Irina Kolesnikova with St Petersburg Ballet Theatre.


Filmed during a live performance in Pretoria during St Petersburg Ballet Theatre1s South African tour last year, this must be about the best DVD of Swan Lake currently available. There are many versions around, but most are converted from videos and the technical standard therefore doesn`t match up to this one. The clarity of the picture is quite outstanding, and the large theatre does full justice to the gorgeous sets and costumes of this lovely production.


And then of course there is Irina Kolesnikova, undoubtedly one of the best dances in the world, and Swan Lake is her ballet. Her technique is faultless, never an anxious moment; her soft ports de bras a Odette convey the swan`s wings, and turn with a flourish into the triumphant Odile, but without any exaggeration or sense of caricature. Her arabesques never go over the top, she has perfect line, a beautiful upper body, and her characterization although intended for a large audience can withstand the close-ups of the film.


She is well supported by Dmitry Akulinin as Siegfried, and by the immaculate corps de ballet of St Petersburg Ballet Theatre. It comes as no surprise that the company has ballet masters from the Kirov Ballet. The performance also benefited from a peerless interpretation of the music by the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra. This is one to treasure.