Based on ancient Indian lore, the ballet La Bayadère recounts the forbidden love of the noble Solor for the slave girl Nikia, who is murdered by her jealous rival Gamzatti. This 1977 performance, a foreshortened three-act production, was filmed at St. Petersburg's Kirov Theater (on the same stage where it premiered in 1877), and became the basis for all subsequent modern productions. The ambiance of the Kirov is beautifully captured by the ornate vintage curtain, which opens onto sets of elaborate detail. The female roles are particularly strong: Gabriella Komleva as Nikia and Tatiana Terekhova as Gamzatti add convincing emotive qualities to their impressive dance skills, while Rejen Abdyev makes a handsome and ardent Solor, and all are backed by an amazing corps ensemble. Although filmed in 1977, the picture quality here is amazing—crisp and beautifully lit—while the camerawork is outstanding, with a judicious mix of close-up and full stage views, as well as overhead shots capturing the precision and symmetry of the corps. Unfortunately, every other pirouette is rewarded by prolonged, rhythmic clapping (and there are numerous curtain calls), which is somewhat distracting and annoying, but also adds to the authenticity of the Russian experience. As might be expected, the Dolby Digital stereo sound on this vintage recording is less than sterling. Nevertheless, this historic production is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (J. Reed)
La Bayadère
(1977) 130 min. DVD: $19.99. Kultur International Films. ISBN: 0-7697-8666-9. Volume 23, Issue 3
La Bayadère
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