Jewels [Blu-ray]

Hate the sets: For me "the sets" include the curtains (are they real? fake?) of the wings. For me these "curtains" look terrible, and are roughly the color of vomit. Further, I don't like the swathe of sparkles on the back wall and I don't like the quasi-realistic jewel-set hanging from the proscenium. If you want great sets for this ballet, I give you those of the Paris Opera Ballet--in my opinion they nailed it.Now for the dancing. OK, I never have been a fan of "Emeralds" and I still am not. Danced capably enough, with the interesting inclusion of Zhanna Ayupova (then about 40 years old) as the main soloist. "Rubies": Starts off OK, in my opinion, but I'm still in somnolent mode from "Emeralds". Then enter Irina Golub and Andrian Fadeyev and WOW!, who turned on the lights?! Talk about electricity! She has sass and he has punch and they both "get it": the angular and jazzy idiom of Balanchine-imitating-Balanchine (with a wink here and there to Agnes De Mille in "Rodeo"). A Russian review of the Mariinsky says that Golub is really the standout in this part and I buy that. Fadeyev is certainly her equal. A great joy to watch. I do not agree with "French Critic" here in these reviews that the POB version on DVD is better; I think it is inferior for the most part, and that includes here in "Rubies" where the rounded and feminine dancing of Aurelie Dupont does not, in my opinion, begin to compare with the dancing of Golub (and I do like Dupont in most other ballets). Golub slices up the air with her feet and shows personality to match. Gotta be careful here not to talk too much about Golub, as Fadeyev (no longer with the company) is equally electric and deserves equal attention. "Diamonds": Here Balanchine seems to me to be saying, "You want Petipa? I can do Petipa better that Petipa!" I rather see "Jewels" as Balachine's curriculum vitae, his resume to the world, where he shows that he can choreograph in the classic French style, the American style and the Russian style. Again, I disagree with "French Critic": Ulyana Lopatkina, with her customary pure line and coolness (as I see her), is like sculpted ice. Igor Zelensky, ever the most noble and ardent of princes, is like scuplted fire. Fire and ice. Yin and Yang. This is a magnificent revelation of what it means to be a "diamond". I mean, you expect Russians to be good at dancing Petipa, no?In no way do I consider myself an "expert" on Balanchine, but I do love ballet and I am capable of being communicated-with from the stage. Perhaps the NYCB on any night will give you a more "authentic" performance of "Jewels"; nevertheless, I bet that you will stand and cheer for this one. Filmed in HD; well-played by the Mariinsky Orchestra; I like the different camera angles and close-ups, consider them well-chosen. I am giving it four stars, rather than five, primarily for the negativity of the sets. And please excuse my great use here in this review of parentheses.

Regionalism in dance is certainly alive and well. For the past several weeks I've been playing a section of Jewels from the Paris Opera Ballet and then the same from this Marinsky disc. In past years I've seen both institutions several times as well as Jewels in the NYCB productions with Suzanne, Patricia and Edward. So I feel some familiarity with this work and having watched it "grow up" so to speak. Both ballet companies are a pleasure to watch. Both companies have excellent musicians in their orchestras and their corps are fine. I think overall the balerinas are prettier and the male leads handsomer in the POB than in the Marinsky. But both companies are a great pleasure to watch. In general I think the Paris is a less formal, more loose and free in style of dancing whereas the Marinsky is more rigid and accurate of movement, more formal, yea traditionally steeped in history. And yes I really prefer that kind of ballet. I had expected that the Paris would have had an extra spark in the Faure' but I found the footwork too loose and slightly better done by the Marinsky. I have really grown to love this section and wish the coda that Balanchine had added would have been executed also. The Rubies section is not really my cup of tea. I love the Stravinsky of Petrushka, Fire Bird and Rite of Spring ( I saw all three on one program with the Harkness one evening WOW). But this Capriccio is too jazzy for my taste. I thought it well done but the Paris company has a looser style. The pair Fadeyev and Golub were smashing however. Whenever I watch them I want to stand and cheer at the end!For me Diamonds is the reason for being of this ballet. I love classic ballet; Petipa, Ivanov, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker, Giselle, La Sylphide etc. etc. Thus the beauty and elegance of Diamonds is my nourishment. And beautiful it is. Lopatkina and Zelensky were heaven to watch. She of the long arms who could have them move as if they were fluid, in the way I saw Fonteyn do in 1952. The ballerinas that open this work were breathtaking. The whole piece is pure beauty and joy. The Diamonds section is the jewel of the show for me.I will cherish both discs and play them often, I may even change my mind, but as of now I lay the laurel at the feet of the Marinsky.

A great ballet and it is well presented. Having seen it live at Coventry Garden this compares well. Very satisfied.

Saw a clip of this performance on another disc had to buy lovely, Steve

There are now two versions of this ballet to choose from on Blu-ray. This one recorded in 2006 although not released until 2011 and the one by the Paris Opera ballet and recorded one year earlier in 2005.The ballet is a totally abstract creation by George Balanchine based on music by Faure, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky. The steps danced in both versions are identical of course and are equally well performed. Both stage settings focus on the colour of the three featured jewels, my preference being for the slightly more sumptuous sets at the Mariinsky theatre. The music is equally well performed and recorded by both teams and both offer finely detailed camera work giving a nice combination of close and panoramic views. The sound in both cases offers good quality surround sound or stereo.Although this is an abstract creation as mentioned above, it is nevertheless very traditional as regards movements and dress. It best rewards repeat viewing as some people might find the lack of narrative and drama a little dull at first. The target is actually to illustrate grace and abstract beauty as appropriate to the perceived characteristics of emeralds, rubies and diamonds. The music moves from gentle Faure to spikier but accessible Stravinsky and concluding with typical Tchaikovsky but un-typically using the conclusion of his less well-known 3rd symphony.So which to buy? In this case there is no clear winner in my view and choice could well be based simply on price. I personally would wish to own both as the choices of camera angles and use of close-up and panoramic views vary throughout, sometimes favouring the Paris production and sometimes the Russians. I have not been able to pick up on the blurred faster movements of the Russians commented on by one reviewer, even checking carefully.Prospective purchasers would be safe with either version but my slight preference would be for this one. In my opinion both are worth the full 5 stars.

Balanchine: Genio!

Ayupova, Golub, Lopatkina et al. und nicht zuletzt ein bestens aufgelegtes Corps de Ballett des Mariinsky Theaters in Petersburg. Mehr (oder wohl besser gesagt weniger-) braucht es nicht zu Weltklasse. Dieses Ballett ohne Handlung ist eine Hommage an die Tanzkunst und ihre Protagonisten. Es ist kurzweilig und lebt zudem von äußertst passenden, farbenfrohen und auf das Bühnenbild bestens abgestimmten Kostümen. Wer russische Ballettkunst verbunden mit unvergleichlicher tänzerischer Perfektion sucht, wird sie auf dieser Blu Ray finden. Da es bekanntermaßen schwer ist, Bolschoi oder Mariinsky selbst in Natura erleben zu dürfen, wäre ich sehr froh, mehr Aufführungen dieser beiden weltführenden Balletthäuser auf einem Medium wie Blu Ray in höchster Bild- und Tonqualität kaufen zu können. Diese darf in keiner Sammlung fehlen!