Delibes: Sylvia

Stories take us to the ballet fantasy world, where parade gods, kings, wizards, pirates, slaves, princes, swans and all that imagination can create. Ballet takes us, makes us feel emotions that even when children felt.Appear strange worlds, exotic beings materialize. In each presentation, we forget the reality and we cling to the naivety of the characters. Cheered for them, get angry when they are deceived, we want the best of all worlds. The music of the ballet help on this trip of dreams: usually sweet, simple, direct and very emotional. Become a special dance and sometimes makes us cry and sometimes makes us happy with their melodies flavored honey. Who has the imagination, keep inside the soul of a child, and likes to daydream, love this art. Ballet is to dream.The ballet Sylvia is to dream. Him parade fauns and nymphs, unreal beings that materialize on the stage of Covent Garden, London. Dance with grace, until you get to the shepherd Amyntas, causing them to hide. This, played by handsome Roberto Bolle, overcomes the technical difficulties of ballet with the elegance of classical dance. Popcorn in the lobby, his legs tremble, but in the course of the function is gaining strength and confidence. Shows that it is one of the great dancers of today. Darcey Bussell is a Sylvia athletic, strong and passionate. Sometimes charming, yet more severe. Steps expressive, rhythmical movements and a tune with Roberto Bolle. Pax de deux at the end of the third act expresses the love of pigeons. High degree of difficulty and great aesthetic beauty, represents the culmination of the plot.Some will say that the paper was re-created by Frederick Ashton in 1952, especially for Margot Fonteyn - and she was exceptional as Sylvia. Unfortunately, I never had the pleasure of seeing it. But this remake of 2005, following the release of 1952 is, for me, the best in the world, it is the only one I know.The orchestra plays with brilliance, their metals are heroic, their romantic strings, a regency with fast times, one color and nuances appropriate to the music by Delibes. The scenarios are up to this great show: land in the first and second act, the third heaven. Luxury, brightly colored, sometimes brilliant. The costumes make it easier to drive. Delimit the condition of each character with light and contrasting colors - light to dark nymphs and the kidnappers.Image and sound flawless, the direction of television captures scenes with transparência.Todos these factors make this DVD an unforgettable work. Just do not understand why this ballet has not established itself in major companies worldwide. It has all the characteristics of the great ballets and still makes us dream.Sylvia -Ballet para SonharHistórias de balé nos levam ao mundo fantástico, onde desfilam deuses, reis, magos, piratas, escravos, príncipes, cisnes e tudo que a imaginação pode criar. Balé nos transporta, nos faz sentir emoções que nem quando crianças sentíamos. Mundos estranhos aparecem, seres exóticos se materializam. Em cada apresentação, esquecemos a realidade e nos apegamos à ingenuidade dos personagens. Torcemos por eles, nos irritamos quando são enganados, queremos o melhor dos mundos. A música do balé ajuda nessa viagem de sonhos: geralmente doce, simples, direta e muito emotiva. Torna a dança especial e ora nos faz chorar, ora nos alegra com suas melodias sabor mel. Quem tem a imaginação fértil, guarda dentro de si uma alma de criança, e gosta de sonhar acordado, ama essa arte. Balé é para sonhar. O balé Sylvia é para sonhar. Nele desfilam faunos e ninfas, seres irreais que se materializam no palco do Covent Garden-Londres. Dançam com graça, até que aparece o pastor Amintas, fazendo-os se esconder. Este, interpretado pelo bonitão Roberto Bolle, vence as dificuldades técnicas desse balé com a elegância da dança clássica. Pipoca na entrada, seus pés tremem, mas no desenrolar da função vai ganhando força e confiança. Mostra que é um dos grandes bailarinos da atualidade. Darcey Bussell faz uma Sylvia atlética, forte e apaixonada. Às vezes charmosa, outras tantas severa. Passos expressivos, movimentos cadenciados e uma sintonia total com Roberto Bolle. O pax de deux do final do terceiro ato expressa o amor dos pombinhos. De alto grau de dificuldade e grande beleza estética, representa o auge do enredo. Alguns vão dizer que o papel foi recriado por Frederick Ashton em 1952, especialmente para Margot Fonteyn - e ela era excepcional como Sylvia. Infelizmente, eu nunca tive o prazer de vê-la. Mas essa remontagem de 2005, que segue a versão de 1952, é, para mim, a melhor do mundo, pois é a única que conheço. A orquestra toca com brilho, seus metais são heróicos, suas cordas românticas, uma regência com tempos rápidos, um colorido e nuances adequados à música composta por Delibes. Os cenários estão à altura desse grande espetáculo: terrenos no primeiro e segundo ato, celestiais no terceiro. Luxuosos, de cores fortes, às vezes brilhantes. Os figurinos facilitam a movimentação. Delimitam a condição de cada personagem com leveza e cores contrastantes - claras às ninfas e escuras aos sequestradores. Imagem e som impecáveis, a direção de televisão capta as cenas com transparência.Todos esses fatores fazem desse DVD um trabalho inesquecível. Só não entendo o porquê desse balé não ter se firmado nas grandes companhias mundiais. Possui todas as características dos grandes balés e ainda nos faz sonhar.Ali Hassan Ayache

This ballet has some of the most beautiful music you will ever have the pleasure to hear. Even Tchaikovsky thought it was the best music he had ever heard. When he heard the music for the ballet Sylvia, Tchaikovsky said that if he had heard Leo Delibes music for Sylvia before he wrote his own music for Swan Lake, he would NOT have written Swan Lake. We should ALL be glad that he did not hear it, because we would not now have the worlds most beloved ballet, Swan Lake.If for no other reason, one should own this ballet just for the music. It is stand alone quality, as Tchaikovsky's is. However, you also get to see the beautiful and talented Darcey Bussell and very handsome Roberto Bolle, plus a fabulous supporting cast from the corps de ballet perform some extraordinary dancing. The horn passage which is played at Sylvia's entrance is some of the grandest horn music ever written. I think Leo Delibes knew it was good so he let us hear it three times in Sylvia's entrance sequence, and more of it later. (It's also heard in the overture.)Sylvia is an Amazonian (heroine) huntress who is a protege of the Goddess Diana, and who, in obedience to Diana, has forsaken love. She mocks the statue of Eros, the God of love played by Martin Harvey, who stands so stark still in the opening scene that he seems to be a real statue. The Amazons discover the shepherd Aminta, who is in love with Sylvia, hiding close-by, and during the confrontation, Sylvia, attempting to shoot Eros with an arrow, accidentally shoots Aminta instead. In retaliation Eros shoots Sylvia with a magic arrow, causing her to later fall in love with Aminta. Sylvia realizes she is in love with Aminta and returns to aid him when she is discovered by the evil hunter Orion, played by Thiago Soares, who abducts her and carries her off to his cave where she is held captive. During the second act while Sylvia is held captive, and just after her costume change , there is a melody called CHANT BACCHIQUE that is so utterly beautiful, the Australian Ballet used it in the third act of their production of Coppelia, when the Brides-Maids and Grooms-Men dance to honor the new Bride and Groom, Swanilda and Franz..... The Australian Ballet - Coppelia .....You can find the name of the melody (above) in the chapters menu to help you locate it. See if you agree with me and the Australian Ballet on the beauty of that tune.It is a great aid in the understanding of the ballet to hear Bussell's introduction before each act. Some of us do not know all these ballets so we can use some information like she gives us. Also, it's nice to see what happens on stage before curtain-rise, another good reason to have a live performance instead of a filmed sound stage version. I thought it was remarkable that Bussell was able to make a complete costume change (in act two) in just one minute and fifteen seconds. She does this in order to fool Orion into thinking he is winning her over to his advances, but she is really going to try to escape from him after getting him drunk. The Royal Ballet version of Sylvia is very good and the orchestra is superb. Also, the British make very good audiences as they know enough to hold their enthusiasm in check until the right moment, and do not interrupt the dancing with applause. Darcey Bussell gives us some very informative comments just before each act, but you can only access them by clicking on the chapters menu.The REAL beauty in this ballet is in the third act, but I am going to let you find that out for yourself. I promise you will love this ballet......Richard

I saw this performance on the BBC many years ago and thought it was wonderful. Delibes' score is a masterpiece of ballet writing, many pieces of which can easily stand on their own in a concert hall. The production is top class; scenery, costumes, staging is all perfection. Then there are the dancers themselves. I am not a ballet afficionado so I am not able to be clever in describing their abilities and techniques, but here there are top class soloists at the top of their powers, giving their all. I don't know how anyone can do what they do here, effortlessly (seeming ) and flawlessly. Even relatively simple things eg Martin Harvey as Eros standing motionless with no visible breathing or blinking for so long, these are done to perfection. If you fancy an introduction to a really 1st class ballet then do yourself a favour and get this DVD

I am not able to attend ballet performances at present so its good to have a DVD to play. The item came as promised: perfect and in time.

I liked this production a lot. A story that was easy to follow,lovely scenery,great dancing and lively music.Some say the music was inspired by Wagenrs Ride of the Valkyries. It was certainly heavenly.

I already had the dvd myself so bought this one as a gift for someone else who was delighted. The production & cast are particular favourites.

Beautiful dancing.