Rating: 
Summary: A Dark Work
Review: "This film tells the story of Spartacus' fight for freedom, his death, and the immortal fame of his exploit through the medium of the classical dance."I came away from my first viewing of this video only moderately satisfied. There were two reasons for this. First of all, there are some problems with the video quality that distracted my attention away from the dancing. Secondly, the libretto that is provided on the tape is poorly written. It serves to explain the work in general, but it is insufficient for an in-depth, scene-by-scene understanding. Fortunately, these deficiencies are not insurmountable, and the tape has a lot of commendable things to offer. The video problems are of a couple varieties. The screen jumps every time that the camera changes angle. Videophiles describe this as "non-seamless camera switching." This problem gives the tape somewhat of a home movie feel. There are also many places on the tape that have blemishes. Most of them are small--just some little white dots that appear randomly. Occasionally, there are some larger blemishes, and in one case, the defect also affects the sound quality for fraction of a second. If you want to enjoy this tape, you will need to learn how to concentrate on the dancing, and not let the camera switching and blemishes distract you. By my third viewing, these problems no longer bothered me as much, but I still believe that a one-star reduction in the overall rating of this product is merited accordingly. Nevertheless, there are some excellent video special effects to be found here. Let me give a few examples. To depict the hopelessness and oppression of the slaves, a horizontal split screen effect is used, showing the powerful Roman warriors marching on the top, and the dejected slaves mourning their situation on the bottom. When Spartacus wins his freedom, the slow motion effect makes his leaps look especially impressive. The battle scene looks huge from the superimposed images of the warriors fighting. These effects come at the most crucial moments of the ballet, and they really enhance the film. The choreography is by Yuri Grigorovich, and one of his eccentricities is his rejection of mime. Mime can often help bring out the story line, but there is none used here. As was mentioned earlier, the libretto is not detailed enough, either. These two factors make the ballet difficult to understand. What really helped me out was a book called "101 Stories of the Great Ballets" by George Balanchine and Francis Mason. There is a chapter on "Spartacus" that explains each scene in full detail. Without a book such as "101 Stories," it is doubtful to me that the average viewer can understand the story completely. A review of "101 Stories" can be found on my member page by clicking on "rss28" above. This ballet is of a different character than most--it is a dark work. It is about slavery and Spartacus' (Vladimir Vasiliev) courageous fight for freedom. His adversary is Crassus (Maris Liepa), the oppressive military leader. These two male leads are a contrast of styles; Vasiliev dances classical steps, whereas Liepa dances neo-classical ones. The two ballerinas are a contrast of qualities. Aegina (Nina Timofeyeva) is Crassus' concubine; she is cold, lustful, deceptive. Phrygia (Natalia Bessmertnova) is Spartacus' lover, and she is fragile and caring. All four of the lead dancers turn in excellent performances, and the Bolshoi corps is also strong. The costumes include a lot of swords, shields, helmets and other military items. The musical score by Aram Khachaturian effectively brings out the various emotions involved. Let me make it simple for those of you who may still be wondering if they want to purchase this title. After voting on this review, you can scroll back up to the top of the product page, and click on the picture to see a zoomed-in view of the signature pose of the ballet with Bessmertnova and Vasiliev. This picture is representative of the beauty of her aesthetics and also of the character of the work. If you appreciate what you see, then buy it. Despite its flaws, I value having this title as a part of my video collection.
Rating: 
Summary: Great ballet
Review: Although I haven't purchased the vhs version of Spartacus it seems that some technical problems such as the jump between the scenes and some white points in the film pointed out by some previous reviewers have been diminished in the dvd version (shown in widescreen): I was distracted by those imperfections only three or four times. However what most annoyed me was the "special effects" such as the splitting scenes and superimposing images. The sound quality is poor: there is a constant "hiss" that is hard to be filtered by the receiver. The lightning in the stage is rather dark. However all of that is a minor detail if one consider the work as whole: This is a great ballet that alternates vigorous and sensual dances, supported by powerful and exquisite music rightly conducted, great production and first rate performances by the dancers. Surely a must-buy ballet.
Rating:
Summary: supreme example of male dancing
Review: Before i watched this movie,i thought that ballet men were essentially effeminate,weak and basically `forklifts` for the women.the athletecism of the dancing,combined with the artistry and musicality was stupendous,and changed my mind completely about ballet.i have watched many ballets since then,but none have captured the vigour,vitality and beauty of male dancing to the same degree.Vasiliev was truly the best dancer ever ,and it is a pity that so little is avaiable to view of his work. notwithstanding,the women also put up a tremendous performance
Rating: 
Summary: A possible answer
Review: Dear Mrs/Ms Pellicanorm.
I believe I have the answer to your question as to why Natalya Bessmertnova has been featured so many times on video. She happens to be Yuri Grigorovitch's wife! As Mr. Grigorovitch is chief choreographer of the Bolshoi...
Rating:
Summary: worst video for the best ballet
Review: Every thing in the ballet is supreme as others said. Also the photographing of the ballet film is first class. However, the video is made as holding a VHS camcorder to record the film screen. The pictures are dark and jumping, have no colors and details. If you believe the picture quality of the zoomed-in view of the signature pose of the ballet with Bessmertnova and Vasiliev on the video box is representative of the video quality, you would be cheated like me. Buyers from Europe and other regions may have better luck, because Warner Classics released a different video edition for the same ballet film. Unfortunately, Warner does not release the same video for the U.S. region. Kultuk is the distributor of this ballet film in the U.S., who did many poor works for videos on supreme foreign movies.
Rating:
Summary: where's little katya??
Review: I saw only excerpts of this ballet and it really made me sad for one precise reason, I saw the wonderful, inimitable excerpts from Vasiliev and Maximova Spartacus in black and white in The Glory of Bolshoi.
In my opinion Bessmertnova represents no glory for the Bolshoi, she's just a ballerina as many others
I wonder why she's in so much tapes and Katya Maximova, far more expressive , far more good is in so little tapes !!
Does anyone Knows the answer?
Rating:
Summary: where's little katya??
Review: I saw only excerpts of this ballet and it really made me sad for one precise reason, I saw the wonderful, inimitable excerpts from Vasiliev and Maximova Spartacus in black and white in The Glory of Bolshoi.
In my opinion Bessmertnova represents no glory for the Bolshoi, she's just a ballerina as many others
I wonder why she's in so much tapes and Katya Maximova, far more expressive , far more good is in so little tapes !!
Does anyone Knows the answer?
Rating:
Summary: Best ever
Review: I won't write too many descriptive words; it would be dull to describe THIS. For those of you who are not lucky enough to be Russian and have a chance to get really acquainted with the ballet ART, I'll just point out some things. Vladimir Vasiliev is THE BEST male dancer ever performed. Don't even try to compare him with Nuriev or Baryshnikov. Vasiliev is the best, most talented, genius, handsome, and all other superlative words you can imagine. Don't believe me? Try to believe Asaf Messerer, Galina Ulanova, Kasian Goleyzovsky, Struchkova, and the list is endless. He is also very good choreofrapher, director, artist (he paints), and recently (1995-2000) he was the head of the Bolshoi Theater. Natalya Bessmertnova is not only Grigorovich's wife, she is very beautiful technically, plastically, and, simply as a woman. She was the true star of the Bolshoi Theater. In this case, she is a beautiful match to Vasiliev. Maris Liepa is also one of the ballet's legends. This role in Spartacus opened him his career and revealed one new star to the ballet world. As for Grigorovich. What to say. He is certainly head and shoulders above the croud (yes, much better than Balanchine - Georgiy Balanchivadze), he brought on stage new ballet - Ballet-Symphony. "Spartacus" is pure example of it. As well as the Stone Flower. I love his "Stone Flower", I have it with Nina Semizorova as Mistress of Copper Mountain (The Bolshoi Theater production) -it's breathtaking! She takes all your attention and doesn't let your eyes look at other dancers. If you can get The Bolshoi's Theater "Stone Flower" with Semizorova, get it! Returning to Grigorovich. Unfortunately, back in 60's he supplanted the genius Kasian Goleyzovskiy from Bolshoi Theater. It's a long story. Goleyzovskiy was one of the most innovative (if not THE most) choreographers of the 20th century. He in Bolshoi in Moscow, and Lopukhov in Petrograd (Leningrad) brought about a revolution in ballet. Goleyzovskiy was a pupil of Gorskiy, and after Gorskiy's death he became chief choreographer of the Bolshoi Theater in 1920s. He not only continued his teacher's tradition of making choreography more emotive; he went way further, through bringing dramatic theater implements into ballet to Meyerhold and Vakhtangov-like phantasmagories with superfine understanding and expression of human's emotions and states of mind. In 20s, he got kicked out of Bolshoi for his modernism, with ban against choreographic practice. Then, in 1960, Bolshoi Theater invited him and he created the legendary "Leili and Medjnun". Vasiliev and Struchkova danced in it - for only 4 years, and then the ballet was taken away from repertoire, dismissed. As Goleyzovskiy was too. There is an opinion among professional crytics and dancers (and I think this opinion has a good reasons) that Georgiy Balanchivadze, being mediocre dancer, before emigrating from Russia, switching his occupation and changing his name (to George Balanchine) fell greatly in love with Lopukhov and Goleyzovskiy's new approach and adopted it for his future career as a choreograph. He even gave his own name to this approach. The difference is that original authors are always better, and, they change and evolve with years and experience. My advice to you is to not read Balanchine's book. I give 10 stars out of five to Vladimir Vasiliev, Maris Liepa, Natalya Bessmertnova, Kasian Goleyzovskiy, Yuriy Grigorovich and all those from Golden Era of Soviet Ballet (which means Golden Era of world ballet).
Rating:
Summary: Vladimir Vasiliev
Review: I'm glad that the majority of the reviewers agree that Vladimir Vasiliev is the best dancer in the world -- because he is. Why do you think Baryshnikov, Nureyev and Godunov left Russia? Not because they were so good -- but because they had to contend with so many excellent dancers as Vasiliev, Liepa, Solovyev, etc. Too bad about Godunov, because he was up there with Vasiliev in terms of technique and performing abilities. (I guess he just didn't get along with Baryshnikov whom he had known since his childhood--they are both from Riga and studied in the same ballet school.) As a testimonial to Godunov's abilities just watch "Anna Karenina" ballet with him and Maya Plisetskaya. Back to Vasiliev, I wish there were more full tape ballets released with his performaces, i.e. "Laurencia", "Giselle", "Stone Flower". BTW, Balanchine left Russia because there were so many other talented choreographers. There's no way one can even start comparing him to Grigorovich.
Rating:
Summary: Perfection!
Review: Much has already been written about this, so I will add only a few points. It would be impossible to find a better cast of dancers for this ballet. This is a legendary performance and I have never seen an entire ensemble as up for a performance as this one. This performance is on movie stock, not video stock, sort of like the Russian version of cinemascope. It is technically very well done, especially considering that at this time in history the Soviets didn't participate much in the latest Hollywood technology. The dvd quality is perfect. The lighting is exactly as it is supposed to be. So stop complaining about nonsense and enjoy the perfection! (The dvd includes a nice little extra feature with Vasiliev and Plisetskaya.)
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