© Bel Air Media 'Pharaoh's Daughter' reviews recent Bolshoi reviews Eugene Merrett reviews Discuss this review (Open for at least 6 months)

The main weakness of The Pharaoh's Daughter is that it has no plot or drama which binds the dancing together. The ballet is really just a long procession of lovely dancing, set to very bland (even by the standards of hack ballet music of the 19th century) music. The ballet is rather more breezy and charming than mystical or exotic. So ballet fans will like the the bog-standard Petipa-style choreography. Other people may find it a silly frivolity which can only reinforce widespread prejudice against ballet.

Quite frankly this ballet is just too stupid and frivolous to be worth reviving!

The Bolshoi are on much better form in this ballet than I have seen them lately. The standard of dancing from the corps to the soloists is excellent. But special mention must go to Svetiana Zakharova (recently joined from the Kirov). She dances with a cleanness and precision which is closer to French/American dancers than a Russian dancer. She has the most incredible long limbs but can still move with great elegance and precision. She is also terrific to look at! What more could I ask for.
 

© Bel Air Media

The DVD was filmed in high definition with perfect lighting (no glare from spotlights etc). It is a model of ballet direction and DVD mastering. Watching on my projector I think is better than most of the seats at Covent Garden (I was at Don Q in the stalls circle and was only wishing it could be on DVD for a better experience!).