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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
The story of Paquita dates from 1846 and the Spanish subject was designed to suit the exotic tastes of that time. The setting is in Spain at the time of the French Napoleonic occupation. Very briefly the plot concerns a young woman, Paquita, who was abducted by gypsies as a child and who, after several adventures, finds out that she is really of noble birth and thus able to marry the son of the occupying French General who has just fallen in love with her.
On the way to this conclusion the ballet is able to introduce a village festival with much village peasant dancing, a visiting band of gypsies with gypsy dancing and the final setting centres on much celebratory aristocratic dancing. The plot includes conflicting love interests, a failed poisoning and murder attempt, sliding doors, a wicked Spanish Governor, a noble French General and an heroic heroine who turns out to be the lost daughter of the above mentioned General's brother.
The choreography is by Petipa and the music mainly by Minkus. Both of these were skilled at their craft and their work will be familiar to lovers of traditional ballet such as this. The settings in this performance are very attractive with every effort being made to present the work with a wide range of appropriate costumes and staging. The orchestra under the reliable direction of David Coleman is faultless.
The lead roles of Paquita and Lucien are taken by Agnes Letestu and Jose Martinez. Both of these dance very well indeed, with a well-maintained rapport between them which makes their relationship believable in terms of the story. The gypsy leader, Karl Paquette, and the Governor, Jean-Marie Didiere, manage to deliver the required auras of evil. The corps de ballet fulfil the roles of villagers, gypsies and courtly dancers very well and there is a particularly effective scene where an extended polonaise is danced by the children of the company. This is exquisitely done.
In summary therefore, it would be fair to say that this is a totally enjoyable piece of escapist traditional ballet where the plot is simply an excuse for attractive choreography, costumes and staging. The music is lyrical and amenable without being distinctively authentic in terms of being Spanish or flamenco. For that you would need to go to Gades and a totally different experience not attempted here. The audience at this performance loved it and that is the best guide to its effectiveness.
The camera work delivers a nice balance of close and panoramic views and the sound is presented in DD 5.1, DTS 5.1 and stereo. This 2003 recording is not at the level of modern HD Blu-rays but is still able to give pleasure, particularly as there is currently no alternative. In my opinion a 4 star grading seems a fair assessment therefore.
On the way to this conclusion the ballet is able to introduce a village festival with much village peasant dancing, a visiting band of gypsies with gypsy dancing and the final setting centres on much celebratory aristocratic dancing. The plot includes conflicting love interests, a failed poisoning and murder attempt, sliding doors, a wicked Spanish Governor, a noble French General and an heroic heroine who turns out to be the lost daughter of the above mentioned General's brother.
The choreography is by Petipa and the music mainly by Minkus. Both of these were skilled at their craft and their work will be familiar to lovers of traditional ballet such as this. The settings in this performance are very attractive with every effort being made to present the work with a wide range of appropriate costumes and staging. The orchestra under the reliable direction of David Coleman is faultless.
The lead roles of Paquita and Lucien are taken by Agnes Letestu and Jose Martinez. Both of these dance very well indeed, with a well-maintained rapport between them which makes their relationship believable in terms of the story. The gypsy leader, Karl Paquette, and the Governor, Jean-Marie Didiere, manage to deliver the required auras of evil. The corps de ballet fulfil the roles of villagers, gypsies and courtly dancers very well and there is a particularly effective scene where an extended polonaise is danced by the children of the company. This is exquisitely done.
In summary therefore, it would be fair to say that this is a totally enjoyable piece of escapist traditional ballet where the plot is simply an excuse for attractive choreography, costumes and staging. The music is lyrical and amenable without being distinctively authentic in terms of being Spanish or flamenco. For that you would need to go to Gades and a totally different experience not attempted here. The audience at this performance loved it and that is the best guide to its effectiveness.
The camera work delivers a nice balance of close and panoramic views and the sound is presented in DD 5.1, DTS 5.1 and stereo. This 2003 recording is not at the level of modern HD Blu-rays but is still able to give pleasure, particularly as there is currently no alternative. In my opinion a 4 star grading seems a fair assessment therefore.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Extremely enjoyable,Martinez and Letestu seem to enjoy every step of this beautifully rechoreographed ballet,following the "esprit de l'époque",by Pierre Lacotte who pays a tribute to Petipa whose original choreography had survived only in the "grand pas ". The music score is as light as a bird singing,so being a powerful anti-depressive musical medicine!Thanks to the devotion of this unique choreographer who revives and gives back to the stages forgotten ballets,we have for instance Coppelia,La Fille du pharaon, La Sylphide( music by Schneitzhoeffer and inspired by the one Filippo Taglioni created for his daughter Maria Taglioni,four years before Bournonville would choreograph a second La Sylphide,this time on Lovenskiold's music),Ondine(yet to be released by the Kirov,God knows when)and several others he did for various Opera Houses and are not on DVD.
In order to compare Lacotte's Grand Pas with the original (Petipa) buy the Kirov Classics and watch last item - Paquita's Grand Pas,danced by Igor Zelensky,Yulia Makhalina and Larissa Lezhnina - absolutely outstanding.
In order to compare Lacotte's Grand Pas with the original (Petipa) buy the Kirov Classics and watch last item - Paquita's Grand Pas,danced by Igor Zelensky,Yulia Makhalina and Larissa Lezhnina - absolutely outstanding.
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Although labled 2003 it did not seem the most up-to-date of productions. I wasn't exactly board but then not rivited either. The women (still graceful) are more athletic than oft and the men definately so. Minkus does ballet well and I have several of his on dvd. Worth it for the ballet fan but don't hold breath for a stunner, rather anticipate a thouroghly competant performance which you will enjoy.
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