Adam - Giselle / Carla Fracci, Erik Bruhn, John Lanchbery, American Ballet Theatre

This is a good video. The dancing is great! My only problem with it is that since it is made for video, the director gets a little artsy and takes away a bit from the dancing with his creative touches. I was also disappointed that the credits are very limited. The only dancers credited at all were the principals and soloists. Still worth the purchase.

Magnifique bien sur ! Merci

THIS IS THE BEST VIDEO RECORDED GISELLE I HAS SEEN SO FAR. EXCELLENT! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED IF YOU LOVE THE GISELLE BALLET LIKE I DO.

Im not a ballet fan by any means - this is the 2nd one Ive watched. So I speak for the naive.

Carla Fracci was magnificent as Giselle and Bruhn a very good partner.

Carla Fracci died recently, and this DVD is a great example of her work! A great performance by everyone, and an extra highlight is seeing Fracci up close; so beautiful and expressive.............!

Absolutely fabulous! It must be one of best versions of Giselle! Carla Fracci and Erik Bruhn were both sensational dancers, I guess thats the reason for this filmed Giselle.

I thoroughly enjoyed this DVD, not only as a past dancer, but I was very fortunate to see Carla Fracci dance with ABT in my youth. A truly great performance and a DVD that should be in everyons collection who appreciates ballet.

I sympathize with reviewers who are put off by the artistic excesses in filming this version. A pity, because Ive owned many Giselles over the years and whenever I come back to this one, Im reminded of all the reasons Fracci remains my favorite. She has an energy and charisma that is not matched by other ballerinas who have performed this. That said, I rate Fracci 5*, the other principals and corps 4*, and the camerawork 2*. That averages somewhere between 3 & 4. For the best overall Giselle, combining youthful freshness, exquisite performances, direction and camerawork, my favorite is the La Scala version with Alessandra Ferri.

I used to love watching Carla Fracci dancing Giselle in the theatre often with Erik Bruhn or Ivan Nagy but not this sorry mess. Shot in a studio the first act set resembles the ABT first act but the second act looks like a one set fits all from an old Omnibus TV presentation. The director seems to have seen Godards Breathless and never gotten over it. Instead of seeing the dance and complete steps the choreography comes at the viewer as a series of jump cuts from different angles often with people or stage props between the viewer and dancers; like bursts of machine gun fire. Such wasted opportunity. Perhaps a silk purse cannot be made from a sows ear but this ill conceived video proves the reverse can be easily done.