Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake
by Ross MacGibbon
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Anders Nordstrm, Christian Rambe, Johannes hman, Marketta Kaila, Nathalie NordquistDirector: Ross MacGibbon
Brand: NAXOS of America
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 160 minutes
Published: 2005-06-01
DVD Release Date: 2003-01-21
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC / Opus Arte
Movie Reviews of Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake
Movie Review: "Swan Lake" beautifully told....
Summary: 5 Stars
I was looking for a performance of "Swan Lake" that would give me both musical and visual satisfaction and at the same time would be suitable for watching with children. I've seen many productions of this ballet but each had some problems. The magnificently conducted performance from Berlin (on Arthaus) was well danced but didn't convince me in its overly psychologizing dramatic approach. The cruelly abbreviated performance from Moscow with the fantastic Maya Plisetskaya was a great document but musically almost unbearable. Another Bolshoi performance, with Bessmertnova and Bogatyrev, gorgeously staged, danced (apart from Bessmertnova who seemed too mechanical to me) and played, was somewhat messy in its treatment of the libretto. There were some other performances, including Nureyev's and Fonteyn's, that somehow didn't work for me.
For many reasons, the Swedish Ballet's "Swan Lake" seems to me close to perfection, even if it isn't perfectly danced and - as some reviewers mentioned already- is certainly not the most rewarding musically. The orchestral playing is crude and often heavy (very prominent brass), particularly when compared with the luxurious playing of the Berlin Staatskapelle under Daniel Barenboim on Arthaus. Yet the conductor (Michel Quéval, otherwise unknown to me) seems to understand the dancers and leads them sensitively, if not always beautifully.
The corps de ballet respond to the music in a way that I don't think I've ever seen before: they really dance to the music, they seem to listen to it and respond with their steps. I am no great expert on ballet but what strikes me often, even in some very good ballet performances is the discrepancy between the music and the dance, the rhythm and the steps. The dancers seem to be so focused on giving the audience the thrill of a physically spotless performance, that they forget about everything else, including the music. It is a bit like in opera, where it is often more important to deliver the vocal goods at the cost of clarity and the musical coherence of the piece.
Here, thanks to often rather slow tempi, the dancers really have time to "illustrate" the music through their dance and even if it isn't the most muscular or dynamic dancing you are likely to see, the effect is riveting. On the other hand, what to me is a virtue of this performance, can be easily a vice for those who like their "Swan Lake" danced with breathless virtuosity and technical assurance. I certainly wouldn't call this dancing "amateurish" but there are long scenes in this production where there seems to be no dancing at all, just a pantomime-style narration of the story. To me, this is what really distinguishes this performance - its narrative clarity, achieved through the choreography and great camera work. No gesture is wasted - everything illuminates the story. This is very important if you want to watch the performance with kids and expect them to understand the story without much help, although for obvious reasons I would be happier with this version if it chose the "happy ending" solution (Siegfried defeats Rothbart and lives with Odette happily ever after) instead of the original "happy suicide" (Odette throws herself into the lake and Siegfried follows her after having defeated von Rothbart. They are reunited after death and we see them embracing each other as they slowly glide through the air).
The story, as told in Sir Peter Wright's choreography, focuses on Prince Siegfried who - as one reviewer mentioned - matures before our eyes. Wright wanted to show what motivated the prince in his search for a suitable bride - not the request of his domineering mother, as often portrayed, but the interest of his country. Wright begins the story with the funeral of the old king whose death leaves the throne to young Siegfried. I find this addition to the story very ingenious indeed, particularly since it makes a very good use of the rather melancholy music of the introduction.
As I said earlier, this performance may not be the best choice for those balletomanes who prefer more muscular, dynamic solo dancing - they may be particularly disappointed with the Prince (Anders Nordström). Although in the interviews Nordström is described as a more mature and experienced dancer than his very young partner Natalie Nordquist, I thought it was Nordquist who was the more impressive of the two. The Prince's performance in the solo numbers of act I and III was rather "static", hesitant. I almost had the impression that the choreographer was trying to spare him for some reason (sickness?) - how else can we explain his lack of participation in dancing in those scenes that usually give the dancers an opportunity to show off? It is Benno (Johannes Öhman) who does most of the dancing here (at times quite spectacular!), while the Prince is sitting in his throne and occassionally joins the dance for a few brief moments. He is a graceful dancer and a surprisingly charismatic stage persona, beautifully portraying the Prince's "Weltschmerz". This Prince is of course not your usual Siegfried, joyfully celebrating his 21st birthday, but Siegfried in mourning after his father's death. That may explain his reluctance to join the festivities in Act I but in Act III, where Siegfried should be a bit more outgoing, if only to give the dancer the last opportunity to "show off", he remains withdrawn. In the athletic scene with Odile his dancing has none of the breathtaking virtuosity expected here.
Natalie Nordquist is a delightful dancer and her Odette/Odile leaves the most favorable impression - it is a lovely, youthful portrayal of the heroine(s), very musical and technically assured, at least to my eyes.
The performance is splendid visually, although I wouldn't mind a bit more colour, particularly in the court scenes (acts I and III). The first act is greyish (but beautifully so!) to depict the court's mourning, but the act III certainly could use more colour to break the monotonously golden brown scenography. The costumes are gorgeous and together with the sets beautifully convey the gothic setting of the story.
In spite of some reservations, I am very impressed with the overall quality of this "Swan Lake". It is coherent, atmospheric and pretty to watch. Its narrative clarity is outstanding. The dancing may not be in the class of Bolshoi or Kirov but it is impressive. If you are looking for a "Swan Lake" for your kids, this may be the best introduction. (Kicek)
Summary of Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake
Choreographer Peter Wright stages Swan Lake as a romantic Gothic tragedy. This invigorating version focuses on the heartbreaking role of the Prince in this dramatic classic, honoring the 1895 Pepita/Ivanov original. SPECIAL FEATURES -- Love Transcends Death an interview with choreographer Sir Peter Wright, Back to the Original an interview with Peter Jacobsson, A Beautiful Way of Moving an interview with the principal dancers, The Tale of Swan Lake an illustrated synopsis, Notable Productions of Swan Lake an overview of all historic productions of this ballet from 1877.Run Time: 160 minutes Format: 1 disk, DVDProducer: BBC / Opus ArteSimilar DVD Movies
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