| | |  | Ballets & Classics | Home » » » Choreography By Balanchine / Tzigane, Andante from Divertimento No 15, The Four Temperaments, Selections from Jewels, Stravinsky Violin Concerto | | | | | | | Product Details: | | | Actors:
| New York City Ballet, George Balanchine, Suzanne Farrell, Merrill Ashley | | Format:
| Classical, DVD, NTSC | | Language:
| English | | Number of Discs:
| 1 | | Studio:
| Nonesuch | | Run Time:
| 110 minutes | | DVD Release Date:
| June 08, 2004 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 8 reviews |
| | | | Used and New: | | | |
| All | |
| $18.50 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $18.88 | New | | | $18.97 | New | | | $19.99 | New | | | $20.00 | New | | | $21.81 | Used
- Mint | | | $22.08 | New | | | $22.09 | New | | | $25.98 | New | | | $26.24 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $26.93 | New | | | $26.99 This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. | New | | | $48.32 | New | | | $59.07 | New | | | $76.00 | New | | | $372.00 | Used
- Acceptable | |
| New | |
| $18.88 | New | | | $18.97 | New | | | $19.99 | New | | | $20.00 | New | | | $22.08 | New | | | $22.09 | New | | | $25.98 | New | | | $26.93 | New | | | $26.99 This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. | New | | | $48.32 | New | | | $59.07 | New | | | $76.00 | New | |
| Used | |
| $18.50 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $21.81 | Used
- Mint | | | $26.24 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $372.00 | Used
- Acceptable | |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
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 Dance ClassicFeb 12, 2009
This DVD shows the golden age of New York City Ballet. Suzanne Farrell and Peter Martins shine among a great company.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth . . .Jan 15, 2008
I remember the PBS television broadcast of these ballets and recall that the audio synch problem existed. It could be a result of the original audio dubbing and perhaps cannot be fixed. Yes, it compromises the full enjoyment of the performances but is unlikely to be fixed after all these years. Even a slightly marred record of Suzanne Farrell and others in Balanchine performances supervised by him when he was alive should not deter you. Nobody seems to mind that he slightly altered the choreography to suit the television medium. Give it a break and appreciate that the fact that you can see the artists for whom the ballets were created.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Not on music!Aug 03, 2007
I was extremely shocked to see that the dancing was not synchronised with the music. The dancers are wonderful, as is the choreagraphy of George Balanchine, and it's most unfortunate that the DvD is obviously flawed.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
a dream come trueApr 21, 2007
PBS: Great Performances > Dance In America > Choreography by Balanchine >:
Parts 1 and 2 of 4 (1977)
I saw some of this series on TV back in 1978. I was awe-striken. I was a twenty-year fan of Stravinsky's music already and impressed by the composer's high opinion of this dance master (Mr. B). Seeing it for myself (being unable to go to NYC and actually attend) was totally thrilling and indelibly memorable.
Not mentioned here by other reviewers is that this is parts 1 and 2 of 4 parts made in Nashville TN. By the time I found out about the HVS tapes and their tranfer to DVD, I already had read Bernard Taper's biography of GB (with super photographs!) and became a Balanchine admirer in general (not just Stravinsky-Balanchine!). Some PBS celebration shows helped.
I like all of it. I haven't been bothered by any video/audio unsynchronicity (if there really is any) on this DVD.
Let me rave on about my very favorite dances.
The Four Temperaments, music by Hindemith - I am amused by the tale that Mr. B had some cash ahead after working for Broadway and Hollywood, so he commissioned the piece of music from Hindemith. I don't know of anyone else who would celebrate a financial return into the black this way. Mr. B didn't even have a dance company at the time. But then he and Lincoln Kirstein started Ballet Society, with would end up evolving into NYCB. The story is pure Balanchine: the music comes first; the dance makes the music visual.
Stravinsky Violin Concerto, music by Stravinsky (of course!) - Mr. B made two choreographies of this concerto: Balustrade in the 1940s and Violin Concerto after Stravinsky's passing on. This one is the second of these. Unlike the first, it is plain, without storyline, decor or special costuming. The music is the story.
The dancers are so young (and beautiful!) in this film. Some of them would achieve great dancing and teaching careers. But others must testify to the exact quality of dancing on this film. I couldn't tell you the differences between demi-pliés and battements fondus. I just like what I see and hear.
13 of 13 found the following review helpful:
 Don't buy it!Jan 25, 2007
YES....let this and the other 1 star review stop you from buying this DVD. The works on it are masterpieces, but the lousy inexcusable tech problems do not deserve your hard earned money! The music is off by maybe a second, but c'mon....this isn't American Bandstand. It's BALLET...precision is the rule. I would hope you would care enough to mind, whether you've seen the ballets before or not.
"The 4 Temperaments" is the best of Balenchine. A piece of perfection to fantastic music by Hindeminth. The choreography actually enhances the already brilliant score. But if dancers are not dancing to the beats, it is ruined and that's what you have here. It is unwatchable!
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