- Actors: Julie Kent, Ethan Stiefel, Ángel Corella, Joaquin De Luz, Paloma Herrera
- Directors: Matthew Diamond
- Writers: Joseph Mazilier, Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges, Konstantin Sergeyev, Lord Byron
- Producers: Judy Kinberg
- Format: Classical, Colour, DVD-Video, NTSC
- Language English
- Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.78:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: Unrated (US MPAA rating. See details.)
- Studio: Image Entertainment
- DVD Release Date: 31 Oct 2000
- Run Time: 110 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004Y7I4
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 270,060 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
There are only two full-length ballets of the Le Corsaire , one by the Kirov and the other by ABT. Both tell the story in different ways and the dances are beautiful with either choice, but I hesitatingly say the ABT is better by a hair. It is well worth acquiring both.. Sometimes I prefer one, and at other times the other. The sound quality - very important to me - is excellent on both versions as are the costumes. The costumes are more brilliant in the PAL version than the Kirov in NTSC. Those who wish to buy this production should note that in the US, the DVD is not available in the market other than with market-sellers who price it as some US$400! It makes one think there is something more in the DVD available in NTSC in the US to justify this atrocious pricing but I am not aware of what it is. The dances are varied and there isnt a tiring moment if one sits to enjoy the ballet. The Kirov has better-looking balllerinas and the story-line looks balanced and more authentic. Along with the Bolshoi Swan Lake (now readily available), this is a must-have.
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Amazon excelled themselves in getting a copy of this DVD, ordered Friday evening, on Monday morning.
The DVD is very attractively packaged and is a great improvement on the old video. Overall a marvellous live production of Le Corsaire from American Ballet Theatre.
The costumes are especially attractive and adventurous - without straying too far from traditional ballet.
As the narrator, on the DVD, says the convoluted (but essentially very simple) story is not important and it is the dancing and music that matter.
The dancing is varied and excellent, full of beauty charm and grace from the ballerinas. This is not a Nutcracker but the dancing often strays into that sort of territory.
The music is credited to five composers but, if I had to describe it, sounds like Delibes ballet music. The sound quality on the DVD, apparently live, is very clear and would not be out of place on separate CD of its own.
Interviews with the dancers and others helps to draw you into the ballet and the occasion. Its comforting and amusing to find that even Julie Kent (Medora) cannot remember all the ins and outs of the plot!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Corsair ballet (Le Corsaire) started in 1856 with music by Adam. A new version had to be created in 1867 as a result of fire damage and at that point the music of other composers started to be added. In this case a total of 5 composers' work is utilised. This particular production is based on the 1973 Kirov version which in turn was based on Petipa's choreography.
The complete plot is as complicated. The basic plot however is simple - pirate meets slave girl, they fall in love, he rescues her and they live happily ever after. However, other complications are added including a treacherous pirate colleague, attempted murder, a poisonous flower and a shipwreck to name but a few diversions!
This production includes some amusing attempts to describe the plot by both members of the cast and company before each act as well as members of the audience after each act. There is, deliberately, very little comprehension exhibited and this is finally summed up as `this ballet is not about the plot, it is about the dancing!' One can only agree.
The dancing is indeed spectacular and the virtuosity of this entire company is outstanding. The dancers are also clearly having a wonderful time. This sense of fun communicates strongly to the extremely large and packed audience who rise to give a standing ovation on more than one occasion. The Act 2 solo dancing by Conrad's slave in particular is quite extraordinary in its sustained skill and athleticism and is appreciated as such, not only at that time, but also at the final curtain.
The costumes for the ballerinas and female corps de ballet are particularly pretty and the slave girls are made to be irresistible! The men are mainly dressed as pirates and also enjoy themselves hugely in this make-believe world.
The camera work captures all of this very well but is clearly pre-HD and the screen needs to be set at a fair viewing distance to avoid pixilation of the longer shot images. The sound is presented in good stereo only but this conveys the high standard of the orchestral support perfectly well. The recording was made in 1999.
The production and the dancing is worth an easy 5 stars but the compromises now apparent in the imaging and sound options compared to present day standards requires a drop of one star to 4. Very enjoyable though and still a real challenge to any future issue.
The complete plot is as complicated. The basic plot however is simple - pirate meets slave girl, they fall in love, he rescues her and they live happily ever after. However, other complications are added including a treacherous pirate colleague, attempted murder, a poisonous flower and a shipwreck to name but a few diversions!
This production includes some amusing attempts to describe the plot by both members of the cast and company before each act as well as members of the audience after each act. There is, deliberately, very little comprehension exhibited and this is finally summed up as `this ballet is not about the plot, it is about the dancing!' One can only agree.
The dancing is indeed spectacular and the virtuosity of this entire company is outstanding. The dancers are also clearly having a wonderful time. This sense of fun communicates strongly to the extremely large and packed audience who rise to give a standing ovation on more than one occasion. The Act 2 solo dancing by Conrad's slave in particular is quite extraordinary in its sustained skill and athleticism and is appreciated as such, not only at that time, but also at the final curtain.
The costumes for the ballerinas and female corps de ballet are particularly pretty and the slave girls are made to be irresistible! The men are mainly dressed as pirates and also enjoy themselves hugely in this make-believe world.
The camera work captures all of this very well but is clearly pre-HD and the screen needs to be set at a fair viewing distance to avoid pixilation of the longer shot images. The sound is presented in good stereo only but this conveys the high standard of the orchestral support perfectly well. The recording was made in 1999.
The production and the dancing is worth an easy 5 stars but the compromises now apparent in the imaging and sound options compared to present day standards requires a drop of one star to 4. Very enjoyable though and still a real challenge to any future issue.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
They ruin a Good Show
Well I agree with the three reviewers as far as the Ballet goes,its very well done and actually a nice change from the Kirov production,which to be fair I think not to be danced as... Read more
Published on 10 Mar 2010 by Roger Smith
They are great *****
Changed my mind - The performance at EnO April 2009 was wonderful give it ***** They have won me over
Published on 7 Sep 2008 by Arthur Wyatt
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