Customer Reviews
Sylvia - By: Mr. GM Roebuck, 19 Mar 2008 
Ashton's brilliant choreography, revived by Christopher Newton & Delibes' expressive music combine to make a charming evening out at the Royal Opera House or in your own home if viewed on the excellet Opus Arte DVD. This homage to the 19th-century French balllet style is a light hearted mythological story of a nymph captured by huntsman & restored by Eros to her true lover. It is an excuse for some inventive, romantic & dazzling decorative dances, both solos & handsomely crafted groups. Peter Farmer tastefully developed the original attractive Second Empire designs of Robin & Christopher Ironside to provide sumptuous sets & costumes.
Some may claim that none quite match Fonteyn's playful musicality when the balllet was created on her in 1952. But it is wrong to compare artists with each other, which is why dance awards are invidious. Today's dancers provide a technical brilliance with a satisfying emotional appeal.
In the complex title role Darcey Bussell, is persuasive as the proud nymph as well as tenderly showing the first awakenings of love. With her thrilling long extended legs, flirty, flying elevation & speedy articulate footwork she is still in her prime. She dances with perfect precision in the pizzicato divertissement & is ravishingly radiant in the pas de deux powerfully partnered by Roberto Bolle who also displays some soaring elevation as the shepherd Aminta. Mara Galeazzi has developed into an accomplished performer & shines as Diana with Martin Harvey providing a superb & mischievous Eros. It is gorgeous.
Gavin Roebuck
The definitive Sylvia - By: Mr. A. Mcmurdo, 29 Dec 2007 I have waiting for ages for this balllet production to appear on DVD after watching it on BBC2 several years ago & now its available.Its a wonderful production the dancers are superb not only the 'star' roles Bussel/Bolle but the entire cast,the orchestra of the Royal Balllet,the sets,costumes,lighting sound etc,and of course the Delibe score enchanting.This is a must have for any balllet fan & could convert the sceptical !So often DVD production are not of the best quality but this is super,go buy it you wont be let down in any way.
