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Amazon.co.uk Review
The Glory of the Kirov assembles footage from a variety of Russian sources--some of it, including moments from the early careers of famous defectors such as Nureyev and Baryshnikov, was previously suppressed and thought lost. The Kirov Ballet and Opera of St. Petersburg, and their earlier incarnation as the Maryinsky, have always been the Bolshoi's principal Russian rival and an impressive nursery of talent. This profile includes silent footage of the Ballet Russe's Tamara Karsavina doing her barre exercises as well as a classic extract from Ulanova's White Swan pas de deux in the 1940s. The 1960s are heavily represented here with extracts from Glazunov's Raymonda and Khatchaturian's Spartacus as well as even more famous repertory such as Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet and Petipa's choreography for Le Corsaire. There are also two versions of Fokine's Dying Swan, one from Olga Moiseyeva and a performance from Makarova whose sublimity almost makes us forget the tasteless arrangement of the Saint-Saens score for strings and Hollywood choir. This disc encapsulates the greatness of Russian ballet in its Soviet period as well as some of its lapses of taste. --Roz Kaveney
Special Features
4:3
DVD 5
Region 2
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Mono
NVC Arts Web Link
DVD 5
Region 2
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Mono
NVC Arts Web Link
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
I will start by saying that I am just an ordinary person who enjoys watching ballet.
That said - I would like to say that this DVD (and the companion "The Glory of the Bolshoi") are wonderful. If you would like to see why the Russians "cornered the market" when it came to ballet, then these DVDs will show you.
It shows wonderful dancing by the biggest stars of Russian ballet, including "the God of ballet" (my opinion) - Baryshnikov.
The only thing to be aware of is that the excerpts of Baryshnikov and Nureyev are very early ones because once they defected, all film of them was destroyed. You do still have the chance with this DVD to see what made them so great.
If you want to see highlights from productions, this is not for you. As it states on the back cover, the footage is from "Russia's film archives" and "Features black & white and colour footage" - this should be enough to let you know that you are going to see historic footage (not modern-day productions).
I was so thrilled and enthralled by this and the Bolshoi DVD that I am looking forward to sitting down and revisiting other ballets I have on video.
Long live the Kirov and Bolshoi!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
The Kirov company is one of the three or four greatest ballet companies in the world and this disc, featuring some of the greatest dancers that started their career there, is a real treasure. (The Kirov is closely associated with the famous Vaganova School of Dancing, so practically all the students start their career with this company, before moving on to other theaters and, very often, international fame.)
Despite the fact that this disc contains historic (often black and white) footage, I believe it could also serve as an excellent introduction to the art of Ballet, since most of the clips are quite exciting and exhibit several different styles of dancing, from classical to modern.
Some of the highlights include:
A wonderful "Viennese Waltz" with Kurgapkina and Bregvadze. This is a delightful "fun" piece with two young dancers who seem to be having the time of their lives, flirting and dancing one of the most spectacular waltzes you are ever likely to see.
The lovely Ninel Kurgapkina is also featured in an excerpt from "Laurencia" from 1959, together with the brilliant young Rudolf Nureyev, as well as in the "Corsaire" pas-de-deux with Vadim Budarin.
The "Corsaire" piece is presented twice in the disc. The first time, we get a real bit of history: Rudolf Nureyev's breathtaking presentation at the 1958 Moscow Ballet Competition, which he won, together with his partner and fellow-student Alla Sizova.
Then, there's a very rare 6 minute excerpt with young Mikhail Baryshnikov, dancing a contemporary ballet called "The Tale of Serf Nikish".
Another highlight is, of course, Kolpakova and Semenov dancing the "Raymonda" pas-de-deux. Their precision and perfection of form are out of this world!
And then, there is Ulanova's White Swan pas-de-deux (with Sergeyev) filmed in 1940. Even though this was a concert performance, her lyricism and purity of style are enchanting.
We also get excerpts with Duddinskaya, Alla Osipenko, Olga Moiseyeva, John Markovski and Natalia Makarova (dancing the Dying Swan).
Finally, there are two excerpts presenting Jacobson's original choreography for "Spartacus", which should be of special interest to collectors.
All in all, this is a disc you don't want to miss, whether you are a ballet enthusiast, or you just want to get an idea of what great dancing is all about.
Despite the fact that this disc contains historic (often black and white) footage, I believe it could also serve as an excellent introduction to the art of Ballet, since most of the clips are quite exciting and exhibit several different styles of dancing, from classical to modern.
Some of the highlights include:
A wonderful "Viennese Waltz" with Kurgapkina and Bregvadze. This is a delightful "fun" piece with two young dancers who seem to be having the time of their lives, flirting and dancing one of the most spectacular waltzes you are ever likely to see.
The lovely Ninel Kurgapkina is also featured in an excerpt from "Laurencia" from 1959, together with the brilliant young Rudolf Nureyev, as well as in the "Corsaire" pas-de-deux with Vadim Budarin.
The "Corsaire" piece is presented twice in the disc. The first time, we get a real bit of history: Rudolf Nureyev's breathtaking presentation at the 1958 Moscow Ballet Competition, which he won, together with his partner and fellow-student Alla Sizova.
Then, there's a very rare 6 minute excerpt with young Mikhail Baryshnikov, dancing a contemporary ballet called "The Tale of Serf Nikish".
Another highlight is, of course, Kolpakova and Semenov dancing the "Raymonda" pas-de-deux. Their precision and perfection of form are out of this world!
And then, there is Ulanova's White Swan pas-de-deux (with Sergeyev) filmed in 1940. Even though this was a concert performance, her lyricism and purity of style are enchanting.
We also get excerpts with Duddinskaya, Alla Osipenko, Olga Moiseyeva, John Markovski and Natalia Makarova (dancing the Dying Swan).
Finally, there are two excerpts presenting Jacobson's original choreography for "Spartacus", which should be of special interest to collectors.
All in all, this is a disc you don't want to miss, whether you are a ballet enthusiast, or you just want to get an idea of what great dancing is all about.
10 of 16 people found the following review helpful
This is a worthwhile Classical Ballet DVD but I was expecting apart from the decidedly important footage, which would be greatly appreciated by Ballet schollars or worshipers of the performing artists, to contain also some Full Scale Kirov productions, in color, with the same or even lesser Kirov artists,even parts of these "modern" productions.
Thus the disappointment with this DVD although Nureyev is my most favorite dancer, personally I think he is the greatest Classical Ballet dancer of all time and as people who had the chance in the past to see the legendary Nisinsky dance,said, even better than Nisinsky. My practical comment would be that there should have been a subtitle with the words "ARCHIVE MATERIAL ONLY"
Thus the disappointment with this DVD although Nureyev is my most favorite dancer, personally I think he is the greatest Classical Ballet dancer of all time and as people who had the chance in the past to see the legendary Nisinsky dance,said, even better than Nisinsky. My practical comment would be that there should have been a subtitle with the words "ARCHIVE MATERIAL ONLY"
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