Ballet fan Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 I generally don't have much trouble finding ballet DVD's, especially on Amazon, and they're at a reasonable price. However, I saw a clip of Alessandra Ferri's first act variation from Giselle and I loved it, so I decided to see if the DVD was available. Imagine my dismay when I discover that the cheapest one was on Amazon at $525. This is from the marketplace because the DVD is no longer in production. However, I still find that the price is impossibly high. They can't reasonably expect someone to spend five hundred dollars or more on a DVD? Has anyone had a similar experience with any other DVDs and other stores? It's just that I'm upset because I really wanted to see this particular production of Giselle and it frustrates me that people would charge a price that is simply not worth it, even if one had the money at hand. Link to comment
SandyMcKean Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Isn't this situation true for any collectable since the supply is fixed? If the demand goes up, then the price must go up too. (Van Gogh paintings go for considerably more .) Link to comment
rg Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 and aren't the individual prices for used and supposedly rare items set by the seller? amazon is only a clearing house, if that's the word for it, not the price-setter. Link to comment
richard53dog Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 and aren't the individual prices for used and supposedly rare items set by the seller?amazon is only a clearing house, if that's the word for it, not the price-setter. Yes, that's true; the individual seller sets the price. Wow, I thought the price for this DVD @ $150 was a lot when I was looking for it about 5 years ago! But $525. Yikes. This has been out of circulation for years now. A little advice, keep checking back, I've noticed this DVD for as low as about $50 on amazon marketplace during the last few years. Also check Ebay from time to time, copies turn up Link to comment
annamicro Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Ferri's Giselle is broadcasted RIGHT NOW by Italian pay TV (Sky classica Channel). Hard to think that somebody could pay 525 (or 150 or 50) dollar for it. Link to comment
canbelto Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 This video is available at www.berkshirerecordoutlet.com for about 7.99. Link to comment
volcanohunter Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 This video is available at www.berkshirerecordoutlet.com for about 7.99. However, be warned that it's a pirate with somewhat inferior video quality. The DVD is still in print in Europe, courtesy of Arthaus Musik. If you've got a region-free player, you can get it for a good deal less than $525 on German, French or British Amazon. http://www.arthaus-musik.com/templates/tyC...etail.php?id=86 Link to comment
PeggyR Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 ...cheapest one was on Amazon at $525.... Holy cow Am I ever glad I bought it when is was in circulation! Haven't watched this in a while, but remember loving Ferri (of course) and being pleasantly surprised by Murro and the corps de ballet. Unfortunately, Isabel Seabra's Myrtha was seriously earthbound, a performance that would deter me from spending too much. On the other hand, this appears to be the only Ferri Giselle on dvd, so.... Link to comment
Wedgewes Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Keep checking Amazon & Ebay, I was able to buy this for $68 only 3 months back from Amazon Marketplace. Link to comment
naomikage Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Also this DVD (Giselle by Ferri and Murru) is available in Japan http://fairynet.co.jp/SHOP/4560219320680.html although region code is 2, NTSC format. Link to comment
cubanmiamiboy Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 Ferri's Giselle is broadcasted RIGHT NOW by Italian pay TV (Sky classica Channel).Hard to think that somebody could pay 525 (or 150 or 50) dollar for it. I saw her Giselle live in Havana years ago for...how much...?...like 5 bucks-(Cuban currency, translated to 0.25 cents of a dollar...great deal, ah...? ) Link to comment
afds Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Also this DVD (Giselle by Ferri and Murru) is available in Japanhttp://fairynet.co.jp/SHOP/4560219320680.html although region code is 2, NTSC format. I saw it on display at the gift shop of the Opera Garnier in Paris but it isn't listed on the website. Perhaps if you telephoned and asked them? HTH. Link to comment
EvilNinjaX Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Also this DVD (Giselle by Ferri and Murru) is available in Japanhttp://fairynet.co.jp/SHOP/4560219320680.html although region code is 2, NTSC format. I saw it on display at the gift shop of the Opera Garnier in Paris but it isn't listed on the website. Perhaps if you telephoned and asked them? HTH. Looks like it's available in the UK. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Giselle-DVD-Paul-C...y/dp/B00004TYYO PAL R2, natch. 24GBP is about 40 USD. Kinda pricey, but far better than $150. -goro- Link to comment
4mrdncr Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Thanks for all the replies, I've wanted this one too, but held off because of exhorbitant prices. In the meantime, I have a VHS copy of "Dancers" and if I fast-forward halfway through the film, I get most of Giselle with Ferri and Baryshnikov in what eventually became ABT's version. This film is also out of print, but probably available on ebay or elsewhere for a lot cheaper than that Amazon/La Scala dvd. (Other ABT dancers who appear: Leslie Browne (Myrta), Lynn Seymour (mom), Amanda McKerrow (Moyna/Zulma?), Julie Kent (corps). Link to comment
amiaow Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 I paid $100 for Suzanne Farrell "Elusive Muse", which was the cheapest copy available on Amazon at the time. I am so glad I did- some things are worth paying for I think! I noticed that the cheapest copy of George Zoritch's "Ballet Mystique" book was $250 on Amazon last week. Ouch! Link to comment
Jack Reed Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 $100 does seem just a little steep, but I think I've paid $77 for her Romeo and Juliet (the Bejart one), with Donn and Bejart, and I feel much the same way about it. Link to comment
Jack Reed Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 For contrast, here's another thread where a new-on-the-market inexpensive ballet DVD is discussed: http://ballettalk.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=30694 I grant you, it's only got short excerpts (apparently -- mine hasn't arrived yet) and runs about an hour, but for about $15 delivered, it looks like value for money. Check out the Youtube links in the thread and see how good and simple the camera-work is! Link to comment
Farrell Fan Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 Suzanne Farrell Elusive Muse -- priceless. Link to comment
Marcmomus Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Searching amazon.fr (France), or amazon.de (Germany) can give you a different range of DVDs. Many are multi-regional DVDs but if not a multiregional player is not very expensive. Some vendors don't sell internationally, but most do. Google will translate the website into English and all your registered data (credit cards etc) is carried forward from amazon.com or amazon.co.uk. One can buy with a couple of clicks. I recently went to Belairclassiques to buy modern ballet from the POB and was transferred to amazon.fr, and bought them all painlessly, other than the usual steep cost. Link to comment
Recommended Posts