PETIT, Roland: Chauve-Souris (La) (Teatro degli Arcimboldi, Milan, 2003) (PAL)

Choreography by Roland Petit

Bella: Allessandra Ferri
Johann: Massimo Murru
Ulrich: Luigi Bonino

Cat no.: DV-BLCHS

Picture Format: 16:9 Anamorphic
Sound Format: PCM stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1
Running Time: 93 mins
Region Code: PAL All
Booklet Languages: GB, F, D
Recording Date: December 2003

The name of Roland Petit is almost synonymous with ballet itself, and although now 80, he still radiates vitality. Here he takes the opportunity to show off the strengths of his young, dazzlingly well-schooled and highly virtuosic dancers. La Chauve-Souris contains dance of every kind: classical ballet, waltz, clownish pantomime with Hungarian influence, and a rousing French cancan from a line-up of sexy, long legged revue girls. The resulting mix of Parisian ésprit, Viennese charm and Milanese elegance is simply irresistible.

Roland Petit's "Fledermaus à la française", La Chauve-souris, was originally created for the Ballet National de Marseille in 1979 with Petit's wife Zizi Jeanmaire partnered by Denis Ganio, and Luigi Bonino as the mastermind of the nocturnal escapades. The action was transferred from the operetta's Vienna to the Paris of Vaudeville theatres, the original source of Johann Strauss's celebrated operetta.

The ballet was re-staged for La Scala in their temporary home in the Teatro degli Arcimboldi in 2003. Directed by Luigi Bonino, Petit's long standing assistant, who also dances the role of Ulrich, it features two more dancing stars from the "Petit school" in the principal roles: Massimo Murru, the male star dancer of La Scala's company, for whom Petit wrote several ballets and Allessandra Ferri, who currently counts among the world's finest ballerinas. She holds the coveted title of "Prima Ballerina Assoluta" at La Scala, and was once described by Roland Petit as the only rightful successor to the legendary Zizi Jeanmaire.

"Petit's outstanding choreography is inventive, with powerful images, such as Clavigo's spider-like descent on a wire. The superb and passionate dancing is set off by the structured stage design in grey, black or white panels and the beautiful late-18th-century-style pastel costumes, creating a feast for the eyes." www.amazon.com on Clavigo: DV-BLCLAV