The wonderful thing about Barishnikov is how he marries technical rigour and placement with artistic expression. He gives the impression of being relaxed above the waist: the wrists and hands are relaxed, the head falls slightly back on landing,etc. Meanwhile, he shows the utmost precision in his legwork, return to fifth, preparation, etc.. Never known a dancer who could jump like that while seemingly making no effort.
@kiramunder If this video was made in 1977, it was 27 years later, that Baryshnikov played Aleksandr Petrovsky in "Sex and The City" .. so he was almost exactly twice as old as in the video!
Would the 16 nitwits who dislike this video care to dance this variation and post it for us? If you don't think Baryshnikov is up to par then you go ahead and try to stay in the air without coming down.
@TOBYISKING - Please try not to use such foul language, it makes you seem as though you have no class whatsoever. I never stated that Misha was a freak. I have the utmost respect for him - I have studied with him & I have all of his classical performances on DVD & video (with many bootlegs). Anyway, if you'd break your immature habit of interpreting comments negatively, you'd have clearly seen that the wink ;) at the end of my comment was to imply that my comment was a joke.
@TOBYISKING YOUR BRAIN IS SHORT AND YOUR PENIS PROBABILY TOO RESPECT FOR MICHA AND FOR MRLOPEZ TOO BALLET LOVERS ARE NOT INTERSTED TO YOUR STUPID COMMENTS
no one asked for your opinion. I left it after mr lopez had replied because i realized he was joking. Also learn to spell, and again no one asked for your "stupid" aggressive comment in caps lock so i recommend seeing a therapist. My brain is most "probably" bigger then yours considering i was smart enough to type my message in lowercase and using correct grammar, unlike you, and my "penis" is definitely not short either. Take your immaturity elsewhere, you sound like your 4 :)
@tantopersapere quello che disse tutta la platea di cui anche io facevo parte al suo debutto in italia nel 75 giselle con fracci a firenze:assolutamente niente ,tutti ammutoliti.era un fenomeno.
i wish more guys joined ballet seriously that would impress me so much haha I'm serious ballet dancers win me over any sport player.. but thats just my opinion :)
Mischa was/is an artist. I see all these other petty discussions on YouTube about who's better, who jumps higher and it's so silly. Every dancer has some sloppiness, faulty mechanics, slightly cheated turns, bent legs. But how do they embody the music, how are they alive on stage, what magic do they bring? What's their (as the Russians love to say) plastique? No one linked steps together as well as Mischa with such musicality and artistry. Here he IS romantic dancing. Period.
@kabardinka1 SAW MICHA DOING GISELLE AT HIS ITALIAN DEBUT WITH REMARKABLE CARLA FRACCI ,WAS 1975,PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY WERE DREAMING AND ME TOO.GREAT TIMES GREAT ARTISTS WHERE IS MICHA,WHERE IS VASILIEV WHERE IS MIKHAIL LAVROVSKY?WERE ARE ALL MY FAVOURITE ALBRECHT?miss them so much,and volodia in particular.
Lovely but I have seen him dance this piece with far more power,height,and a extention. The first 45 seconds are quite lovely though. It is a very rare occassion when he not pure perfection!!
I think - to fly only is part of dance, true dance - is in imperceptible movements which create a fabric of dance.
And a sensation of dance - not sensation of flight, but internal sensation in a body, somewhere in a backbone, in a bearing; it is almost imperceptibly. If it is present at the dancer - it gives rise to delight at the spectator.
Eventually, our hero in the field finally stepped down and co-founded the White Oak Dance Project with many other dancers. Well, he had a good run.
Many in their 40s and 50s - all run under no director, but as a democracy. Baryshnikov says that he is in great physical condition, but one day he will step down from dancing completely.
But let us all pray... he will never give up the ballet... may he die with his toe shoes on..
--With Greatest Respect for the Great Russkie, Dane Youssef
I know very little about ballet terms, moves etc, because it is primerily the music that I like. However, even a philistine like me cannot help but appreciate the brilliance of this performance. I am just getting into the story of "Giselle" and perhaps some knowing person can tell me who is supposed to be the "Hero" in this tale. Is it the Prince? The dancing in this ballet is exceptional to the extent that some of the moves seem to go beyond the bounds of human ability. Brava!
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
The dancing was brilliant but the acting sucked! He is supposed to dancing for his life and exhausted by the ordeal. In the context of the entire ballet, I think this was a disservice to the storytelling.
There is no Hero in Giselle. Albrecht drives Giselle mad and she kills herself. While visiting her grave, he's caught up by the Wilis, spirits of wronged women who avenge themselves by making the men dance themselves to death. See Cojocaru/Kobborg version for a great Giselle.
poursuivant1, Thank you for the explanation. Albrecht sounds like some sort of guy don't he though? From what I can gather, he is already betrothed to a lovely princess, but decides to dally with a simple girl with a "Dicky Ticker". She promptly drops dead and Albrecht, with unbelievable front, decides to visit her grave, where he is caught by the Willie, and forced to dance to death. Charming story . ( By the way, are you sure that the Wronged Women "Danced" him to death)
Albrecht survives the ordeal with Giselle's intervention. I ran out of room in previous post for a full synopsis. He visits the grave in a fit of remorse so he's not a complete tool. He's definitely NOT a hero though.
poursuivant1, I have been thinking further about your explanation, and wondered just exactly what Albrecht did to Giselle to drive her mad? Was is something I missed? because all I did was see them dance together. Is there some hidden meaning in ballet that I am not tuned into? For instance, you said that the acting "Sucked", is this a ballet expression like "Port du Bras" or "Pas de Deux" ? I am an avid seeker of knowledge, so, as you are obviously an expert, please enlighten me.
im getting point shoes next year in my class, and there is a boy in my class who is trying to do the what is it called again?... the spind with a shaunjama in the air
ihave the opportunity to watch vasiliev whenever i chose, and the comparison remains. baryshnikov is a more powerful dancer. he makes all of it look easy not just the jumps. sometimes vasiliev uses too much port du bras for simple executions. wheres as misha has exellent execution and brilliant technique and expression throughout. hes more of an artist as well.
usually l don't like macking this kind of comparation but l saw both them live many times at their best,and volodia was much better,if you had seen vasiliev when he was young .....
Baryshnikov is certainly astonishing. If you enjoyed this piece, please look for the Nicholas Brothers' "In Stormy Weather", I'm sure will all enjoy it immensely. Yes, this clip is from the American Bélle Epoque, but there is nothing bad about it. Baryshnikov once called them "the greatest dances of all time", so, you'll certainly enjoy 'em as well.
High praise to the great M. Baryshnikov! I love you in every performance of yours! I remember Don Quixote with C.Harvey, The Nutcracker with G. Kirkland and your unforgettable Sinatra Suite. Just perfect!
Ditto Violetatorelli! You named the "Triple Crown" of impeccable ballet from Mischa. As a young girl, I was fortunate enough to see him do Sinatra Suite & "Push Comes to Shove" live, and he was flawless. My kids now watch "The Nutcracker" and I still swoon! =))
Precise execution. Technique impressive. And no life in it whatsoever. For me he was a dancer who never once portrayed any feeling for the character he was dancing or the mood of the dance. The rot set in with Baryshinkov and suddenly it was a case of who could jump highest, who could do the fastest pirouettes etc etc. Too much ballet today has been turned into a circus competiton. Shoot me if you like but thats my personal view and im sticking to it!
I agree with you that ballet these days is becaming a circus, but not with Misha, he really was Albrech, and for him I would believe love is more powerful than death, he dances in a really romantic-sexy way, Don´t ask me how to be romantic(in the XIX century Romanticism way ,I mean) and sexy but thats the efect he gets , That is of course my personal view, and I am sticking to it as well.
For the nearest you can get, in my opinion, to XIX century romanticism take a look at the Nuryeyev/Fonteyn clip. It opens with this same solo. Nureyev uses the Bournonville technique beautifully. Look at how he moves into each step. And young Nureyev ...Nearest thing to unabashed sensuality ever. Well we are not going to convince one another I know. Thanks for your view. Isnt YouTube wonderful?
1-27-2012. It's no bore. Mikhail is 64. Happy Birthday, MB.
mkl62 6 days ago
his full home address is on facebook... i feel like creeping
iinsanebaby 2 weeks ago
The wonderful thing about Barishnikov is how he marries technical rigour and placement with artistic expression. He gives the impression of being relaxed above the waist: the wrists and hands are relaxed, the head falls slightly back on landing,etc. Meanwhile, he shows the utmost precision in his legwork, return to fifth, preparation, etc.. Never known a dancer who could jump like that while seemingly making no effort.
xweryt 1 month ago 4
Who the fuck said white men can't jump?
CaymanCH 1 month ago 3
hi i'm baryshnikov and gravity does not apply to me
lilipad2594 1 month ago 6
@lilipad2594 Why bother with gravity ?
evealicelucienne 1 month ago 2
And here I am struggling to do two pirouettes -_-
ThePurpleBeanieGurl 1 month ago
@ThePurpleBeanieGurl ikr the day i can jump 20 feet vertical......
dancergirlymml 3 weeks ago
Best ballet dancer ever? I'd say not to hard to believe that!
nat00ben06 2 months ago
@Scoutz0rs me 2 ;(
Cristalraindrops 2 months ago
Every time people only refer to him as The Russian and the guy from Sex and the City, I cry inside.
scoutz0rs 2 months ago 5
wonderful!!!!!
ManalGiselle92 2 months ago
that's so weird, seeing 'The Russian' like this :D
Pixelslet 2 months ago
Dude's got hops.
jonaswut 2 months ago 2
I pity every prima ballerina out there who got completely upstaged by this extraordinary man.
emmelby 3 months ago
I'm so glad I was alive to watch this man dance!
BlackAmberMoon 3 months ago 3
forget those thighs check out that behind!! omg its like a rock!
anje7247 3 months ago
Look at those thighs there is so much muscle no wonder he could do all those jumps and leaps. wow.
RoseHathaway10 3 months ago
Как бог.
mayaboldyrlol 3 months ago
Baryshnikov is beautiful like a god.
Барышников божественно прекрасен.
mayaboldyrlol 3 months ago
Magical.
tboz88 3 months ago
wich is giselle
brivera70 3 months ago
Oh, amazing as alw- wait a min...
This is MIRRORED, isn't it??
Misha is left-handed.
elemileTLDR 3 months ago
Perfection
Sweetcleopatraa 4 months ago
i could kill for pirouettes like those !
crazyiguana 4 months ago 4
DAMN IT!! HE FUCKED EVERYBODY ELSE WHO CAME BEHIND HIM!! WHO CAN EVER TOP THAT GRACE???? WHO???!!
Mspendragon72 4 months ago
o_0 wooooooooooowww......
LaFlaneuseCharmante 4 months ago
Не надо отвечать Васильевым.
vladimmir100 4 months ago
OMG! Those legs!!
createallow3126 4 months ago
Absolutely superb! I got chills watching this! :D
zBoOnerAwSoMeStPeEps 5 months ago
And this is "Aleksandr Petrovsky" in sex and the city?
kiramunder 5 months ago 16
@kiramunder If this video was made in 1977, it was 27 years later, that Baryshnikov played Aleksandr Petrovsky in "Sex and The City" .. so he was almost exactly twice as old as in the video!
Astraea52 4 months ago
@kiramunder Yes :D
x33Sandrax 4 months ago
im pretty sure one of his parents has to be like a god like in greek mythology or something cuz thats not human
hes a freaking beast
BrianneAlexandra 5 months ago 30
He's a great dancer. What an honor it would be to do a pas de deux with him, like Leslie Brown in Don Quixote.
pinktrixie8 5 months ago
Oh what joy to see this man dance.Bravo Bravo Bravo.
TheBorzoilover 6 months ago 2
Comment removed
TheArcturusProject 6 months ago
16 people got danced to death
TheArcturusProject 6 months ago 4
Would the 16 nitwits who dislike this video care to dance this variation and post it for us? If you don't think Baryshnikov is up to par then you go ahead and try to stay in the air without coming down.
JarvsR 6 months ago 2
PERFECTION!
Bonitabla 6 months ago 2
WOW! First time seeing him dance! WOW WOW WOW WOW!
ballerinamama 6 months ago
I have chills...
manderson610 7 months ago
@manderson610 same here!
ballerinamama 6 months ago
Maravilhoso..... lindo Demais....
Parabéns pela linda postagem goldenidol...
Muitas... muitas estrelinhas... Amo D+
Obrigada Robert por me enviar esse maravilhoso video...
Beijos com carinho da Sissa♥
siamorevida 7 months ago
wow
TheGlossyglitz 7 months ago
Honest to God, the man is other-worldly. Misha's Albrecht had something magical about it that will never be matched. Ever.
MishaGelsey 7 months ago
@MishaGels His Albrecht is unmatched brilliance :)
After Misha there is JULIO as #1 runner up! Misha, Gelsey Julio, Alessandra, you are ALL missed!:(
balletbonnie01 7 months ago
Yeah, gravity is for suckers. :-P
CedricsMom 7 months ago
He flies!! O.O
Just Pefect!
chii1808 8 months ago 3
Schlecht
Hanslolo1993 8 months ago
@Hanslolo1993 er hat deine mutter gefickt
slazerlombardi 8 months ago
0:07
llookitstapiocca 8 months ago
Best minute in ballet history.
chavadude 8 months ago 2
I don't understand how somebody can poke the thumb down button ?
diyanich 8 months ago
he is flying~
vycaltndqo 9 months ago
My mom told me about him and I'm soo glad she did! :) HE DEFIES GRAVITY. :D
TutuCrazy96 9 months ago
Never seen any better
hollyp275 10 months ago
I have a poster of him in my room.
VividlyVibrantt 10 months ago 3
@VividlyVibrantt lucky you :)
Xaltiel 8 months ago
hes just like "hey phisics and gravity, fuck off"
TOBYISKING 10 months ago 3
@TOBYISKING - physics or gravity? The jumps appear higher because he is so damned short!! ;)
mrlopez2681 10 months ago
@mrlopez2681
yer.... so ahhh shut the fuck up mrlopez. hes not a freak coz hes short, being short only gives u an advantage. go suck some dick bud :)
TOBYISKING 10 months ago
@TOBYISKING - Please try not to use such foul language, it makes you seem as though you have no class whatsoever. I never stated that Misha was a freak. I have the utmost respect for him - I have studied with him & I have all of his classical performances on DVD & video (with many bootlegs). Anyway, if you'd break your immature habit of interpreting comments negatively, you'd have clearly seen that the wink ;) at the end of my comment was to imply that my comment was a joke.
mrlopez2681 10 months ago
@TOBYISKING YOUR BRAIN IS SHORT AND YOUR PENIS PROBABILY TOO RESPECT FOR MICHA AND FOR MRLOPEZ TOO BALLET LOVERS ARE NOT INTERSTED TO YOUR STUPID COMMENTS
pediatrapaola 10 months ago
@pediatrapaola
no one asked for your opinion. I left it after mr lopez had replied because i realized he was joking. Also learn to spell, and again no one asked for your "stupid" aggressive comment in caps lock so i recommend seeing a therapist. My brain is most "probably" bigger then yours considering i was smart enough to type my message in lowercase and using correct grammar, unlike you, and my "penis" is definitely not short either. Take your immaturity elsewhere, you sound like your 4 :)
TOBYISKING 10 months ago
@TOBYISKING not so sure about your penis
pediatrapaola 10 months ago
@pediatrapaola
yer nice come back retard. hahaha
TOBYISKING 10 months ago
"Los principios son la base de la diversion", es una frase de Mikhail Baryshnikov que siempre tengo presente :).
AllyKauffman 11 months ago
i searched this vid because my name is Mikhail ..
MrGratz123xD 11 months ago
Sometimes I think about what the world of dance would be like if Baryshnikov had never existed.
I then realize what a horrible world that would be.
MomijiYuri 11 months ago
what a boss
serratosmember1 1 year ago
dios mio, perfectooo!!!
Rodriguez40503 1 year ago
What a mensch.
Cranae 1 year ago
What an incredible Aryan beauty!
FlorisVanHolland 1 year ago
@FlorisVanHolland Errrr......
lurcherlongdog 1 year ago
@FlorisVanHolland LOL! Aryan??? jajajaja
Xaltiel 8 months ago
...che dire?
tantopersapere 1 year ago
@tantopersapere quello che disse tutta la platea di cui anche io facevo parte al suo debutto in italia nel 75 giselle con fracci a firenze:assolutamente niente ,tutti ammutoliti.era un fenomeno.
pediatrapaola 1 year ago
PERFECTION.
bellamusic17 1 year ago 2
<3 ... nuff said xD
suicidefairie 1 year ago
i wish more guys joined ballet seriously that would impress me so much haha I'm serious ballet dancers win me over any sport player.. but thats just my opinion :)
jenniferxcheck 1 year ago
basketball or balet?
I'LL GO TO BALT! - baryshnikov
tadasc 1 year ago
What. The. Hell. WHY don't the laws of physics apply to this man?!
deannaelise 1 year ago 4
Why bother with gravity ?
evealicelucienne 1 year ago 104
@evealicelucienne best comment ever
milenamakedonija 9 months ago
@milenamakedonija
Thank you !
evealicelucienne 9 months ago
Omg he's from sex and the city!! Wow love him
pixi2nv 1 year ago
@pixi2nv lol
mwmott32 1 year ago
@pixi2nv lol
mwmott32 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
wow this is so homo...
utra1337 1 year ago
@utra1337 i think ur the big fag going to every mikhail video and saying this mess!!!! i'll give u a mouth bath if u really want one!!!!!!
GosfordAbercrombie 1 year ago
@utra1337 fool
nicksum29 1 year ago
BRAVISSIMO!!! THE BEST of all times.
ingriddoppler 1 year ago
I saw him dance once and it was an experience I'll never forget.
ickiepoo 1 year ago
Mischa was/is an artist. I see all these other petty discussions on YouTube about who's better, who jumps higher and it's so silly. Every dancer has some sloppiness, faulty mechanics, slightly cheated turns, bent legs. But how do they embody the music, how are they alive on stage, what magic do they bring? What's their (as the Russians love to say) plastique? No one linked steps together as well as Mischa with such musicality and artistry. Here he IS romantic dancing. Period.
kabardinka1 1 year ago 2
@kabardinka1 SAW MICHA DOING GISELLE AT HIS ITALIAN DEBUT WITH REMARKABLE CARLA FRACCI ,WAS 1975,PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY WERE DREAMING AND ME TOO.GREAT TIMES GREAT ARTISTS WHERE IS MICHA,WHERE IS VASILIEV WHERE IS MIKHAIL LAVROVSKY?WERE ARE ALL MY FAVOURITE ALBRECHT?miss them so much,and volodia in particular.
pediatrapaola 1 year ago
unbelievable.
theseether 1 year ago
...... watching him dance is the most beautiful art in the world.
Wanderwd 1 year ago 3
This has been flagged as spam show
I realize 16 is not that many people, but how could ANYONE dislike this video? It should be illegal to dislike Baryshnikov. He's phenomenal.
schin59 1 year ago
Comment removed
schin59 1 year ago
Jajaja. Este tipo vuela y no le afecta la gravdad. Y por Ultimo hace que todo parezca muy facil.
humbertobg 1 year ago 2
@humbertobg es increible parece que todo es facil comparto con vos muy bueno
fedeleche 1 year ago
I didn't knew humans could fly...
He was amazing, best dancer ever, really seems like he flies when he jumps
HopePrincess7 1 year ago 5
..God
alZiiHardstylez 1 year ago
O cara é filha da puta... É incrível como ele faz tudo parecer fácil...
sneakdan 1 year ago
O cara é filha da puta... É incrível como ele faz tudo parecer fácil...
sneakdan 1 year ago
grazie...grazie!!!
61giselle 1 year ago
This is before Red Bull giving you wings.
passingbynight 1 year ago 124
though i know noting about ballet, i know he is fantastic
dearmysister 1 year ago
speachless
mayush96 1 year ago
WOW
SuperCuban39 1 year ago
BRAVO
mariloly38 1 year ago
Lovely but I have seen him dance this piece with far more power,height,and a extention. The first 45 seconds are quite lovely though. It is a very rare occassion when he not pure perfection!!
preciousbash 1 year ago
@preciousbash saw him doing this in 1975 with carla fracci he was 26 or 27 people thought they were dreaming when dd his solo.
pediatrapaola 1 year ago
I think - to fly only is part of dance, true dance - is in imperceptible movements which create a fabric of dance.
And a sensation of dance - not sensation of flight, but internal sensation in a body, somewhere in a backbone, in a bearing; it is almost imperceptibly. If it is present at the dancer - it gives rise to delight at the spectator.
TheChicarusa 1 year ago 2
He just takes. my. breath. away.
blkchk 1 year ago 2
PERFECT!!!!
pglez725 1 year ago 3
There will never be another like him.
lacouerfairy 1 year ago 5
MARAVILHOSO!
My9638527410 1 year ago
majestical
Jrink30 1 year ago
He was the best of his time.... And he still is the best now even if he doesnt dance..oh so incredible. He is basically flying. Such inspiration.
DancersforJesus 1 year ago
he is so hot!!!
indie0electro9cutie 1 year ago 2
Excelente!!!
martitacarrizo 1 year ago
beautiful
quinine2009 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
i hav danced 4 quite some time now but i know i can never be as great as him...absolutly brilliant <33333333
jejslove 1 year ago
i hav danced 4 quite some time now but i know i can never be as great as him...absolutly brilliant <33333333
jejslove 1 year ago
TRULY ONE OF THE GREAT VARIATIONS EVER!! LOOK AT THOSE SOFT PLIE LANDINGS!
dancinman17 1 year ago
OMG!!!!!!!!!
balletlover70 1 year ago
THE. BEST.
kamwrites 1 year ago
I have been watching every variation of this by many dancers, and Baryshnikov is by far the best dancer of dancers, hail, Mikhail!
einey57 1 year ago 3
He reminds me of Daniel ulbright
kfmcmahon 1 year ago
WOW!!!
therubyshow1 1 year ago
Just imagine how tired he was only half way through it. He hid the fatique extremely well!
14Danceric 1 year ago 2
pure beauty set in motion....
AshLuvsJonnyStew 1 year ago
Can you imagine just soaking in an applause like that? I mean, that's intense! Of course he is worth it all.
AkiraChan24 1 year ago 2
Absolutely brilliant! No one can dance like this today.
Cherilynn100 1 year ago
What grand, stunning, fluid, physical lyricism... so enormously important!
sirenadellopera 1 year ago 2
somethin pretty to look at this mornin.
missp2u 1 year ago 2
Is he dancing on the moon because he is floating through the air
balleteveryday19 1 year ago
BRAVO!
2mbunlimited 1 year ago
Aguante Julio Bocca!
valearrogante 1 year ago
wow all the ballet i've ever seen was shit until i saw this
dolflow 1 year ago 2
I like the orchestration.
secretme127 1 year ago
Glorious performance! A marvellous Albrecht: Mikhail Baryshnikov. Bravo!!!
Violetatorelli 1 year ago
usually when i watch ballet i feel nothing ... unless i watch him
MrFemanon 1 year ago 3
Eventually, our hero in the field finally stepped down and co-founded the White Oak Dance Project with many other dancers. Well, he had a good run.
Many in their 40s and 50s - all run under no director, but as a democracy. Baryshnikov says that he is in great physical condition, but one day he will step down from dancing completely.
But let us all pray... he will never give up the ballet... may he die with his toe shoes on..
--With Greatest Respect for the Great Russkie, Dane Youssef
SURFUR 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Teacher:
Ah! And what have we here? A young man maybe who thinks he
can be the next Baryshnikov?
Bart:
[surly] I don't want to be the next anything. I'm only taking this stupid class because they made me.
Teacher:
So, he has fire in the belly! But it will take more than belly-fire to be the next Baryshnikov.
Simpsons is the reason I heard of this guy. Ballet looks solid to be great at. Respect.
thefeeps 1 year ago
Comment removed
thefeeps 1 year ago
He will always be so beautiful.
lovelyciel 1 year ago 4
Every time I watch this it gives me the Willis.
pydo7 1 year ago
the best dancer ever!!!!! a star was born.....
diana18121 1 year ago 2
damn hes good
mightyafrowhitey 1 year ago 2
I know very little about ballet terms, moves etc, because it is primerily the music that I like. However, even a philistine like me cannot help but appreciate the brilliance of this performance. I am just getting into the story of "Giselle" and perhaps some knowing person can tell me who is supposed to be the "Hero" in this tale. Is it the Prince? The dancing in this ballet is exceptional to the extent that some of the moves seem to go beyond the bounds of human ability. Brava!
pydo7 1 year ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
The dancing was brilliant but the acting sucked! He is supposed to dancing for his life and exhausted by the ordeal. In the context of the entire ballet, I think this was a disservice to the storytelling.
There is no Hero in Giselle. Albrecht drives Giselle mad and she kills herself. While visiting her grave, he's caught up by the Wilis, spirits of wronged women who avenge themselves by making the men dance themselves to death. See Cojocaru/Kobborg version for a great Giselle.
poursuivant1 1 year ago
poursuivant1, Thank you for the explanation. Albrecht sounds like some sort of guy don't he though? From what I can gather, he is already betrothed to a lovely princess, but decides to dally with a simple girl with a "Dicky Ticker". She promptly drops dead and Albrecht, with unbelievable front, decides to visit her grave, where he is caught by the Willie, and forced to dance to death. Charming story . ( By the way, are you sure that the Wronged Women "Danced" him to death)
I'm hooked on ballet.
pydo7 1 year ago
Albrecht survives the ordeal with Giselle's intervention. I ran out of room in previous post for a full synopsis. He visits the grave in a fit of remorse so he's not a complete tool. He's definitely NOT a hero though.
poursuivant1 1 year ago
poursuivant1, I have been thinking further about your explanation, and wondered just exactly what Albrecht did to Giselle to drive her mad? Was is something I missed? because all I did was see them dance together. Is there some hidden meaning in ballet that I am not tuned into? For instance, you said that the acting "Sucked", is this a ballet expression like "Port du Bras" or "Pas de Deux" ? I am an avid seeker of knowledge, so, as you are obviously an expert, please enlighten me.
pydo7 1 year ago
he is so frackin amazing.
hurdleturtlebeast 1 year ago 4
im getting point shoes next year in my class, and there is a boy in my class who is trying to do the what is it called again?... the spind with a shaunjama in the air
VideoBeanProductions 2 years ago
its pointe shoes
changement
and its called a tour. theyre really not that hard til you try to do a double
bismarckballerina 1 year ago
Wow. elegant. and look at those legs.
Doderhultarn89 2 years ago
A real Prince from a fairy tale. Great! High praise to Mikhail Baryshnikov!
PS: Amazing technique!!!
Violetatorelli 2 years ago
Baryshnikov has the best extension and jump i have ever seen in a dancer. it is so beautiful to watch
EdwardBellaLuv4ever 2 years ago
I dont know anything about dance or ballet or Baryshnikov but I know I love watching this
Enderwiggan1 2 years ago 4
ihave the opportunity to watch vasiliev whenever i chose, and the comparison remains. baryshnikov is a more powerful dancer. he makes all of it look easy not just the jumps. sometimes vasiliev uses too much port du bras for simple executions. wheres as misha has exellent execution and brilliant technique and expression throughout. hes more of an artist as well.
therealnessp 2 years ago
gówno
WojtekLGA 2 years ago
le plus incroyable est qu'il effectue tout cela avec un calme parfait, une sorte d'assurance tranquille...
MYRHAH 2 years ago
he has the "Ballon(bounce)" that a male lead SHOULD have and the PERFECT TECHNIQUE that people despise.
he is more of a dancer where as vasiliev is more of an actor
nopt to say vasiliev wanst great, because he was beyond that, but he wasnt in the same category as nijinsky, as is mischa.
therealnessp 2 years ago 2
usually l don't like macking this kind of comparation but l saw both them live many times at their best,and volodia was much better,if you had seen vasiliev when he was young .....
pediatrapaola 2 years ago
Baryshnikov is certainly astonishing. If you enjoyed this piece, please look for the Nicholas Brothers' "In Stormy Weather", I'm sure will all enjoy it immensely. Yes, this clip is from the American Bélle Epoque, but there is nothing bad about it. Baryshnikov once called them "the greatest dances of all time", so, you'll certainly enjoy 'em as well.
cadaverr 2 years ago
High praise to the great M. Baryshnikov! I love you in every performance of yours! I remember Don Quixote with C.Harvey, The Nutcracker with G. Kirkland and your unforgettable Sinatra Suite. Just perfect!
Violetatorelli 2 years ago
Ditto Violetatorelli! You named the "Triple Crown" of impeccable ballet from Mischa. As a young girl, I was fortunate enough to see him do Sinatra Suite & "Push Comes to Shove" live, and he was flawless. My kids now watch "The Nutcracker" and I still swoon! =))
AuthenticNavyPeaCoat 2 years ago
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my god, perfect movements
alex77universal 2 years ago
Gravity just doesn't work with this him...
kabppm 2 years ago 69
so true when i watch this i think he is flying
cosmoguru1988 2 years ago
Seriously... Why does it affect some of us so much more?
It's nearly depressing to see a man so much more graceful than me...
GabbyGenevieve 2 years ago
Precise execution. Technique impressive. And no life in it whatsoever. For me he was a dancer who never once portrayed any feeling for the character he was dancing or the mood of the dance. The rot set in with Baryshinkov and suddenly it was a case of who could jump highest, who could do the fastest pirouettes etc etc. Too much ballet today has been turned into a circus competiton. Shoot me if you like but thats my personal view and im sticking to it!
talmadge1926 2 years ago
I agree with you that ballet these days is becaming a circus, but not with Misha, he really was Albrech, and for him I would believe love is more powerful than death, he dances in a really romantic-sexy way, Don´t ask me how to be romantic(in the XIX century Romanticism way ,I mean) and sexy but thats the efect he gets , That is of course my personal view, and I am sticking to it as well.
merluzasfritas 2 years ago 4
For the nearest you can get, in my opinion, to XIX century romanticism take a look at the Nuryeyev/Fonteyn clip. It opens with this same solo. Nureyev uses the Bournonville technique beautifully. Look at how he moves into each step. And young Nureyev ...Nearest thing to unabashed sensuality ever. Well we are not going to convince one another I know. Thanks for your view. Isnt YouTube wonderful?
talmadge1926 2 years ago