Stars of the Russian Ballet

The second part of this three-part ballet film contains a most unusual event, a one of a kind sequence in which two of the world's greatest ballerinas, Galina Ulanova and Maya Plisetskaya, dance together in a memorable performance of scenes from Boris Asafiev's ballet. The Fountain of Bakhchisarai. This is the only filmed record of thewe two great dancers performing together and it provides a unique opportunity to compare their different styles. The first part of this film features Galina Ulanova in an abridged version of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. Utilizing dazzling visual effects, this production takes full advantage of the artistic qualities of the cinema, rather than merely recording the event. The great Georgian dancer Vakhtang Chabukiani is featured in the third part of this film in scenes from Boris Asafiev's homage to the French Revolution, The Flames of Paris.