle / La Scala
by Alexandre Tarta
List Price:
Our Price: $17.99
You Save: $12.00 (40%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Alessandra Ferri, Isabel Seabra, Massimo Murru, Maurizio VanadiaDirector: Alexandre Tarta
Cinematographer: Bernard Girod
Editor: Alain Zerbib
Producer: François Duplat
Writer: Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges
Writer: Théophile Gautier
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Classical, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Running Time: 110 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-01-16
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Image Entertainment
Movie Reviews of Adam - Giselle / La Scala
Movie Review: Giselle In La Scala
Summary: 5 Stars
This 1996 production of the Romantic classic "Giselle" ballet was staged and performed for the opera theatre La Scala in Milan, Italy. The production stars Allesandra Ferri in the title role. This version is one of two I've seen that I feel are quite good as far as visually and choreography. There is another one which is obscure with another A-list ballerina who is more into character, especially in Giselle's Mad Scene and Death Scene. The dancers in this production are doing an excellent job and Allesandra Ferri as Giselle is suitable. What most grabs me abou this production is the visuals. The scenery and sets, costumes and the shots of La Scala's auditorium, with its lights, golden tiers and plush red carpets. La Scala is mostly an opera house but now and then they have ballets performed on stage. Giselle was originally a German fairy tale or folk tale. The male dancer Jules Perrot, who was the ballet instructor at the Paris Opera Ballet in the 19th century, decided to put the story into a ballet and choreographed the dances. Soon, it was enjoying great successes and all the lead ballerinas of the day were dancing the role. The role is still a very juicy and career-boosting opportunity for ballerinas today. Giselle tells the story of a village girl who is engaged to a village man. Her mother is the operator of a country inn. When Albrecht, a prince, comes to the village and the surrounding forest to hunt, he falls for Giselle. He does not reveal his identity and Giselle is under the impression he is a wealthy hunter. Hilarion, Giselle's husband-to-be, is jealous and bitter that Giselle has fallen for Albrecht. Hilarion soon tears off the mask of Albrecht's disguising. Not only is he a prince, but he is engaged to marry an aristocratic lady. When Giselle learns of the deception, she becomes insane and dies. That is only Act 1. Act 2 deals with Albrecht's mourning of Giselle and his encounter with the Willis, the ghosts of women dressed in white gowns the young virgins who died before their wedding day. They are lead by Martha or sometimes called Myrtha, the Queen of the Willis. Giselle is among them. When they threaten to kill Albrecht, Giselle intervenes and saves him. But they can never be together as they inhabit different worlds - Albrecht the world of the living and the day and Giselle the world of the dead and the night. The ballet was considered the first true Romantic ballet-blanc, originating the tradition of ballerinas in the corps wearing white. Later, this would be seen in La Bayadere and most prominently in Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.
