Cheap Tchaikovsky - The Sleeping Beauty / Durante, Solymosi, Dowell, Royal Ballet (DVD) Price

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Customer Reviews of Tchaikovsky - The Sleeping Beauty / Durante, Solymosi, Dowell, Royal Ballet

Gorgeous If Not Perfect
This DVD provides a wonderful, if imperfect, evening of ballet. The sets and costumes are greatly flawed but the production still conveys the necessary atmosphere of sumptuousness and magic that one wishes for in The Sleeping Beauty, historically a legendary signature ballet of the Royal Ballet. The DVD is worth having for several reasons, chief among them the amazingly secure and exquisitely danced Aurora of Viviana Durante. This technically fearsome role is beautifully served by Durante's fleetness, line, phrasing, and technical authority. She has at times seemed tiny to the point of meagreness to me, but in this role her fragility works to her advantage, making her command of the technical difficulties of the roles seem that much more effortless. The rest of the roles are nearly as wonderfully danced and mimed - the fairy solos are quite difficult in themselves and are danced with aplomb by the soloists, who display the admirable technical depth that was available in the company in 1994. Some exceptions: Benazir Hussein was unforunately unequal to some aspects of her difficult solo in the Prologue - a shame as she was a lovely dancer for the most part. And Leann Benjamin was simply too big, physically, for Florine in the Bluebird Pas de Deux in the last act. Her partner had trouble lifting her and she can be seen missing her footing once. If lightness and lift are non-negotiable anywhere in The Sleeping Beauty, it is in this demanding pas de deux, and Bejamin's physical unsuitability for the part nearly undermined the whole. The Prince in Sleeping Beauty is a pretty thankless role, the emphasis being on partnering more than solo dancing, but Zoltan Solymosi danced it sincerely and skillfully, partnering Durante gallantly. <
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>The major defects of this production are the awkward stage sets and the hideous costumes by Maria Bjornson, particularly for the courtiers. The Queen looked like nothing so much as a woman struggling under a basket of overturned laundry. The eye simply does not know where to go - it is just ugly and without an iota of beauty or grace. Thankfully, the costumes for the dancing principals are traditional. I'm sure Bjornson thought she was doing something terribly clever with these angled sets and ridiculous costumes, but all she really did was cause the viewer to thank the gods for Tchaikovsky's gorgeous score and Petipa's brilliant choreography - at least Bjornson couldn't spoil those. One can only imagine the horror of the ballerinas alternating in the role of Aurora during that season when the saw for the first time the long staircase down which they had to make their entrance a few minutes before beginning the Rose Adagio! Really, Dowell should have known better. . . <
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>And speaking of Anthony Dowell, he may have taken a wrong turn with the production design, but he is authoritatively and deliciously evil as Carabosse. The mime, as is almost always the case with those trained by the Royal Ballet, was crystal clear without being overdone. These are true stage people, not just dancers. <
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>Thus, in spite of its flaws, I can recommend this as a worthwhile performance of this deservedly loved ballet.

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A great resource for any ballet dancer
My ballet students are studying this classical ballet and this video helped them understand the discipline and passion it takes to become a dancer. I appreciate the quality and the short time it took for me to get the video.

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The best version on DVD - 5 STARS
I recently bought this DVD because The Royal Ballet is my favorite ballet company in the world. Honestly, The Sleeping Beauty has never been among my list of favorite ballets (I prefer the Romantic era ballets over the Classical; i.e Giselle and La Sylphide). But, I must say, this DVD completely sold me. Viviana Durante is wonderful in the role of Aurora and Zoltan Solymosi is a regal prince indeed. Ms. Durante's performance is as close to technical perfection as a ballerina can get. <
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>I usually go to the ballet for the entire theatrical experience (not just the dancing) so the sets and costumes are all very important to me. Maria Bjornson did wonderful sets and costumes in "The Phantom of the Opera" musical and I loved her work then but I had never seen any of her ballets or operas until seeing this DVD. The sets and costumes are gorgeous; a feast for the eyes. <
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>I highly recommend this DVD. As usual, The Royal Ballet does it best! <
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>NOTE: for some reason the site would not let me rate it 5 stars but it is a 5 STAR product.