Spartacus

Spartacus ballet. Music by Aram Khachaturian. Performed 2008 at the Opéra national de Paris, Palais Garnier. Libretto and choreography by Yuri Grigorovich. Scenario by Nikolai Volkov. Stars Carlos Acosta, Alexander Volchkov, Nina Kaptsova, and Maria Allash supported by the Corps de Ballet of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia. Pavel Klinichev conducted the Orchestre Colonne. Scenography, set, and costume design by Simon Virsaladze; lighting by Mikhail Sokolov; directed for TV by Ross MacGibbon. Released  2008,  disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade A

Spartacus tells the story of the slaves' revolt against their Roman masters. It presents a stark contrast to the ephemeral, gossamer idea many of us may have of ballet. For this is dance with a raw, urgent thrust in which the spirit of revolt boils up and overflows in a fury of defiance. This dynamic thrust is in the music, in the choreography, and most of all in Carlos Acosta, who sets new standards in male dancing.

Acosta is capable of portraying the most violent emotions. But he also can convey the tenderest of delicate subtlety as he dances with his wife Phrygia (Nina Kaptsova). It's amazing to see the effortless way he carries her, drapes her over his shoulder, whirls her around, and then sets her down so gently, emphasising her sylph-like gracefulness. Crassus (Alexander Volchkov), the ruthless, vain, and decadent representative of Imperial Rome is, with his affected haughtiness, perhaps slightly too effeminate at times, although this does emphasis his decadence all the more.

This production, with its dramatic lighting and evocative sets, is served well by HDVD. We can really appreciate its benefits when we have a view of the entire stage and the overall choreographic design. In standard DVD, with its lower resolution, all of this would have been lost in an imprecise, middle-distance blur. Altogether, Spartacus provides an outstanding experience --- powerful enough to persuade those who profess indifference to ballet and maybe even change their minds.