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I was just wondering if anyone could give a complete list of Giselles officially released on DVD (maybe even VHS) or at least which ones they consider the best and most important.

For example, I'm wondering if there's one released with Natalia Makarova or any other ballerina which is considered outstanding in the role. Do not recommend the ones with Alina Cojocaru and Galina Ulanova because I already have them and they're very good, but I'm looking to purchase something new.

Thanks so much in advance!

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I was just wondering if anyone could give a complete list of Giselles officially released on DVD (maybe even VHS) or at least which ones they consider the best and most important.

For example, I'm wondering if there's one released with Natalia Makarova or any other ballerina which is considered outstanding in the role. Do not recommend the ones with Alina Cojocaru and Galina Ulanova because I already have them and they're very good, but I'm looking to purchase something new.

Thanks so much in advance!

This isn't a list obviously, but a Makarova Giselle WAS released officially or commercially, one could say, some years ago. It's based on an ABT production with Baryshnikov. Currently it's out of print but commercial VHS copies are available on Ebay or from Amazon merchants.

For example:

http://www.amazon.com/Adam-Giselle-VHS-Mik...v/dp/6303100791

Certainly there are many others, a good method would be to use the "search amazon" window at the top of the page .

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I was just wondering if anyone could give a complete list of Giselles officially released on DVD (maybe even VHS) or at least which ones they consider the best and most important.

For example, I'm wondering if there's one released with Natalia Makarova or any other ballerina which is considered outstanding in the role. Do not recommend the ones with Alina Cojocaru and Galina Ulanova because I already have them and they're very good, but I'm looking to purchase something new.

Thanks so much in advance!

There was a Fonteyn/Nureyev/Mason(or Parkinson) version released on Video, but I am not sure if it ever appeared on DVD.

Also The Australian Ballet released a performance on DVD (2000) with Christine Walsh and Kelvin Coe, New production by Maina Gielgud after Petipa, Coralli and Perrot. Costumes by Peter Farmer/ Quantum Leap/Australian Broadcasting Company. I think this may still be available try Amazon or Ebay.

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I was just wondering if anyone could give a complete list of Giselles officially released on DVD (maybe even VHS) or at least which ones they consider the best and most important.

For example, I'm wondering if there's one released with Natalia Makarova or any other ballerina which is considered outstanding in the role. Do not recommend the ones with Alina Cojocaru and Galina Ulanova because I already have them and they're very good, but I'm looking to purchase something new.

Thanks so much in advance!

There was a Fonteyn/Nureyev/Mason(or Parkinson) version released on Video, but I am not sure if it ever appeared on DVD.

Oh, wow! Really? Margot is amazing. I'd love to see such a historic performance. After you posted this, I searched for the tape (I'm guessing it would have been released on VHS) but to no avail. Maybe someone knows where to find it?

And thank you everyone, for this wonderful help.

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Two very good ones are: Fracci and Bruhn (Berlin Opera) on Deusche Grammophon (on the one hand) and Nureyev and Seymour (Bavarian State Opera) on Kultur.

Particularly, and not what you might think at first glance, look at Lynn Seymour's portrayal of the heroine as a star struck, simple, naive and totally in love village maiden. The modern trend has been to emphasize the dance qualities in Giselle (as in multiple high soubresauts, etc., etc.) but Seymour is the gold standard in characterization.

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Two very good ones are: Fracci and Bruhn (Berlin Opera) on Deusche Grammophon (on the one hand)

Do you mean the one credited to ABT with the very controversial cinematography? I think that one is a fine performance but for me Act 1 is almost unwatchable. Act 2 I can deal with.

Particularly, and not what you might think at first glance, look at Lynn Seymour's portrayal of the heroine as a star struck, simple, naive and totally in love village maiden. The modern trend has been to emphasize the dance qualities in Giselle (as in multiple high soubresauts, etc., etc.) but Seymour is the gold standard in characterization.

I agree on Seymour. I saw her as Giselle about 7-8 years before this was filmed, her dancing was a bit stronger technically than in the film but that was almost beside the point. She gave Giselle a wonderfully complex, multi-faceted characterization. I agree today the technical achievements are more stressed which is one thing, but I miss the rich, detailed characterizations from some of the older ballerinas.

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I know you asked for Giselle, but as you said you like Margot Fonteyn, I thought I would tell you about a wonderful documentary about her, it was realsed a few years back, but is still available, simply called MARGOT (DVD)

it has a black/white photo on the front of her standing in a arched opening.

It tells her life story from beginning to end, and has quite a lot of excerts from her performances. Features Ruddi and her other relationships. With interviews with her friends and family. I should warn you though I found it very sad in parts.

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I was just wondering if anyone could give a complete list of Giselles officially released on DVD (maybe even VHS) or at least which ones they consider the best and most important.

For example, I'm wondering if there's one released with Natalia Makarova or any other ballerina which is considered outstanding in the role. Do not recommend the ones with Alina Cojocaru and Galina Ulanova because I already have them and they're very good, but I'm looking to purchase something new.

Thanks so much in advance!

There's a La Scala version with Zakharova and a rather wooden Bolle, and the POB one with Laetitia Pujol and Nicolas Le Riche which has an outstanding Myrtha. Personally I can't stand the ABT version, the camera cuts away during the peasant pas de deux to show close-ups of onlookers eating...need I say more? I didn't know there was a Fracci-Nureyev performance available, now that should be worth having.

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Two of my favorite Giselles are Bessmertnova/Lavrovsky and Mezentseva/Zaklinsky. Both are available on DVD from Amazon.com

The Makarova/Baryshnikov version is also quite impressive, but it's available on VHS only. Still worth getting, methink.

As an aside: it's a real crime that Lopatkina's Giselle has not been recorded comercially, and now time is about to run out on Vishneva :)

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There is another LaScala version on DVD with Alessandra Ferri. I don't have the details of the DVD on hand but I know that Bollo dances the peasent pas de deux. It's a pretty standard version and I wasn't all that impressed with the guy who danced Albrecht but Ferri is wonderful and her Mad Scene is simply superb. There's a reason why she is often hailed as the foremost dramatic ballerina of her generation and this DVD I think proves it.

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There is another LaScala version on DVD with Alessandra Ferri. I don't have the details of the DVD on hand but I know that Bollo dances the peasent pas de deux. It's a pretty standard version and I wasn't all that impressed with the guy who danced Albrecht but Ferri is wonderful and her Mad Scene is simply superb. There's a reason why she is often hailed as the foremost dramatic ballerina of her generation and this DVD I think proves it.

Massimo Murru is Albrecht in this performance. I do agree this is a wonderful perfomance on Ferri's part and certainly supports her reputation.

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Ok, so there is a Makarova one. Thanks very much everyone for finding that. I will be purchasing it. The Ferri/Murru one is out of bounds because of the outrageous price. But now, the ones I'm really interested in seeing in the role (if they have been released, of course) are Margot Fonteyn and Ekaterina Maximova. If anyone could shed some light whether they're available in any shape or form, I would be very thankful.

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Ok, so there is a Makarova one. Thanks very much everyone for finding that. I will be purchasing it. The Ferri/Murru one is out of bounds because of the outrageous price. But now, the ones I'm really interested in seeing in the role (if the have been released, of course) are Margot Fonteyn and Ekaterina Maximova. If anyone could shed some light whether they're available in any shape or form, I would be very thankful.

I'd gladly offer half of my kingdom for a decent recording of Giselle with Maximova

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now time is about to run out on Vishneva

There is one with Vishneva and Malakhov and the Tokyo Ballet. Unfortunately it's only available in Japan. Great performance though and well worth seeking out.

I would stay away from the recent POB version. Pujol's Giselle I found rather weak technically and emotionally colorless.

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now time is about to run out on Vishneva

There is one with Vishneva and Malakhov and the Tokyo Ballet. Unfortunately it's only available in Japan. Great performance though and well worth seeking out.

I would stay away from the recent POB version. Pujol's Giselle I found rather weak technically and emotionally colorless.

That version is on YouTube at this link...

http://www.youtube.com/user/actor001#p/u/45/hjcO5IUrB5w

Be sure to scroll down quite a ways.....it's there...

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There is one with Vishneva and Malakhov and the Tokyo Ballet. Unfortunately it's only available in Japan. Great performance though and well worth seeking out.

It is my favourite Giselle :wink: .

By the way unfortunately there are a lot of intresting DVD-s which are available only in Japan :)

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It's not difficult to buy things from Amazon in Japan.

I bought Lavrosky's brilliant 1954 film of Romeo and Juliet (Galina Ulanova) from a vendor in South Korea. Sure I can't read the writing on the cover, but I don't really need to.

The pages can be translated into passable English by hitting a command at the top right of the page.

To enter an international address, click "Add International Address" button on the bottom of the address page.

1. Click the "YOUR ACCOUNT" link (second from right) at the top of our home page.

2. Click "Set your ordering language preference" to set your language preference to English.

3. Click "Manage your address book."

4. Sign in with your e-mail address and password.

You can visit their English language Help department: http://www.amazon.co.jp/help/english

DVDs in the Japanese market are not in the US NTSC format but they can be played on a computer, or more conveniently on a multi-regional DVD player. These are quite cheap. Most standard DVD players can easily be hacked to make them multi-regional. I bought a remote control for mine programmed by a UK company and made my Blueray player multi-regional (for DVDs only) in 10 seconds. I also recommend using a currency converter before you buy as DVDs in Japan can be quite expensive, but those from France are not much different.

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This isn't a list obviously, but a Makarova Giselle WAS released officially or commercially, one could say, some years ago. It's based on an ABT production with Baryshnikov. Currently it's out of print but commercial VHS copies are available on Ebay or from Amazon merchants.

For example:

http://www.amazon.com/Adam-Giselle-VHS-Mik...v/dp/6303100791

Certainly there are many others, a good method would be to use the "search amazon" window at the top of the page .

In addition to Amazon.com, other sites stock several versions of Giselle:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

http://www.kultur.com/

http://www.moviesunlimited.com/

http://www.cduniverse.com/

http://www.tower.com/

I'm sure there are more...

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Ok, so there is a Makarova one. Thanks very much everyone for finding that. I will be purchasing it. The Ferri/Murru one is out of bounds because of the outrageous price. But now, the ones I'm really interested in seeing in the role (if they have been released, of course) are Margot Fonteyn and Ekaterina Maximova. If anyone could shed some light whether they're available in any shape or form, I would be very thankful.

The Makarova/Baryshnikov Giselle was a "Live from Lincoln Center" production on June 2, 1977, before most people owned VCRs. The Betamax had been introduced, but it was prohitively expensive. It was released on VHS in 1988, but I don't believe it was ever released on DVD. I can't find it on any of the commercial sites selling VHS/DVDs. You'll probably have to look at e-Bay or Amazon re-sellers for a used copy.

I heard that the long delays in releasing these TV shows was mainly because it didn't occur to people in the 1970s that there would be a VHS/DVD market someday, so they had to go back and get releases from everybody involved in the production. The delay in releasing the July 1976 "Baryshnikov at Wolf Trap" performance (which was also shown on PBS that fall before anybody had VCRs) was reportedly because Kirkland refused. Her statement at the end about anorexia was reportedly part of her requirement for the release. Even then, it's not the complete performance. The live Wolf Trap performances included the first movement of Push Comes to Shove, with Tcherkassky and van Hamel (the original cast), but that wasn't included on the VHS/DVD.

The PBS show I have most wanted to get was Theme and Variations with Baryshnikov/Kirkland, from "Live from Lincoln Center" in 1978. You can see it at the NYPL Performing Arts Library at Lincoln Center, but it's never been released for public sales. I hope someday they'll find a way to release that commercially. It's priceless!

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Slightly OT, but just some FYI:

1. Betamax vs. VHS: Betamax was technically superior, 'winning the battle' but 'losing the war' of consumer choice. In those days, quality on tape was determined by two things: width of tape (wider could hold more info--e.g. Professional recordings were done on 2" wide 'quad' tape, and eventually 1"), or speed of recording (again allowing more info to be recorded).

Both betamax and VHS used 1/2" tape, but the speed of the recording process was much faster on beta--besides being recorded in a slightly different set-up. Consequently, most beta tapes recorded for only 20-30 minutes--NOT the slower (more grainy) 2-4hr lengths of VHS. So guess which version the general consumer wanted to use to record? You guessed it: VHS for movies, sports, soaps. I always smile though, because, while the consumer was happy with VHS', professionals got to use the much superior next generation of 'beta'--betacam, which could, eventually in mid-1980's, record up to 60min/tape in the field. BTW: I also thank all gods that video-cassettes were invented for field shooting, and eventually betacams--ie. professional beta camcorders--so no more carrying 55lb vcr's on one shoulder, and almost 15lb cameras on the other tethered together by a 6ft. inch-wide cable with 27 pins.

2. Home Use: Actually, stations/networks/producers DID realize quite early there was an after-market once videotape was constantly used to record programs...However, there was also a years-long legal battle, (much as there is today over internet downloading etc.) concerning who owned the rights to this "ancillary product", and who made the profits from home viewers. Don't you remember how the movie studios and tv networks fought vcrs's because they thought it would end viewership of free over-the-air television and broadcasts of films--which networks and advertisers paid $$$ for? Don't you remember the studios wanted to outlaw vcr's or charge for each off-air recordings--(kind of like getting charged for PPV or internet downloads now). It was only potential profits from RENTALS that convinced them otherwise, and eventually made them realize that video cassette sales might work out too.

Of course they were right about the decline and splintering of audiences--which has continued even more now--but until the profit$ and ownership rights were worked out, programs sat on the shelf after broadcast. There was also a real fear of what use a home-viewer would make of a program. (Pirating/copying?) Today, the usual broadcast window is 3yrs, then distribution overseas and thru those ancillary markets.--But the internet has made things happen quicker, so dvds are usually released soon after broadcast. It's those archived programs and finding the original rights holders again, that slows release now.

BTW:

My parents owned a betamax in the late 70's because I told them it had the better quality, but we could only record programs off-air, since the networks weren't releasing videos for home sale (see above.) I also bought the original vhs releases of the Makarova/Nagy SL (an Emmy-winning "Live from Lincoln Center" broadcast--did I ever cheer that win when I saw the Emmy broadcast!, but mostly because stupid network tv finally noticed artsy PBS), and the Makarova/Baryshnikov "Giselle" (which also won an Emmy--ditto hoorays from me)--my staff discount helped. But now can't get my old vcr to play them! And vcr's are getting hard to find.

Also...If anyone knows how to search a BT thread, I think I posted a detailed reply (in '07?)concerning why more of these older PBS broadcasts are not on dvd now.

Totally agree about Gelsey/Misha's T&V--the first time I ever saw T&V and what has always "stuck" in my head ever since. Also the first film I ever wanted to watch, the first time I went to the NYPL Perf.Arts! (That day, I also watched the Balanchine Trust/Archive (?) of Alicia Alonso teaching T&V to a very young Paloma Herrera & Angel Corella. What a brilliant artist Mme Alonso is/was, I've never learned so much in such a short time.)

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Totally agree about Gelsey/Misha's T&V--the first time I ever saw T&V and what has always "stuck" in my head ever since. Also the first film I ever wanted to watch, the first time I went to the NYPL Perf.Arts! (That day, I also watched the Balanchine Trust/Archive (?) of Alicia Alonso teaching T&V to a very young Paloma Herrera & Angel Corella. What a brilliant artist Mme Alonso is/was, I've never learned so much in such a short time.)

The Alonso tape was made by the George Balanchine Foundation, as part of its Video Archives project. You'll see the one with Alonso coaching Paloma Herrera and Angel Corella in T&V on the list. It was taped in 1998.

http://www.balanchine.org/balanchine/03/gb...ves_videos.html

I don't believe these were ever released for commercial sale, but they have been distributed for educational use. They list 70 educational libraries around the world where they can be viewed:

http://www.balanchine.org/balanchine/03/gb..._libraries.html

I know for a fact, however, that this list is not complete. My campus of the California State University has them and it's not on the list, so you might check your local colleges/universities for access.

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My parents owned a betamax in the late 70's because I told them it had the better quality, but we could only record programs off-air, since the networks weren't releasing videos for home sale (see above.) I also bought the original vhs releases of the Makarova/Nagy SL (an Emmy-winning "Live from Lincoln Center" broadcast--did I ever cheer that win when I saw the Emmy broadcast!, but mostly because stupid network tv finally noticed artsy PBS), and the Makarova/Baryshnikov "Giselle" (which also won an Emmy--ditto hoorays from me)--my staff discount helped. But now can't get my old vcr to play them! And vcr's are getting hard to find.

I worried that VHS tapes I taped for personal use off the air in the 80s and 90s would deteriorate, so I bought a Sony VHS/DVD recorder that easily transfers VHS to DVD. I have model RDR-VX500, and I think they still sell a slightly newer version of that. Commercial tapes sold after about 1990 have pirate protections in them, so you can't copy those to DVD on a machine like this. Interestingly, I discovered that some of the old ballet tapes from the 80s (e.g., the Makarova/Baryshnikov Giselle) don't have those pirate protections in them - but let me stress that copying from VHS to DVD is strictly limited to personal use for tapes made off the air under the current copyright law.

My advice: if you have an old VHS tape that's been re-issued on DVD, buy the commercial DVD to be sure you have it for the future. You can still find VCR players, but they're likely to disappear in the coming years.

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