Giselle / Dutch National Ballet

I own many performances of "Giselle" but this is, by far, my favorite. It's possible to find a DVD performance with a more stellar touch here or there; but, overall, this performance is as close to perfection in all aspects of production as one is likely to find. High praise, I know, but I think it's merited.There is an overall "ensemble" feel to this performance. Everyone seems to be operating at the same level of excellence and commitment and on the same "wave" as to interpretation. The synchronization of the corps - whether manifested by a single couple, several couples together or the whole company - is exceptional. Quite honestly, I have seen productions by world-famous companies (no names mentioned) which fall far, far below the standards exhibited by this company. If they dance like this all the time, they should be at the top of anyone's list!Not only are they together as a group, but there is a singular grace and ease to their dancing that one doesn't always see. They are, in fact, so unified in style and execution that one can easily overlook just how wonderful they are. They make it seem so easy and normative that one forgets how exceptional what they do really is. I wish I knew more about the different national "schools"; but there is something about this performance as a whole and in the individual style of each dancer which reminds me of Russia. There isn't a moment of stiffness in anything they do, no matter how complicated; easeful, fluid grace is the best I can do as a description, and they seem to enjoy what they're doing. If the steps are racking them with pain, there is not the slightest indication of it for the audience.If you want a minus, then I single out the boorish behaviour of the audience, especially in Act 2, for special note. Seldom have I heard such disrespect from an audience for its fellows or for the artists as this one manifests. What do I mean? Coughing. My god, you'd think the whole performance had been filmed in a tubercular ward. But even with that the performance is so magical that one can forget such behavioural interruptions.I could go on and on, but suffice it to say that, once I've watched a DVD of Giselle, I normally skip over all but the beginning and ending of Act 1 and go straight to the real glory, Act 2. BUT...in the case of this performance, I have found myself watching the whole of Act 1 because it was just so very lovely, graceful and joyful to watch. What more can I say? I suppose you might not like this performance, so individual is preference; but I find it hard to believe in this case that anyone will be disappointed in owning such a "Giselle".Highest marks. Really, it's special. Buy it!This review refers to the "Giselle" of the Dutch National Ballet.Cast list:Giselle: Anna TsygankovaCount Albrecht: Jozef VargaMyrtha: Igone de JonghHilarion: Jan ZererKultur Video: ASIN: B002VR9QY6

The other reviewers in rating this production as 5 Star, as I have, have commented about this classic ballet up, down, backwards and sideways. In short this beautiful ballet, as an example of the art of ballet, has been fully explored. To a viewer, seeking reasons why he/she should buy or pass on this ballet performance gains nothing by my adding another dollop to a full plate of praise. Instead, I focus on the Ballerina: the raison d'etre - the primary reason why you and I buy a ballet recording .Ballet is a unique intellectual, artistic confection. It is an art form which tells a gripping story to the viewer (if successfully done) within a highly confining artistic format: the ballerina, and all the performers, must participate in the telling of a story WITHOUT UTTERING A WORD! Current Emotions, and Anticipatory Emotions must be expressed (a) through an understanding of the art of mime, (b) the ability to perform effectively in this unique art form (c)in concert with the underlying music, and (d) all coordinated within a pattern of intricate dance steps and physical movements, - some requiring a large order of physical strength (e)a memory for detail and (f) an exquisite sense of timing, namely to understand, and obey the choreographer's work product. For it is the choreographer who takes all these disparate elements, and, if successful, melds them into an eye catching, heart warming whole. All this expository material said, I turn to my reason for writing this review. I've fsllen in love with Anna Tsygankova, a Queen among the of Giselles! I knew nothing of Anna until a few days earlier. I had seen her for the first time in this same Dutch Ballet Company's version of Don Quichot. I marveled at her dancing skills, and enjoyed her effervescent personality. However her role as Kitri was a comic role, which Ms. Tsygankova carried off very well. It wasn't until I viewed her in this DVD of Giselle that I saw the full range of her artistry. Her dancing and miming in Don Quichot were superb. But in this performance of Giselle the interrelationship of her dancing and her miming were exquisite! And essential, were the ballet's love story to be effectively told. Each art form, dancing and miming, as done by Anna, buttressed the other, creating a beautiful, heart rending, indelible performance of an old, but ever young romantic ballet. Bravo Anna, Star Ballerina! Anna Tsygankova you have brought me much pleasure! Thank you!. King Arthur. Arthur Stanley Katz, May 7, 2011

I watched the entire thing from start to finish as well as the interviews with the dancers. It's a great story and the dancers know exactly how their characters think and portray them very well whilst dancing. The dancing is beautiful, the costumes are gorgeous, and the plot while bittersweet, is a dramatic display of betrayal, romance, grief, and supernatural love that will live on forever. The Willis are eerily beautiful and Queen Martha is a wonderful talent of acting and dancing. This is an American Region disc. I have bought a DVD from Amazon before and have learned the hard way about 'disc regions'. I had to send my purchase back on Amazon when I bought some other movie in the past and that was the longest most tedious, frustrating process. I think region 1 is the US region disc that will play in a dvd player in America. So look out for that when you are buying a dvd online. Overall this version of Giselle was a great find!

merci. bien reçu

Overall good performance. But if you already have the ROH version with Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg, you might be a bit disappointed by the less theatrical and less emotional acting of this version by the Dutch National Ballet like I am. I was deeply touched and impressed after watching the ROH one, but this one I found it not as enjoyable.