Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake
|
List Price: Our Price: $12.49 You Save: $17.49 (58%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake
Movie Review: One Of My Very Favorite Swan Lakes.
Summary: 5 Stars
Nureyev had a wonderfully keen practical and artistic sense of how to produce the classical ballets. Among other things, he realized the merits of enlarging the role of the male dancer, as did Balanchine, his quote to the contrary notwithstanding!(Male dancers who danced for him that I have trained with, tell me that when he said ballet is all about women, he was mostly referring to the concept of partnering, where the woman is prominently displayed; he enjoyed working with male dancers very much, as we can see in his choreography.) In this version, both principal dancers are given a great deal of choreography and, as one would expect from one of the world's most famous ballet duos, they dance magnificently! Margot Fonteyn was always the quintessential ballerina, both on stage and off. She was also a great balletic actress and did not like to be disturbed backstage during a ballet because she would stay in character. She always peformed at her best, right up to the end of her very long career.
Some people have been surprised at the closeup of Nureyev in this at the begining of the first act; it shows the starkness of his makeup. Actually, this type of makeup is often used for this role, but we usually don't see it in closeup! It looks good at a distance. It is all part of the fantasy aspect of Swan Lake.
Especially noteworthy is the adagio Nureyev dances at the end of act one. Many dancers have bought this version just to see and study this! It is one of the greatest moments in classical ballet!
Nureyev's handling of the corps de ballet is also fantastic. I loved the geometric patterns he sets for them. The corps also dances with great precision and passion.
The only subdued aspect of this version is that of the Rothbart character. He is reduced to just a character role here. Nureyev liked to have important character, non-dancing , roles in his ballets for balance, no doubt.
This recent transfer by DG is marvelous, both visually and acoustically. I highly recommend this classic performance as a traditional Swan Lake.
Movie Review: Two Masters In A Masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
Back in the 60's, the balletic duo that were Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn were all the rage in the ballet business. They danced with passionate chemistry and artistic integrity, committing themselves to their performance so harmoniously that they seemed to exist only within the time/setting of the ballet's fantasy world itself. Swan Lake, Tchaikovsky's first ballet, was initally a dismal failure in St. Petersburg. But he cleaned it up, revised the score and continued to stage it and it became a much loved ballet. For a prima ballerina like Margot Fonteyn, the dual role of Odette/Odile is a star vehicle and dancer's ticket to fame. She becomes the character. Her dancing is virtuosic, and yes, as one critic pointed out, her body type is apparently a bit bigger than the very frail, bony ballerinas of today - Allesandra Ferri is sickly thin sometimes. Fonteyn is still talked about as a major star and all ballet connoisseurs an fans revere here work. Likewise, Nureyev was a great figure in the ballet world, a man who would influence the later star Mikhail Borishnnokoff. Nureyeve got into his characters with dramatic flair and dancing bravura. As Prince Siegfried, he is totally convincing. Fonteyn and Nureyev'spas de deuxs are miraculous to watch. The look of the film is dated and grainy but that's due to its age- this is a 60's performance. But it still looks good and the sets and costumes are gorgeous and just what I imagine when I dream of Swan Lake.Movie Review: NUREYEV and FONTEYN
Summary: 5 Stars
MORE STARS! I NEED MORE STARS TO RATE THIS! I'll need at minimum 10!
Quite possibly the epitome of the efforts of Nureyev and Fonteyn is found in this recording of Swan Lake. Music and movement is startling to behold and can be visited time and again void of any indication of a yawn. Nureyev the lion consistently supporting to enhance his butterfly, Fonteyn. They were together a cosmic moment that depicted the spirit of the sixties.
For a reading 60s perspective please indulge yourself in the true sixties dogma; we were more than just a culture, we were a happening!
Hear the Calliope: A sentimental journey on the Earth Ride
Legacy: Let the games begin (Volume 2)
Reason Void of Reason: Spirituality Honeymoon Style (Volume 3)
BREATHE: Noumenon (Volume 4)
Movie Review: 5 stars : margot/rudolf 's swan lake !!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
i hv own this swan lake dvd for three yrs, but never thought about writing a review until now, why?
after i bought the dvd ( margot/rudof ), and watching it almost a dozen times either by myself or introduce it to a female friend, it ALWAYS made me cry at the end of act IV, never fail.
so,last week, i spent 40,000 of my precious united award miles, flew almost 12 hrs ( two stops, delayed 2 and 3 hrs here and there,etc)from california to new york to see ABT's ( american ballet theatre ) swan lake procuction at lincoln center.
boy, I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED!!!!!!!!
why? as usual:
act I's folk dance, i can tolerate it like everyone else,
act II ,III i wasn't very happy with it already,but, i still have hope for the final act,but then when it comes to
act IV, the production has cut it almost into half !
what a shame.
hence, i recommand margot/rudof 's "swan lake" to anyone who is interested in purchasing a good dvd,never an " ABT " swan lake :)
Movie Review: Breath taking beauty and exquisite acting portrayals in the realm of dance.
Summary: 5 Stars
Having seen their video of Romeo and Juliet, we purchased the Swan Lake with Nureyev and Fonteyn. We were entranced by the performances. Fonteyn was amazingly sensitive to her roles and did the vulnerable tenderness of Odette and the contrasting cold, hardness of Odile with the perfection of her art as Prima Ballerina Assoluta of her time. Nureyev is passionate and powerful in his role and the energy between the two is captivating.
Nureyev's choreography is alive, refreshing and a joy to behold and brought to perfection in this ballet.
This is a must for the libraries of anyone who is truly appreciative of the art of the dance.