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31 of 34 found the following review helpful:
The Sleeping Beauty/ Kirov BalletJul 02, 2002
By Lea Jadis
"leajadis"
The uppers:
This was such a great performance of this ballet. The camera angles helped compliment the dancers and Larissa is adorable as Princess Aurora. The set, costumes, and corps helped to accent the principle dancers. The choreography was well done to the music and the orchestral balance was fine tuned. They also included all the most memorable songs and themes. Many movie verson cut some out due to available tape time, but this one kept to the original main themes.The downers: They tried to add some Computer Graphics at one point that was rather annoying, but they did not interfere with the ballet so it is permissible. They DID happen to cut off the corps at some points and the corps got rejected for more intricate choreography, and they repeated their movements quite a bit. Still, it is one of the better corps parts that I have seen.
*I hope that you enjoy this ballet and that this review was helpful to you!
38 of 44 found the following review helpful:
 Breathaking ! A Ballet Enjoyed In Many LevelsDec 21, 2002
By Rachel Garret
Tchaikovsky's second ballet, presented at a prestigious Russian theater in the 1880's, became successful and standard for ballet dancers and is still a ballet enjoyed by many in several levels. It is the age-old Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. Aurora is the princess under the curse of a wicked fairy, doomed to sleep forever until a prince awakens her with a kiss. Bits and pieces of the Tchaikovsky score was used in the 50's Dysney animated film, Sleeping Beauty. This DVD is visually striking and the Russian ensemble who perform the ballet are exceptional. The costumes are gorgeous, true to the French-style that Tchaikovsky was going for when he wrote this (he was said to be modeling the court of King Louis XIV). The principal dancers in the roles of Aurora and Prince Desire, as well as the evil fairy, express themselves fully in their solos. Fancy footwork, pas de deux, lavish corp and the ensuing divertissements in Aurora and the Prince's wedding are fine examples of how great the ballet is visually on DVD and in the hands of the Russians. Act I begins with the theme associated with the evil fairy, dark, powerful and fatalistic, but is subdued when the hopeful, romantically melodic theme of the Lilac Fairy (Aurora's fairy godmother) erupts into a glorius introduction. The kingdom prepares for Aurora's christening (The March) and congregate in the hall of the castle. The fairies endow the child with special qualities, beauty, grace, song, etc..keep in mind this is not all that different from the Dysney film or the fairy tale. When the Lilac Fairy is about to bestow her gift on the baby, the evil fairy and her minions storm the castle and the evil fairy rages in her fury about not being invited. In revenge, she casts a dark spell on the child. She will prick her finger on a pointy spindle and die. Of course, the Lilac Fairy offers hope and reverses some of the spell. Aurora will sleep and not die, awaken only after the kiss of her true love prince. Also, the entire kingdom will sleep with her. Act 2 features Aurora as a young woman who is awakening to her femininity, celebrating her sixteenth birthday, surrounded by loving and doting parents and many interested princely suitors. The Waltz, the Rose Adagio and Aurora's Death are the highlights. In the final act, the Prince, with the help of the Lilac Fairy, defeats the evil fairy, penetrates the castle and awakens the sleeping beauty with a kiss. Their wedding features many characters from fairy tales, including Cinderella and Puss'N'Boots. The Apotheose ends gloriously, and is without doubt Tchaikovksy's most brilliant work for orchestra. This ballet is a great introduction for ballet novices, a lesson in good choreography and over all, a glittering rendition of the masterful art. Who says ballet is sentimental nonsense ? It is a passionate, engulfing and living art form that requires stamina, endurance and precision, full of magnetism and full of life. This particular ballet can be enjoyed in many levels. Children will like the fairy tale ambiance, adults will enjoy the developing ballet structure and balletomanes will be in heaven. I am a ballet/ music and opera teacher and encourage any medium to instill a love of the arts. On DVD, ballet is a must see, almost, but never quite, like, seeing a live performance.
16 of 18 found the following review helpful:
A muscial and visual delightMar 03, 2002
By Karen B. Chenier
"kchenier"
This DVD is exceptional! I am very pleased. The quality of the digital images is clear and crisp and the audio is wonderful. The Kirov's Sleeping Beauty is staged, choreography and danced beautifully. I highly recommend anyone interested in romantic/classical ballet to purchase this DVD.
8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
A beautiful `Beauty'May 21, 1999
Although there are two other excellent videos of `The Sleeping Beauty' by the Kirov, you will probably want this one as well, since the glorious Altynai Asylmuratova dances Aurora, partnered by her husband, Konstantin Zaklinsky. Unfortunately, Kultur videos has an annoying habit of not including cast lists, but the performance is conducted by Viktor Fedotov and Kirov fans will spot a number of familiar faces, including Elena Pankova and Zhanna Ayupova. It's a lovely performance. You won't be sorry you bought this.
8 of 9 found the following review helpful:
asylmuratova - a rare talentMay 22, 2004
By david johnson
Having been part of the ballet scene many years ago as dance accompnanist to Makarova and Barysnikov, Lynn Seymore and many others, I offer my humble opinion as, I hope, an antedote to Gary Shen's (in my opinion) misguided review. Whatever shortcomings this production has: yes, the lighting is bad but I suggest you turn up the brightness level on your TV as I do each time I watch this video; yes the choreography is not completely the original Petipa (but neither is the Royal Ballet's version whose modern sets I find completely distracting); and a female Carabose is to my mind definitely not a plus...HOWEVER, this video has probably the greatest Aurora you will ever find on commercial video:Altynai Asylmuratova. This great dancer now heads the famous Vanganova School in St. Petersburg and has retired from dancing (since 2001). It is a pity that so little of her glorious work remains on film for posterity. In many ways she is reminiscent of Galina Ulanova, arguably the greatest dancer of the 20th century, especially in the use of her long arms and in her uncanny ability to continue the movement of one step on into the next. The emotional depth of her dancing is in a class by itself and I urge all dancers to study her work. What a pity no one filmed her farewell Aurora in London in 2000 when the Kirov brought their newly-reconstructed original 1890 version to the west. That version (hopefully on film in the not-too-distant future???) will leave all other productions in the dust.
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