Coppelia (Complete Ballet recorded in 1993)

G - Regular [Pan & Scan] - Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo - Colour - 91 Minutes - PAL

Includes.:
-Features article by Harlow Robinson, accessed on the DVD-ROM drive of a PC
-Booklet

The Kirov Ballet with soloists Irina Shapchits, Mikhail Zavialov, Petr Rusanov & Elvira Tarasova.
Choreography by Oleg Vinogradov

"First of all, confession time. This is the first full ballet I've ever seen, in any form, from start to finish. I've tried on a number of occasions over the years to achieve this minor feat but to no avail. I think my love of opera has always gotten in the way, so that after the orchestra has played a few bars I fully expect the performers to launch into song. It has always seemed a little flat when this doesn't happen. Perhaps, as I've been told, ballet really has to be enjoyed "in the flesh" at a live performance.
In any case, I suspect I was lucky to choose Coppelia as the subject for my first full ballet experience. It has the distinction of being one of the most popular in the ballet repertoire, and is bright, lively, not too long and complete with both a happy ending and more than just a pleasant musical score. I understand that ballets aren't supposed to have complicated plots - if so then this one fills the bill. The story, originally from a creation by Herr Hoffmann (perhaps better known from the title of Offenbach's opera, Tales of Hoffmann), centres around the young lovers Swanilda (Irina Shapchits) and Franz (Mikhail Zavialov). Living in the same village as these two is Coppelius (Petr Rusanov), the mildly eccentric toy and doll maker, who seems intent on tricking everyone into believing that his latest full size doll, Coppelia (Alvira Tarasova), is truly alive. As if to confirm their status as not being the smartest of lads, Franz and his mates each dance with Coppelia and fall in love with her, never realizing that she is just a rag doll. Seeing this, Swanilda is of course heart-broken, and breaks into Coppelius' home to learn more about her rival. She and her own friends are not deceived for an instant by Coppelia's identity, and are actually entertained by many of the dolls who perform for them. Franz finally learns the truth and is ultimately reunited with Swanilda for a happy ending.

I am unfortunately ill-prepared to comment on the quality of the dancing in this production. However, as it is performed by the Kirov Ballet on the stage of the Maryinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, I suspect that we are seeing one of the definitive performances of this ballet. Personally, I most enjoyed the second act, probably because it offered greater opportunity for a variety of dance styles and also because of the quality of the solo performances by the two lovers. The entire production was very easy to watch and enjoy."
Murray Glase