Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5965 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-06-11
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Classical, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 149 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
When Rudolf Nureyev created a new version of The Sleeping Beauty for the Paris Opera Ballet in 1989, Tchaikovsky's richest, most gem-studded score was about to celebrate its 100th birthday. He made some modifications to the original score and stagings, but basically took Marius Petipa's choreography and polished it with the greatest of respect for what he dubbed "the ballet of ballets". Ten years later, the Opera Bastille adopted his version in a sumptuous new production, and what a sensory experience it turns out to be.

For one thing, the brilliance of the classical sets and costumes fills the huge stage of the Opera Bastille with extravagant glamour. For another, the quality of the dancing is superb at every level. Aurélie Dupont as Princess Aurore and Manuel Legris as her Prince Désiré trigger sublime romance in their ultimate pas de deux. Other highlights include Nathalie Aubin's sinuously evil Carabosse, finally managing to deliver the fateful needle in a bunch of flowers before meeting her match in the Lilac Fairy, and the parade of fairy-tale characters in Act III. This is a connoisseur's production, true. It celebrates one of the greatest classical ballets and the genius of one of the greatest dancers. But it is also a superb entertainment, certain to generate a festive thrill in the chilliest of hearts.

On the DVD: Excellent sound quality (Dolby Digital 2.0) and the 16:9 picture format do proper justice to the sweeping, theatrical scale of the production. The disc also includes printable articles on Petipa's and Nureyev's choreography and a link to NVC Arts' Web site. The comprehensive booklet includes explanations of Nureyev's alterations, a brief history of the ballet and a plot synopsis. --Piers Ford

Special Features
16:9 Wide Screen
DVD 9
Region 2
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo

Synopsis
A performance of the famous ballet with musical score by Tchaikovsky.

Customer Reviews

Simply sublime - the video all ballet lovers will adore.
What adjectives can I use to discribe this ballet? Amazing? Fantastic? Brilliant? Well, think of all those and more besides and it won't beging to go near this ballet.
Fantastic costumes, sublime orchestration, and of course, the dancers weren't bad either.
If I could have just one ballet video/DVD - this one would be it. I love it, and you will too.

A priceless gem
Enough has been said of this wonderful production and all of it is true! The costumes, the decors, the music, the corps etc'. I wish to dedicate this review to Ms. Dupont. She is a rare and priceless gem of the Paris opera. Her entrance in the first act is so exciting I always miss a beat. I have watched this production countless times and she naver fails to astonish me with her vivacity and energy. At this point she is truely a teenager flirting innocently with her suiters. Her manner is so beautiful and naive she totally captivates you. I will however point out at this stage that I forgive her not having perfect lines for her presence is hypnotic and her demeaner so captivating (please excuse any spelling errors I may have, I was not educated in English!) one cannot help but admire her authentic qualitys and marvel at the fact that such elegance exsists nowadays. But it gets better! In the second act we are witness to her falling inlove with prince Desire. Here her lyrical and emotional abilitys are of such magnitude she gives a whole new dimention to this act. She is absolutely stunning. Watch her perform four penche-passe-a l'avent in the pas de deux with the prince one after another with such poetry in her upper body and ports do bras she left me inthralled. This is in my view beauty incarnate! But the final act's pas de deux, her wedding, is perfomed with regal if modest authority. She has to be the most elegant dancer in the world today now that Ms. Elisabeth Platel has retired, The undisputed queen of elegance and the perfect french ballerina. And to add to all of this Ms. Dupont is so beautiful she totally fits the role of Beauty.
Buy this dvd asap and watch closely to fully apprediate it.

A Magnificent Production
This version of the "Sleeping Beauty" is Nureyev's re-working of the story in which greater emphasis is placed on the psychology of the characters than in some versions. That said, this is not some modern, impoverished version but a sumptuous realisation of one of the greatest ballets. The scenery, costumes and dancing all take full advantage of the Paris Opera's huge stage. Prince Desire, danced impeccably and beautifully by Manuel Legris, is given extra solos including a wonderful "soliloquy" in Act II, to give the role greater depth. Aurelie Dupond, as Princess Aurora, is a fitting partner for him. They both excel themselves in the final pas de deux which is breath-taking and thrilling, bringing the house down. The ballet ends with an exuberant finale performed by the entire company. With Tchaikovsky's matchless music this is an essential for any ballet lover's DVD library, along with the same company's "Don Quichotte" and "La Bayadere".