LD Classical Video THE BOLSHOI BALLET SPARTACUS 1984 Bessmertnova Music Laserdisc [PA-84-098]

Laserdisc Title: "THE BOLSHOI BALLET SPARTACUS"
Edition: Fullscreen Edition (Double-Disc Set)
Music By: Aram Khachaturian
Starring: Natalia Bessmertnova, Maris Leipa, Nina Timofeyeva, Vladimir Vasilyev
Production / Year: 1984 USSR Gostelerdio and The National Video Coporation (International Ltd.)
Running Time: 129 Minutes / Color
Audio Format: Digital Sound, Stereo, CX Encoded
Video Format: NTSC, CLV (Extended Play)
Miscellaneous Features: NOne
Distributed By: Pioneer Artists
Catalog / Spine Number: PA-84-098
THIS IS NOT A DVD!!!
Cosmetic Condition
Disc (s) Very Good
Some very light to very minor hairline surface swirls or very light fingerprint marks
Jacket Very Good -
Normal shelf wear, few creases, light scuffs, worn-out corners or edges and splits on top and bottom spines
Other Relevant Information: Please note that this is a used laserdisc! I have made best attempt to describe this item as accurately as possible. However, there might be other cosmetic flaws I may have overlooked and thus failed to disclose here. Just keep in mind that this item is not brand new, please expect some normal shelf wear commonly found on used laserdiscs and jackets such as surface scratches, fingerprint marks, creased and worn out corners, scuff marks, worn out spines, torn vinyl cover, etc...

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Synopsis:
"This film tells the story of Spartacus' fight for freedom, his death, and the immortal fame of his exploit through the medium of the classical dance."

I came away from my first viewing of this video only moderately satisfied. There were two reasons for this. First of all, there are some problems with the video quality that distracted my attention away from the dancing. Secondly, the libretto that is provided on the tape is poorly written. It serves to explain the work in general, but it is insufficient for an in-depth, scene-by-scene understanding. Fortunately, these deficiencies are not insurmountable, and the tape has a lot of commendable things to offer.

The video problems are of a couple varieties. The screen jumps every time that the camera changes angle. Videophiles describe this as "non-seamless camera switching." This problem gives the tape somewhat of a home movie feel. There are also many places on the tape that have blemishes. Most of them are small--just some little white dots that appear randomly. Occasionally, there are some larger blemishes, and in one case, the defect also affects the sound quality for fraction of a second. If you want to enjoy this tape, you will need to learn how to concentrate on the dancing, and not let the camera switching and blemishes distract you. By my third viewing, these problems no longer bothered me as much, but I still believe that a one-star reduction in the overall rating of this product is merited accordingly.

Nevertheless, there are some excellent video special effects to be found here. Let me give a few examples. To depict the hopelessness and oppression of the slaves, a horizontal split screen effect is used, showing the powerful Roman warriors marching on the top, and the dejected slaves mourning their situation on the bottom. When Spartacus wins his freedom, the slow motion effect makes his leaps look especially impressive. The battle scene looks huge from the superimposed images of the warriors fighting. These effects come at the most crucial moments of the ballet, and they really enhance the film.

The choreography is by Yuri Grigorovich, and one of his eccentricities is his rejection of mime. Mime can often help bring out the story line, but there is none used here. As was mentioned earlier, the libretto is not detailed enough, either. These two factors make the ballet difficult to understand. What really helped me out was a book called "101 Stories of the Great Ballets" by George Balanchine and Francis Mason. There is a chapter on "Spartacus" that explains each scene in full detail. Without a book such as "101 Stories," it is doubtful to me that the average viewer can understand the story completely. A review of "101 Stories" can be found on my member page by clicking on "rss28" above.

This ballet is of a different character than most--it is a dark work. It is about slavery and Spartacus' (Vladimir Vasiliev) courageous fight for freedom. His adversary is Crassus (Maris Liepa), the oppressive military leader. These two male leads are a contrast of styles; Vasiliev dances classical steps, whereas Liepa dances neo-classical ones. The two ballerinas are a contrast of qualities. Aegina (Nina Timofeyeva) is Crassus' concubine; she is cold, lustful, deceptive. Phrygia (Natalia Bessmertnova) is Spartacus' lover, and she is fragile and caring. All four of the lead dancers turn in excellent performances, and the Bolshoi corps is also strong. The costumes include a lot of swords, shields, helmets and other military items. The musical score by Aram Khachaturian effectively brings out the various emotions involved.

Let me make it simple for those of you who may still be wondering if they want to purchase this title. If you appreciate what you see, then buy it. Despite its flaws, I value having this title as a part of my Laserdisc collection.


Return Policy: Each laserdisc has been visually inspected for scratches, warp, etc and has been spot-tested on a laserdisc player before listing for obvious problems or signs of laser rot. If there's a problem with the performance of the laserdisc, I will either replace the laserdisc or issue you a full refund. You must return the laserdisc at your own expense using carrier of your choice. However, if you would like to return the item for any other reasons, at your own expense, and after notifying me within 3 days of delivery receipt, only the original bid amount (less 20% processing & re-listing fee) will be refunded. S&H is not refundable.
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THIS IS NOT A DVD!!! THIS IS A 12" LASERDISC AND WILL NOT PLAY IN A DVD PLAYER

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