Hans Van Manen Festival [DVD] [2007] [US Import]

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-11-11 rating:
Contemporary ballet at its best
I can't agree with the other reviewer - the music is beautiful! Beethoven, Satie, Haydn, Astor Piazolla - I don't think any of these composers can be described as dreary! br / br /Hans van Manen has a particular style - the sets are minimal, it is the dancers and choreography that are the most important elements here. And what dancers! Uliana Lopatkina, one of the biggest stars of the Kirov, who puts such emotion and passion into her role. Lucia Lacarra, the stunning, dramatic Spanish dancer who performs 5 Tangos as if the ballet was made for her. The Dutch National Ballet dancers - including the beautiful Larissa Lezhnina - are wonderful, musical and they find the emotion in the pared down simplicity of Adagio Hammerklavier. And then there's Nederlands Dans Theater - performing Simple Things, a piece for two men and two women which veers between fun and drama. Anyone who's ever seen NDT will know that these dancers are incredible. br / br /There's something for every ballet fan here. br / br /


review by: date: 2008-11-04 rating:
Incredible dancers, but otherwise disappointing
I've always had an interest in ballet so when I saw that this recording was available and then read the positive review by David Thierry (amazon.com), I decided to get this DVD. This turned out to be a case of 'one man's treasure is another... br / br /This performance was recorded in Sept 2007 in the Netherlands; it was dedicated as a tribute to fete choreographer van Manen's 75th birthday, by dancing some of his 'most celebrated ballets'. br / br /There were things I liked and disliked about this DVD...let me explain br / br /The Pros: br / br /1.)The dancers could really dance! They were young, flexible and lithe; I could only wish to have been in such shape when I was that age. br / br /2.)There were segments of dance that were very pleasing to watch during this performance (the 'trois gnossiennes' and some moments of '5 Tangos' come to mind); unfortunately they were few and far between. br / br /The Cons: br / br /1.)The choreography. A lot of the dance (with some notable exceptions above) appeared wooden and stiff; it lacked a sense of flow and spontaneity. The general motif for the entire night's performance was that of classical ballet techniques blended with modern dance, and it just didn't fit; and maybe it didn't fit, because of... br / br /2.)The music! A selection of music as dreary and morose to dance to as I've ever heard...and this continued throughout the entire performance. Usually if you go to concert there may be something that doesn't please your ear; but rarely the entire evening's offerings. And there was nothing technically wrong with the playing of the music, but these particular classical offerings just did nothing to enhance one's enjoyment of the dancing. I can't image what would have persuaded the powers that be, who had the choice of music, to pick the audio selections they did. br /Shows like this always make me wonder how the dancers felt about performing to such music; surely something a little more 'pleasant' would help with one's 'dancing attitude'. br / br /Conclusion: br / br /To have a great dance performance you need three things: great choreography, great music and great dancers; a nights entertainment featuring just one out of three is really unacceptable. br /If, your a hard core van Manen fan you'll may really like this; I honestly did not. br /5 Stars for the incredibly skilled and talented dancers. 2 Stars for the overall DVD br / br /Ray Nicholson

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Video . DVD Blu-ray . Categories . Musicals Classical . Ballet Dance
Video . DVD Blu-ray . Categories . Musicals Classical . Classical Music . All Classical Music
Video . DVD Blu-ray . Categories . Musicals Classical . Musicals Stage Performances . Stage Shows
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Video . DVD Blu-ray . Refinements . Editions (feature_two_browse-bin) . Standard Edition
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Video . DVD Blu-ray . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 2000 and later
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