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Customer Reviews of Kirov Classics

This disc is a collection of short ballet vignettes that pays tribute to the Kirov dancers and the magnificent choreography they have been given to perform. The dances range from the traditional to more modern pieces and it is this variety that gives the entire presentation a well rounded, balanced feel ; there is something here for all tastes.

Although all the works on this disc have some special qualities, the following are some of my favorites:

-"Chopiniana" , featuring Altynai Asylmuratova, Konstantin Zaklinsky and the corps de ballet; I wonder if Chopin would have ever believed his music would be the accompaniment for this serene, beautiful dance.

-The surreal, starry setting for Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings" seemed a perfect backdrop for Yelena Yevteeva and Eldar Aliev to perform their sensual, almost contortionistic dance.

-"Le Corsaire" features Faroukh Ruzimatov with, as always, his unbelieveable leaps and expressive dancing.

However, to me, the highlight of this entire disc was "The Fairy Doll" with Larissa Lezhnina as the beautiful doll, pursued relentlessly by the two love struck mime-clowns.(performed by Dmitry Gruzdev and Yaroslav Fadayev) This is the comical side of ballet at it's best: the two guys are magnificent as they attempt to outdo each other as they vie for her affection. All three participants of this work show grace, balance, athleticism and an unbelieveable sense of timing that make this difficult performance look simplistically easy.

All in all, a DVD featuring great choreography and top quality dancing by the Kirov. Highly recommended!

Must Have DVD
This is an excellent mixed bill program of ballet performed by a strong stable of Kirov dancers who achieved their notariety and acclaim during the late eighties and nineties. The depth of skill and artistry displayed by principals, soloists and corp de ballet alike here on this DVD is quite remarkable and well showcased in a diverse program that ranges from Les Syphlides, Le Corsaire pas de deux and Maritenka pas de six. Also on the DVD are lesser well known but equally well performed ballets of The Fairy Doll and Petruska. The DVD is anchored by a phenomenal performance of Paquita, led by Yulia Mahklina and Igor Zalensky and enhanced by the precision and elegance of other company members as they dance the various solos, pas de trois and ensemble segments of this ballet. The DVD is worth adding to any home collection for this Paquita alone.

Each of the performances was not taped before a live audience so the applause and accolades that would otherwise be due to the dancers if they had performed live is absent from the recordings. The scenery for most of the ballets are by and large traditional (except for the Stravinsky piece) and did not detract from the dancers' performances. I find it a pity that there are no bonus materials on the DVD containing any company, ballet or dancer information. Its frustrating enough to only be given the opportunity to see the Kirov perform here in the States only once every few years, but to deny information on dancers or the company in a medium such as a DVD seems to be a wasted opportunity to elevate the Kirov to its rightful place as one of the world's premier ballet companies.

The performances portrayed on this DVD will only provide Kirov fans with further ammunition to claim the Kirov as the standard bearer for all other ballet companies. It is an enjoyable DVD that deserves to be watched over and over. Don't miss out and add this to your collection sooner rather than later.

Wonderful Gala Performance by the Kirov
This is a studio recording of the Kirov Ballet (or by now the Mariinsky Ballet) of St. Petersburg, Russia performing some of ballets greatest 'short-form' works along with full-length ballet excerpts. The dancers are the finest products of ballet training, and on this film it shows. The footage recorded here has also been released as 'The Maryinsky Ballet" (on another label I believe).

First, a perfomance of "Les Sylphides" (or "Chopanina" as it is called in Russia) choreographed to the music of Chopin by Mikhail Fokine, with the divine prima Altinai Assylmuotva leading the cast with her husband Konstantin Zaklinsky. We also have Yelena Pankova perfoming the mazurka with wonderful style. Assylmuratova is one of ballets greatest artists, and her precision in the waltz is ballet at its best. The corps is so wonderfully lyrical in the opening sequence that it might as well be some of the best work by a corps de ballet documented to film.

Then an excerpt(or short version of) of the ballet "Petrushka", a masterpeice from the old Ballet Russe and another work of Fokine. It is not done in the more or less traditional sence, for here we have choreography by the Kirov's then artistic director Oleg Vinogradov. He does not do a great job and over condenses the multi scene, one act ballet into one short sequence. The corps looks comical running around in wierd patterns, as if doing a parody of the ballet while insulting the Stravinsky score. The lead dancer, Sergei Vikharev gives it his all, but it is pretty much worth fast-forwarding through this annoying section. (Note- See the film "Paris Dances Diaghilev" for a far better and more authentic performance of this work)

"Barbers Adagio" is another annoyance on this video, although the leading female, Yelena Evteyeva (once a Kirov prima) turns out to be a pretty entertaining as she does strange stuff with herself via her partner, who on the other hand is merely just a person put in to lift her in weird ways.

The pas de deux from the ballet "Le Corsaire" (see my reviews of both the Kirov Ballet and American Ballet Theatre films of the full-length work) is perfomed here by Farukh Ruzimitov and Lubov Kunakova. I have seen both of these dancers do better on film, particularly Ruzimitov, whose flamboyance is a little to much in his variation. He has been recorded in this peice many times. Kunakovas costume is very tacky, looking like a cross between a Shade from the ballet "La Bayadere" and a flamingo, but she is still charming.

The most entertaining on the entire program: second to last is a pas de trois from the ballet "The Fairy Doll" (or "Die Pupenfee"). This excerpt is by the composer Riccardo Drigo and not Josef Bayer as credited, whose pas was added to the ballet at the turn of the century. Larissa Lezhnina and her two clowns for suitors are astounding! It is some of the best ballet dancing I have ever seen.

Next is the Pierre LaCotte restoration of the choreography of Perrot: the pas de six from "Markitenka" or "La Vivandare". It is charming and in the romantic style of ballet. Elenea Pankaova is a delight....as usual.

Finally, the grand pas and pas de trois from the ballet "Paquita". The choreography is by the great ballet master Marius Petipa (creator of "The Nutcrakcer", "The Sleeping Beauty", "Swan Lake", "La Bayadere", among others)to the music of Leon Minkus. The soloists and corps are superb, particularly Yulia Makhalina in the lead. Igor Zelensky dances the male lead, with a solo from the Leo Delibes ballet "Sylvia" instead of the Minkus one for some odd reason. This has the only film record of the famous 'Golden' pas de trois (or Minkus pas de trois) on film, sort of oddly stuck in the middle of the grand pas as the Kirov often does when performing this work.

All in all this film is superb, and has essential recordings in the performances of "Paquita", and "Les Sylphides" (or "Chopiniana") and also the only film of "The Fairy Doll" pas de trois. Along with the great dancing, the music of each work is well recorded and allows for great listening as well! Five stars!