Product Description

There's never been a Carmen like this one - there's never been a Don Jose like Baryshnikov! Ballet superstars Mikhail Baryshnikov and Zizi Jeanmaire sizzle in this erotically charged ballet set to the music and story of Carmen. The program's highlight is a sexy duet between the show's stars, in which they express their fatal attraction. Famed choreographer Roland Petit created this dance spectacular, set to Georges Bizet's classic music. This remarkable ballet provides Baryshnikov with one of his greatest roles, and proves yet again he is the most charismatic performer of our time!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20807 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-12-21
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 44 minutes

Customer Reviews

too young and too old...
First of all - it's a good ballet. Very nice music, some examples of virtuosity Baryshnikov style, nice corps, and some very nice pieces of choreography . However, there are some flows: The choreography - Petit does it sometimes. you see great variations , original movements, and suddenly, out of nowhere , something weird and off-putting , that leaves you wondering what t'hell happened just now... . There are several examples of this phenomenon in this ballet. Baryshnikov - is young , arrow sharp (check out the first act solo ) , and if it was another dancer I would write he was very good. However, he is not your ordinary dancer , and should answer to a higher (probably the highest) standard of criticism. The main problem is that he is just too boyish, and a certain lack of authority is evident . when he grew older Baryshnikov has improved considerably in this respect . So it's a shame we ca'nt see him about 6-7 years older. carmen herself - is just too old. she ca'nt keep up with the others. besides that - I do'nt like her (somtimes cabaret like) style of dancing.

Sadly, I hardly ever watch it.
For Baryshnikov fans, this particular ballet does not showcase Misha's virtuostic gifts. Roland Petit's choreography is over-the-top throughout the ballet. In some of the dance sequences, the corps de ballet speaks (in French, of course). This makes a serious story come off silly which was probably not Petit's intent. For such a natural dancer as Baryshnikov, he looks somewhat uncomfortable in the choreography although the role of Don Jose fits him quite well. Zizi Jeanmarie does not make a convincing Carmen at her age and the chemistry between Baryshnikov and Jeanmarie is lacking. For Baryshnikov fans, "Don Quixote" or "Baryshnikov Dances Sinatra" will more likely please you.

Poor Teaming Because of Age Disparity
Carmen is a great ballet with the talented Roland Petite as choreographer. I first watched ZiZi dance it in The Black Tights when I was a teenager. I thought she was fabulous then -- sexy, sultry and seductive.Her technique was flawless. Now decades later, when I watched her again dancing with Baryshnikov, I couldn't help sighing sentimentally,' Ah, the cruelty of passing time!' Faded is her beauty,gone is her vibrancy and allure, missing is some of the difficult and fancy footwork which makes the ballet so pleasing and exciting. Why did they put her opposite the golden Adonis? The age disparity is made more obvious. There is a lack of spark or passion between them. It is unconvincing that he is madly in love with her.It makes sense that The Paris Opera Ballet makes 40 the mandatory retirement age for their ballerinas since more or less they will lose their stamina. If you had watched the video 'Ballerina: Karen Kain 'in which are excepts from Carmen, you would understand what I mean and would not think of me as being harsh and unfair. There are so many productions of Swan Lake, Giselle, Don Quixote ...etc in Video and DVD. Why is there only one Carmen? I really look forward to seeing more.