5つ星のうち5.0A stark, atmospheric gothic tale sung and danced brilliantly.
2024年2月21日に英国でレビュー済み
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Two Royal Ballet favourites are present in this German production of Kim Brandstrup's version of Edgar Allen Poe's 'The Fall of the House of Usher'. The text and music are by Claude Debussy. The four main characters of this harrowing tale are split between singers and dancers as follows: Roderick Usher - singer Scott Hendricks, danced by Steven McRae. L'Ami de Roderick - singer Nicholas Calvallier, danced by Johannes Stepanek. Le Medecin - singer John Graham-Hall, danced by Gary Avis. Lady Madeline - singer Katia Pellegrino, danced by Leanne Benjamin. Full of dark foreboding, this ballet is sung in French and is quite starling. The sense of unease and grimness echoes Kenneth MacMillan at his most severe such as 'The Judas Tree'. This is not to everyone's taste but that's art as they say. Like many modern dance productions, one cannot sat one really enjoyed the experience, but an experience it is. Approach this ballet with caution.
5つ星のうち5.0Magnifique production malheureusement épuisée
2016年5月26日にフランスでレビュー済み
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Ce DVD contient deux ballets -Prélude de l'après midi d'un faune -Jeux et une production de l'opéra inachevé "La chute de la maison Usher" (une heure environ). La mise en scène des ces 3 parties est commune et joue sur la rotation de plans vitrés ce qui donne de très beaux et surprenants effet de lumières. Dans l'opéra, les 3 personnages (Roderick, son ami et le médecin maléfique) sont dédoublés par des danseurs du Royal opéra ballet (qui apparaissent également dans les ballets) ce qui donne une vie et mouvement à un livret qui n'en propose guère. Dans l'oeuvre de Poe, Roderick évoque dans un monologue son ami. Ici les personnages (Roderick et son ami) sont dédoublés mais sont tous deux des barytons comme le médecin. Lady Madeline est évoquée mais n'apparait qu'à la fin et ne chante pas. L'unique registre vocal contribue à assombrir encore une oeuvre, qui l'est tout à fait par l'oeuvre de Poe et par la musique très sombre de cette dernière oeuvre de Debussy. La partition inachevée de Debussy est pour voix et piano et souvent sous forme de fragments. Elle a été rassemblée et orchestrée pour la première fois dans cette production. C'est donc un travail pour l'instant unique. J'ai pu me le procurer par chance d'occasion. Sera-t-il réédité ?
5つ星のうち5.0The very definition of a music DVD -- an aesthetic drench!
2007年12月12日にアメリカ合衆国でレビュー済み
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It's not possible to over-praise this product, and it's a crime against art that fresh-from-the-factory copies are now (one fervently hopes temporarily) out of stock, only overpriced used copies. Even so, if you (a) love Debussy as the Second Coming of musical genius, (b) love clever ballet choreography, and (c) love dazzling, hyper-sophisticated stage and lighting effects, this is the DVD for you. Everything about it drips with professionalism -- save for one egregious (if minor) techno-hitch in the main menu. If you click on "Prélude à l'Après-Midi d'un Faune" you get "Jeux" and vice versa. A bit flummoxing at first until you rewire your neural circuits. But by the time you're safely in the music (courtesy of the Vienna Philharmonic and a first class little troupe of danceurs: two males and one ballerina) you'll have forgotten the confusing shuffle at the theater door. Hats, caps, and berets off to this A-Number One production, and shame shame shame on the Capriccio label for allowing this gem-of-gems of a music DVD to go out of stock. Beg borrow or steal to get yours.
Trying to make a coherent work out of the fragments which remain of this unfinished opera is no easy task and adding Faun et al to the mix creates an 80minute experience which is not without interest. However the producer of the DVD has made the unhappy decision to run credits and titles over the action at the start of the piece which is totally distracting and undercuts its dramatic potential. Dancers from The Royal Ballet and singer Scott Hendricks and co give great performances before a highly impressive set. However there was clearly a problem with my recording which had considerable vocal distortion and the detail of the transfer during the "shows" darker moments was often lost. Add to this the very confusing ideas contained in the prelude ( did it take place in a madhouse? Who were the characters milling around with torches people from The Haunted Palace? Are we to assume incest? Was Madeline found hanged etc etc ) and this expensive DVD calls out for proper programme notes. A brave, interesting and quite powerful experience which however ultimately leaves you unsatisfied - however it is important that this intriguing work - by a great composer- has seen the light (well almost) of day!