PETIT, Roland: Clavigo (Paris National Opera, 1999) (PAL)

Opera National de Paris, 1999
Choreography by Roland Petit

Corps de Ballet and Orchestra of the Opera
National de Paris, Richard Bernas

Picture Format: 16:9 Anamorph
Sound Format: LPCM stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1
Running Time: 87 Mins
Region Code: PAL All
Booklet Languages: GB, F, D
Recording Date: 15th October 1999
Cat no.: DV-BLCLAV

• The 1999 world-premiere of legendary choreographer Roland Petit's ballet comes to TDK this month, set to the music of Oscar winner Gabriel Yared.
• Inspired by Goethe's early romantic play Clavigo, the ballet recounts the agonies of a weak-willed lover torn between the bidding of his heart and his evil spirit urging him to serve his own interests, leading him to forsake true love in favour of a life of debauchery.
• The music, commissioned by Petit, is composed by Lebanese-born Gabriel Yared, perhaps better known for his film music. He has written scores for films including Cold Mountain, City of Angels and The Talented Mr Ripley, and won an Oscar for his music for the film An English Patient, as well as countless other awards including a Grammy and a BAFTA.
• Stage designer Jean-Michel Wilmotte takes a resolutely abstract approach, structuring space with various grey, black or white panels which set off Luisa Spinatelli's costumes beautifully, described as "fantasy meets neo-Classicism".
• Real-life husband and wife dancers Nicolas Le Riche and Clairemarie Osta dance the lead roles of the lovers:
  

"In the role of Marie, Clairemarie Osta looked just about ideal; small and pretty with delicate features and an air of fragile vulnerability, she stood out from the corrupt crowd by virtue of her freshness and innocence. Osta is the newest of the Paris etoiles and this was the first time I had seen her in a major role. I was impressed. As her lover, Clavigo, Nicholas Le Riche threw himself into the role of the dissolute Spaniard with abandon, falling in love and then allowing himself to revel in the debaucheries offered him by the ambiguous Carlos with equal relish. His lengthy death scene was heart wrenching as he suffered the extreme consequences of his actions." www.criticaldance.com