Cinderella (the Covent Garden): Amazon.ca: Antoinette Sibley, Anthony Dowell, Frederick Ashton, Robert Helpmann, Leslie Edwards, Georgina Parkinson, Frank Freeman, Jonathan Kelly, Julie Wood, Lois Strike, Douglas Steuart, Gary Sinclaire, John Vernon, Charles Perrault: DVD

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From Amazon.com

Cinderella may be Sergei Prokofiev's most accessible ballet, both musically and visually, and in the hands of a master choreographer, it can be a thrilling experience. And so it is with this 1969 Royal Ballet performance, with then-resident genius Frederick Ashton pulling out all the stops in a staging guaranteed to please fans and win new converts. Ashton's particular ability to couch his innovative moves within a conventional framework is in evidence here.

The back cover calls this "an acclaimed historic performance," and historic it certainly is. Several Royal Ballet dancers are shown in top form, including Ashton (as one of our heroine's ugly stepsisters!), Anthony Dowell as the prince, and the wonderful Antoinette Sibley as Cinderella. The production itself is filled with colorful sets and vivid costumes, and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House plays Prokofiev's enchanting music under the steady baton of John Lanchberry. The video itself is simply rendered, and the unspectacular sound does the job. --Kevin Filipski

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Customer Reviews

5 Reviews

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3.6 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Cameraman in the Balcony, Jun 8 2004

By

Energeticus (Wenatchee, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cinderella (the Covent Garden) (DVD)

I would like to add to the negative reviews already posted the further comment that I have never yet seen a ballet so consistently photographed from a distance. Wide ensemble shots are often appropriate; but whatever acting and subtler gestural skills the dancers may have exhibited, not to mention costuming details, are almost entirely lost on the viewer. Closeups last for a few seconds at most, as if the filming director were afraid of letting makeup show. This was highly frustrating to me, as both Dowell and Sibley seemed to be in good form. Even in the solos and pas de deux segments the camera hangs awkwardly back as if the cameraman were unfamiliar with the piece and fearful of letting the principals unexpectedly dash off screen. Ballet is a pantomimic art, and a good visual recording should not relegate the viewer to the nosebleed seats.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful document rather poorly recorded, Sep 18 2002

By

Robert Levonian (Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Cinderella (the Covent Garden) (DVD)

This is a typical product of the forties, conservative, elegant and with a reserved sense of humour. Ashton's choreography is very classical in the sense that it's more respectful to tradition than innovative. Antoinette Sibley is a gracious dancer with a limpid technique, but I found Anthony Dowell's dancing rather cold. Frederick Ashton and Robert Helpmann are absolutely hilarious as the jealous sisters. The second act ballroom scene - where Ashton dances with a rather diminutive partner - is a jewell of integrated dance and pantomime.

The recording seems to be dated, though. The colors look faded and the sound has been poorly recorded. Also, the story has been shortened. After the ballroom scene the prince - in the original third act - travels to foreign ountries (Arabia and Spain)to find Cinderella. This act has been ommited, which is a pity for it gives an excellent opportunity for character dances.

There are four other versions of the ballet. The one choreographed by Maguy marin for the Lyon Opera Ballet is a claustrophobic and anguished piece, recommended to those who are interested in psychoanalysis and the avant-garde. Nureyev's version for the Paris Opéra Ballet has Sylvie Guillem as its main point of interest. Her partner Charles Jude has few chances to dance and Mr. Nureyev doesn't even have a dancing part. The action has been brought to the Hollywood of the twenties.
The Bolshoi version is the closest to the original. Raissa Struchkova gives a rather naive interpretation but her dancing is vigorous yet refined. This version was filmed as a feature film, not in a theater. The sense of humour is rather heavy sometimes. Sound and color are passable. The last version on video I know is of the Sevchenko Ballet from the Ukraine. In my opinion it's the most interesting. Sound and image are finely recorded and the cast, although little known - whoever heard of Alexey Ratmansky? - dances beautifully. It's quite difficult to get, as it was recorded on laser disc.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Beautyful Ballet, Poor Recording, Feb 8 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Cinderella (VHS Tape)

The first time I wieved this video I was greatly dissapointed and I absolutly hated the music. I couldn't figure out why as it had never bothered me before when seeing the ballet live. I soon came to realize that what bothered me wasn't the ballet or the music but the recording! The sound balance is horrible and does no justice to Prokofiev's vibrant music or the Royal Opera House Orchestra. Some of the filming is rather poor too, at one point during the ball scene the conductors arm gets in the way of the camera ( if only for a second or two).
Tudor's choreography is inventive and challenging to the dancers - the speed and surprising use of familiar vocabulary makes one think of Balanchine, though the style is very different. Anthony Dowell is elegance personified. His dancing is brilliantly smooth and efortless. Antoinette Sibly is gracefull and has a lovely expression but is perhaps at times hindered by the speed to reach her full jump. The four fairies are beautifully perfomed. I highly reccomend this video to any ballet enthusiast for the value of the ballet itself but close your ears partially while viewing it. I most certainly hope they remastered the music for the new DVD releas.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Production
What I enjoyed most about this video is that it showcases Sibley and Dowell at the height of their balletic powers. Read more

Published on Feb 11 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic. Also funny. The children will like it, too.
The Royal Ballet version of `Cinderella' is delicious - and an excellent choice for people who are new to ballet. Read more

Published on May 25 1999