Choreography By Balanchine Tzigane Andante from Divertimento No 15 The Four Temperaments Selections from Jewels Stravinsky Violin Concerto DVD with New York City Ballet, George Balanchine, Suzanne Farrell (NR) +Movie Reviews

Great Dancing but the sound is Out of Synch!

Ballet Boy | USA | 07/21/2004

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Don't waste your money. Unfortunately, this long awaited DVD was transferred badly and the sound in part one is out of synch by several counts. Suzanne Farrell and Merrill Ashley are dancing off the music and it is very annoying. It is unbelievable that something like this could happen when you take into consideration that Balanchine was probably the most musical choreographer that ever lived. Never pedantic, always magical. I did inform the Balanchine Trust. They were surprised and are looking into it. They are aware that the transfer was done incorrectly. The company that produced the DVD, Nonesuch was also called but did not respond. Wait until it?s fixed unless you like dancing 4 counts behind the music."

Suzanne Farrell returns in Tzigane

Ballet Boy | 07/08/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Worth it for Suzanne Farrell's abondoned return to the fold in Tzigane - the moment in the coda when she bends back into Martin's supporting arm is worth the price of admission. Weakness: they omit the Rudies section of Jewels supposedly because Heather Watts was not happy with her performance. Nice to see Kay Mazzo again. Wish they would release Serenade and Duo Concertante, the initial programs of the Great Performance Balanchine series.Included:
Tzigane: Farrell/Martins Andante from Divertimento No 15 w/ Ashley, Calegari, Pillarre,
Saland, Spohn, Bennett, Casttelli, WeissThe Four Temperments w/Cook, Luders, Neary, Ashley, DuellSelections from Jewels
Emeralds: Ashley, Ebitz, Bourne, Duell, Watts, von Aronldingen, Lavery Diamonds pas de deux: Farrell/MartinsStranvinsky Violin Concerto: Mazzo, von Arnoldigen, Martins, Cook"

Don't buy it!

John Gray Hunter Jr. | Wilmington, NC USA | 01/25/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"YES....let this and the other 1 star review stop you from buying this DVD. The works on it are masterpieces, but the lousy inexcusable tech problems do not deserve your hard earned money! The music is off by maybe a second, but c'mon....this isn't American Bandstand. It's BALLET...precision is the rule. I would hope you would care enough to mind, whether you've seen the ballets before or not.
"The 4 Temperaments" is the best of Balenchine. A piece of perfection to fantastic music by Hindeminth. The choreography actually enhances the already brilliant score. But if dancers are not dancing to the beats, it is ruined and that's what you have here. It is unwatchable!"

Out-of-sync problem still not fixed

Überfan | 09/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I recently bought this DVD, and the out-of-sync problem is still not fixed. The problem is blatantly noticeable with "Tzigane", no less because of the telltale hand-slap just before the end of the ballet. With "The 4 Temperaments", it's rather like a niggling pain that just gets on your nerves. I've also written to Nonesuch, but as with the other reviewer, they haven't responded. Having said all that, however, I would still highly recommend it if only because it is still a valuable record of NYCB in its golden age. Farrell in "Diamonds" is peerless. The other alternative would be to get it on VHS, which doesn't have the out-of-sync problem."

A dream come true

Ernest L. Sparks | Portland, OR USA | 04/21/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"PBS: Great Performances > Dance In America > Choreography by Balanchine >:
Parts 1 and 2 of 4 (1977)

I saw some of this series on TV back in 1978. I was awe-striken. I was a twenty-year fan of Stravinsky's music already and impressed by the composer's high opinion of this dance master (Mr. B). Seeing it for myself (being unable to go to NYC and actually attend) was totally thrilling and indelibly memorable.

Not mentioned here by other reviewers is that this is parts 1 and 2 of 4 parts made in Nashville TN. By the time I found out about the HVS tapes and their tranfer to DVD, I already had read Bernard Taper's biography of GB (with super photographs!) and became a Balanchine admirer in general (not just Stravinsky-Balanchine!). Some PBS celebration shows helped.

I like all of it. I haven't been bothered by any video/audio unsynchronicity (if there really is any) on this DVD.

Let me rave on about my very favorite dances.

The Four Temperaments, music by Hindemith - I am amused by the tale that Mr. B had some cash ahead after working for Broadway and Hollywood, so he commissioned the piece of music from Hindemith. I don't know of anyone else who would celebrate a financial return into the black this way. Mr. B didn't even have a dance company at the time. But then he and Lincoln Kirstein started Ballet Society, with would end up evolving into NYCB. The story is pure Balanchine: the music comes first; the dance makes the music visual.

Stravinsky Violin Concerto, music by Stravinsky (of course!) - Mr. B made two choreographies of this concerto: Balustrade in the 1940s and Violin Concerto after Stravinsky's passing on. This one is the second of these. Unlike the first, it is plain, without storyline, decor or special costuming. The music is the story.

The dancers are so young (and beautiful!) in this film. Some of them would achieve great dancing and teaching careers. But others must testify to the exact quality of dancing on this film. I couldn't tell you the differences between demi-pliés and battements fondus. I just like what I see and hear.
"

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