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Don Quixote / Baryshnikov, Harvey, American Ballet Theatre
starring: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Cynthia Harvey, Richard Schafer, Brian Adams, Melissa Allen
directed by: Brian Large
Average Rating: 
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: BARYSHNIKOV,MIKHAIL
Fabric Type: 9780769775616
Graphics Memory Size: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
Legal Disclaimer: 0769775616
Manufacturer Labor Warranty Description: 25
Maximum Color Depth: Kultur Video
Maximum Focal Length: EnglishOriginal LanguageEnglishUnknown
Metal Type: Kultur Video
Pearl Type: KLTD2026D
Publisher: 1
Total Firewire Ports: Kultur Video
Total Metal Weight: 1
Total Parallel Ports: April 15, 2003
Total S Video Out Ports: 86 minutes
Kultur Video
1984
Amazonaws.com's Price: $23.49
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Don Quixote / Baryshnikov, Harvey, American Ballet Theatre
starring: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Cynthia Harvey, Richard Schafer, Brian Adams, Melissa Allen
directed by: Brian Large
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Editorial Review:
Description:
Mikhail Baryshnikov’s sparkling full-length production of Don Quixote captures all the excitement, Spanish color, and humor of Cervantes’ original masterpiece. It is one of the most popular and joyful ballets surviving from the imperial Russian ballet’s repertory. The famous virtuosic pas de deux is danced in this performance by Baryshnikov "like a dream," according to the New York Post, "a madcap bravado which combined with his pure classicism gives his dancing an edge of genius." His partner, Cynthia Harvey, who takes the part of Kitri, was reviewed in the New York press as possessing "a clear line and splendid grace that grow more wonderful on each viewing." American Ballet Theatre was ecstatically received by the New York press for this performance. The New York Times described how "the dancers had the audience gasping," while the New York Post felt that the company had "never looked better. Dancing flows out of the Ballet with a boisterous beauty."
Call me Gullible. I read all the 5 star reviews of this DVD and bought it. I was unprepared for the result. Let me get to the chase. This one of the worst videos I have ever seen. Let's start with the best thing I can say, the sound is decent. 'Nuff said. Getting to the video is painful. First the colors are washed out. Second, this is a copy of a VHS tape, a bad VHS tape. I wouldn't doubt it if this was a multi-generation transfer. There are processing lines and halos around all the dancers. The resolution is abominable. Everything is obscured and blurred out of existence from costume details to the dancers faces. The roses in a bouquet shown up close are smears of red in smears of green. In fact when the camera shot is pulled back to review the whole stage you won't be able to tell the dancers even have any faces or heads. Trying to enjoy or rate any performance through this gauze is virtually impossible. How anyone can review this DVD as anything above one star is beyond me. I'd rather watch the worst performance of this ballet in a clear transfer than this crap. And don't be fooled by the nice photo on the cover. The video is nothing like it. Needless to say I rate this AVOID AT ALL COSTS.
Average Rating:
Rating:  -
Call me Gullible. I read all the 5 star reviews of this DVD and bought it. I was unprepared for the result. Let me get to the chase. This one of the worst videos I have ever seen. Let's start with the best thing I can say, the sound is decent. 'Nuff said. Getting to the video is painful. First the colors are washed out. Second, this is a copy of a VHS tape, a bad VHS tape. I wouldn't doubt it if this was a multi-generation transfer. There are processing lines and halos around all the dancers. The resolution is abominable. Everything is obscured and blurred out of existence from costume details to the dancers faces. The roses in a bouquet shown up close are smears of red in smears of green. In fact when the camera shot is pulled back to review the whole stage you won't be able to tell the dancers even have any faces or heads. Trying to enjoy or rate any performance through this gauze is virtually impossible. How anyone can review this DVD as anything above one star is beyond me. I'd rather watch the worst performance of this ballet in a clear transfer than this crap. And don't be fooled by the nice photo on the cover. The video is nothing like it. Needless to say I rate this AVOID AT ALL COSTS.
Rating:  -
This particular ballet is what hooked me on ballet. I had watched Swan Lake and was so bored that I fell asleep. Swan Lake reminds me of the philosophy "the Emperor has no clothes". I was ready to swear off ballet until I rented Don Quixote from my local library. I fell in love with GOOD ballet as danced by Mikhail Baryshnikov and Cynthina Harvey. They are magnificent. Now it's true, I may have only felt this way because I had been renting some really lousy ballets like Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and Giselle danced by some not so terrific ballet dancers.
"Don Quixote" allows for lots of solos and duos choreographed by the world's best ballet dancer at the time. His version of Don Quixote is not one of a buffoon but a man who is mentally ill and he treats his character with great respect. I cannot find anywhere in the ballet where Mikhail show him as a buffoon. Sancho, yes, Don Quixote, no. I am in fact, right now reading the original Don Quixote. Cervantes shows Sancho as a buffoon and Don Quixote as mentally not all there. Mikhail loves to read and it wouldn't surprise me to learn that he has read Cervantes and incorporated the personality of these two characters into his "Don Quixote" ballet.
If you want to see a serious ballet, then this ballet is not for you. Mikhail makes you smile if not down right laugh at times. This ballet IS Mikhail Baryshnikov. He has surrounded himself with the very talented ABT ballet dancers and choreographs dances that make you go "bravo!" He graciously brings out the very best in them and definitely gives you the impression that he enjoys dancing with them.
Ludwig Minkus is one of my favorite composers as his music is light and humable not discordant and noisy. I found myself wanting to dance to it instead of turning it off. I thought his music was wonderful but if you want serious, discordant music, then "Don Quixote" is not for you. I recommend for you "Cinderella" with music by Sergei Prokofiev. That was one horrible ballet for me. My nerves were a mess by the time I finished listening to it. It was very discordsnt.
To end this long review, if you like Mikhail Baryshnikov, you are going to thoroughly enjoy "Don Quixote". It's Mikhail at his most talented. It's not just his dancing which is terrific, but also his personality and artistic creation that shines. Well worth having for your ballet collection.
Also please don't miss "Baryshnikov Dances Sinatra". His apache type dance with Elaine Kudo is great. It makes me laugh out loud every time I watch the DVD. This DVD also contains "Push comes to Shove". A ballet written for Mikhail that shows his feelings that dancing is suppose to be fun.
Gloria Hutson
Rating: -
Cynthia Harvey and Mikhail Baryshnikov became a brilliant and historical artistic couple. In what concerns to their memorable and exciting role in Don Quixote, the result was simply glamorous and overwhelming. Grace and technique were bounded with steeled commitment, additionally the musical support, choreography, make-up and custom design contributed notably to make one of the most legendary and successful versions ever seen on screen.
For all the lovers of this artistic discipline, this album is a must-have.
Rating: -
I have seen many other versions of this ballet, but Ms. Harvey is superb. She outshown Mikail Baryshnikov. She is wonderful. I fully enjoyed the ballet, but most especially her excellent performance!
Rating: -
This is a great video of Don Q.Beautiful technique by amazing young artists.The Dryad Fairy took my breath away....she is amazing!This video is worth every penny for anyone interested in ballet and dance, ballet students,pre professional and professional dancers alike.
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