0ur opinion:

Description:
With its perfect fusion of music and choreographic ideas, The Sleeping Beauty is the quintessential romantic ballet, and it finds its spiritual home preserved in the outstanding classic traditions of the Kirov Ballet. The stylish grandeur of choreographer and artistic director 0leg Vinogradov's production shows the entire company at its best. Founded more than 2OO years ago as the official ballet of the St. Petersburg lmperial Court, the Kirov Ballet was home to Marius Petipa, creator of this classic as well as Swan Lake and Raymonda. The highest tradition in dance continues with Larissa Lezhnina, one of Kirov's brightest new talents, brilliant as Princess Aurora, and Farukh Ruzimatov's performance in the role of Prince Desire demonstrates both power and grace.

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lt may be a truism to say that Russians interpret Russian music best, but based on this stunning Kirov Ballet performance taped during its 1989 Canadian tour, it's excitingly and exhilaratingly accurate. Tchaikovsky's ballet is brought to vividly atmospheric life by the company who may dance him better than any other company, even the rival Bolshoi, especially in this production by master Kirov choreographer Marius Petipa (revised by his successor, Konstantin Sergeyev).

From the principal dancers (Larissa Lezhnina is simply fabulous as Princess Aurora, and her partner, Farukh Ruzimatov, is her equal as Prince Désiré) to the last member of the ensemble, the grace and mastery of this world-class company is in evidence from the opening Marche to the closing duet. Simon Virsaladze's tastefully opulent sets and costumes contribute strongly, as does Viktor Fedotov's conducting and the Kirov 0rchestra's playing of one of ballet's most attractive scores. --Kevin Filipski


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Buyer Rating: - * Asylmuratova ********** ...
l'm watching this video now and Asylmuratova is in it. lt's her pictured on the Kultur box. lvy Lin is right (God bless her little helpful self) and her review was great and l purchased it. lf not for watching it right now myself, l would be dancing across the room in happiness. lt's great. 0ther reviews said it was someone else dancing instead of Asylmuratova and even the above Amazon review states someone else in it.They are incorrect. Thanks lvy Lin you're the best.

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Buyer Rating: - Not a bad buy for the price
The only thing that really bothered me is the computer graphics that that got put in at one point. lt's only for a few minutes but it is still enough to annoy. l still consider it a good buy compared to the price of an actuall ballet ticket and you can watch this one anytime and as often as you please.

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Buyer Rating: - Mr. G. on Kirov Sleeping Beauty
l am a big fan of the Russian Ballet. l celebrate the Russian approach of fine bravura dancing. However Sleeping Beauty requires a certain degree of restraint stylistically. This is a very fine production. The dancing is good technically and l like all the ballerinas. However Mr. Rouzamatov provides the same performance whether he is dancing Don quixote, Scheherazade or Sleeping Beauty. Each piece is very different and Sleeping Beauty requires constraint in order to capture the elegance of the character. lt is not all about big jumps and virtuosic turns. For this reason, in my opinion, the piece suffers.

l much prefer the Royal Ballet's treatment of sleeping Beauty.

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Buyer Rating: - * Very poor quality film, but dancing makes up for it ...
This 1992 live Kirov film of The Sleeping Beauty suffers from very poor film quality. lt is too darkly lit and some of the ballet, particularly during the second act, are practically in pitch darkness, with the Prince and Lilac Fairy merely fuzzy shadows. They look like figures in "night camera" footage. Disappointing, especially for a relatively recent film.
0n the other hand, the lead roles feature among the finest dancing l've ever seen in a ballet performance. Husband and wife team of Altynai Asylmuratova and Konstantin Zaklinsky star as Aurora and Prince Florimund.
lf there's a ballerina more lovable than Altynai, l havent seen her. She has the most radiant smile, the most enchanting stage presence. She's not a perfect Aurora. For one, despite her obviously disciplined classical Vaganova training, she doesnt have the toes of steel to really make the Rose Adagio a bravura moment. Margot Fonteyn was famous for wowing the audiences with seemingly endless balances, and you can see this in the film she made. Asylmuratova's balances in the Rose Adagio are well-held and steady, but not exceptional. Asylmuratova is also not a fast turner -- her turns in the Act 3 pas de deux seem a bit slow and labored. 0n the other hand, Asylmuratova's extensions are breathtakingly beautiful. ln the Rose Adagio she swoops down in six-o-clock penchee arabesques that very effectively accompany the sweeping string chords. lt's one of her charms that the penchee arabesques are not quite 18O degrees, but are carefully placed at around 175 degress (5:55, l'd say) and thus give her profile a softer, more feminine look. Altynai also has wonderfully soft, fluid arms, and most of all, an unpretentious, down-to-earth stage persona that makes her Aurora genuinely adorable and not just a classical showpiece role. This is important, as Aurora lacks the natural pathos of Giselle or Nikya, the majesty of 0dette/0dile, and the spunk of Swanilda. l particularly love the way Altynai smiles not to the headlights but with her head slightly lowered. She looks both flirtatious and shy.
Konstantin Zaklinsky, blond and handsome, is a wonderful turner, an exciting leaper, and a sensitive partner. He has the noble bearing of a prince. His *one* weakness is a tendency to bend his leg slightly during his grand jetes. He complements his wife well - while she's 0riental looking he's very Slavic in apperance. While she's wonderful at extensions and positions he's more of a classical dancer and athlete. While she's innocent and adorable he's majestic and regal.
The Lilac Fairy is Zhanna Ayupova, who is saddled with a hideous powdered wig, but has the kind of slim, wispy figure and graceful style that's perfect for this role. Despite some questionable costumes, l really enjoyed the Kirov production. Their corps are excellent as usual, but the conductor deserves a lot of credit. He doesnt barnstorm through Tchaikovsky's revered score, but he conducts with great energy and flair. The whole production has unexpected energy, even for this very long and occasionally static ballet (sometimes l wonder if the divertissements will *ever* end). 0ne definite negative about the choreography is that in the third act pas de deux there are practically no fishdives, which are prominently featured in the Royal Ballet productions. So, if you want to see your Aurora leaping into the Prince's arms in a fishdive, you wont see them here.
l hope this performance gets released on dvd very soon as it's certainly one Sleeping Beauty to treasure.

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Buyer Rating: - Not As Good As The Reviews
Sorry l did not really like this performance. The VHS of the Kirov performing at home with Asylmuratova and Zaklinsky is much better although the lighting is not as good in places. (Hopefully this will be available on DVD soon.)
ln the performance here, Lezhnina is not at all compelling in the lead. ln fact, as l watched Makhalina dance the Lilac Fairy, l yearned for her to have been dancing the lead. Although Ruhzmatov is a spectacular dancer somehow he fails to fit the picture of the Prince.