Choreography By Balanchine / Tzigane, Andante from Divertimento No 15, The Four Temperaments,...

Choreography By Balanchine / Tzigane, Andante from Divertimento No 15, The Four Temperaments, Selections from ... | New York City Ballet, George Balanchine | a dream come true

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Choreography By Ba...

	Choreography By Balanchine / Tzigane, Andante from Divertimento No 15, The Four Temperaments, Selections from ... New York City Ballet, George Balanchine Nonesuch, 2004 average customer review:based on 7 reviews view larger image
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out-of-sync problem still not fixed

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.

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a dream come true

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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Don't look a gift horse in the mouth . . .

I remember the PBS television broadcast of these ballets and recall that the audio synch problem existed. It could be a result of the original audio dubbing and perhaps cannot be fixed. Yes, it compromises the full enjoyment of the performances but is unlikely to be fixed after all these years. Even a slightly marred record of Suzanne Farrell and others in Balanchine performances supervised by him when he was alive should not deter you. Nobody seems to mind that he slightly altered the choreography to suit the television medium. Give it a break and appreciate that the fact that you can see the artists for whom the ballets were created.

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Not on music!

I was extremely shocked to see that the dancing was not synchronised with the music. The dancers are wonderful, as is the choreagraphy of George Balanchine, and it's most unfortunate that the DvD is obviously flawed.

reviews: page 1, 2

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