The principal dancers are Evelyn Hart of the Royal Winnepeg Ballet and Peter Schaufuss.
I had first seen this performance (in part) as a PBS feature some years ago and although I'd no real experience with ballet in the past I knew as soon as I'd seen Ms Hart come on stage that I was watching someone special. Thus, when I had the opportunity, I was delighted to buy the DVD.
Having had time to view this Swan Lake I must say that I can only reconfirm my initial impression of the Prima Ballerina. Ms. Hart has all the qualities to make a great leading dancer: poise, grace, an unbelievable sense of balance, and extension that almost makes her arms and legs look like they must be leaving their sockets. However, the thing that seemed to impress me the most was the expressiveness and suppleness of her arm and hand movement: almost like she had no joints in her upper limbs.
Peter Schaufuss is a perfect leading male for this work. He is a supreme dancer, athletic and also blessed with grace and balance. The pas de deux are the highlights of this ballet and they are simply breathtaking. Mr. Schaufuss is able to lift his ballerina so delicately and smoothly that you barely know that he is there: his touch, so subtle, so sure, that his partner can have every confidence in performing her difficult routine; and what a performance it is. Just a joy to watch!
And now, the negative (singular) and thus the loss of one star. The wicked sorcerer is portrayed, several times, by an animated ghost-like bird that must have been transposed on the main film. This gimmick, this photographic trickery, almost ruins an otherwise stellar performance of this Swan Lake. What was the director thinking when he added this apparition to this star studded work. Totally unnecessary! So annoying that as you watch this beautiful work, you begin to become uneasy, knowing that this abomination is going to appear and almost ruin the magic that has gone on before.
All in all, despite the previously mentioned distraction, let me say that dancing of the principals is so exquisite that this is a Swan Lake you would be happy to make part of any ballet collection.
