Tchaikovsky Gala / Bolle, Seminova, Licitra

$26.99
Label
BelAir Classiques
Release Date
October 1, 2008
Format
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TCHAIKOVSKY Swan Lake: Highlights. The Sleeping Beauty: Highlights. The Nutcracker: Highlights & • David Coleman, cond; Polina Semionova ( Odette/Odile ); Roberto Bolle ( Siegfried ); Maurizio Licitra ( Jester ); Gianni Ghisleni ( Rothbart ); Flavia Vallone ( Queen ); Marta Romagna ( Aurora ); Antonino Sutera ( Bluebird ); Daniela Cavalleri ( Florin ); Nadja Saidakova ( Marie ); Ronald Savkovic ( Nutcracker ); La Scala Ballet & O • BELAIR 37 (HD DVD: 114:00) Live: Milan 12/31/2007


& “Etoiles et petits pas”: the Scala backstage and the artists in rehearsal


Although the music comes from the three Tchaikovsky ballets, they have been intermixed and roughly form a plot of their own in this “Tchaikovsky Gala” DVD. The story line is loosely based on Swan Lake , acts I and III. Prince Siegfried (Roberto Bolle) needs to find a wife, so a number of applicants and guests arrive at his castle. In addition to Odile from Swan Lake , Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty , the Sugar Plum Fairy from Nutcracker , and assorted folks from each of those ballets come to greet the prince. As you would expect from Swan Lake , he makes an unfortunate choice and the evening ends in despair.


Many of the big moments from these ballets are included: the “Rose Adagio” from Sleeping Beauty , the “Sugar Plum Fairy/Nutcracker Pas de deux” (act II), the “Bluebird pas de deux” from Sleeping Beauty , and the “Grand pas de deux” (Odile and Siegfried) from Swan Lake . Some of the specialty dances from the ballets add to the festivities. Tchaikovsky remained so stylistically consistent in his ballet scores that this pastiche transitions seamlessly from one musical event to the next.


Every thing works to make this New Year’s Eve gala a splendid success. The dancing is superb, the costumes and scenery are colorful and elegant, and conductor David Coleman and the La Scala orchestra brilliantly support the dancing. The high definition picture is startlingly clear, and the video director captures the event with very few of those inane close-ups of bobbing heads and bouncing torsos. Roberto Bolle gets top billing on the front cover; although he is onstage throughout the event as the Prince, his dancing is restricted to the final moments when he and Polina Semionova (from the Berlin Ballet) take center stage. It might be a case of saving the best for last, but everyone involved, all the soloists and the corps, offer top notch dancing. Nadja Saidakova and Ronald Savkovic are featured dancers with the Berlin State Opera. This is luxury casting throughout. The evening concludes with a company curtain call, a New Year’s greeting from general director, Stéphane Lissner, the soloists appearing in black formal wear sharing in a champagne toast with confetti raining from the loft.


If you’ve never seen the Tchaikovsky ballets, this New Year’s Eve gala will give you an introduction to the riches that await you. If you’re familiar with the ballets, many of the favorite characters and dance numbers have been assembled to provide a fulfilling event.


There is a 31-minute special feature titled “‘Etoiles et petits pas’: the Scala backstage and the artists in rehearsal.” In addition to rehearsal shots, there are numerous images of Milan in various seasons, especially the holidays, with the seasonal decorations given special attention. The lack of narration and/or interviews with the artists and production staff makes this visual montage interesting to look at once, but it lacks meaningful focus.


I found the way the Gala was constructed into a collection of Tchaikovsky/Petipa’s greatest ballet moments into a cohesive, unified event was ingenious; consequently, I was disappointed the special feature did not include an interview with the creative people who devised this very entertaining production. There are two sound formats (PCM stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1); the widescreen HD picture is 16/9. The compatibility note reads, “This is a region free NTSC DVD, designed for playback on all NTSC and modern PAL compatible systems worldwide.” I enjoyed watching this DVD; I hope any of you who see it do too.


FANFARE: David L. Kirk


Product Description:

  • Release Date: October 01, 2008


  • UPC: 3760115300378


  • Catalog Number: BAC037


  • Label: BelAir Classiques


  • Number of Discs: 1


  • Composer: Pyotr Illyich, Tchaikovsky


  • Performer: Corpo Di Ballo Del Teatro Alla Scala, Bolle, Semionova, Coleman