Ballet on DVD

[DarkAngel]

 

This newly issued DVD is a mixed bag........

The Petrushka unfortunately is unacceptably poor quality video and sound quality, can't even begin to comment on performance because of this glaring problem

The Rites of Spring is better quality video/audio (though still not great) and the performance I like much more that the dull Gergiev original performance version. A hybrid style with modern dance elements blended with traditional, dance movements much more creative and responsive the savage theme of music,  a thrilling dark sacrifice to the pagan gods. Some of the camera angles taken between trees were a bit annoying, but overall I am happy with this version.....still open to a great new HD version of course

For Petrushka the version I mentioned earlier here  is by far superior and a great overall DVD!

[Scarpia]

I agree the Moscow Rite of Spring is more or less what you seemed to be looking for.  A shame that the quality isn't better.  In the end, I think I prefer the strict reconstruction of the original.

I wonder about the "return of the firebird" dvd you mention.  I purchased that DVD when it was first released, then there was the re-released version.  My version is from the early days of DVDs and has noticeable video compression artifacts.   I wonder if the re-released version is significantly improved.

[DarkAngel]

I agree the Moscow Rite of Spring is more or less what you seemed to be looking for.  A shame that the quality isn't better.  In the end, I think I prefer the strict reconstruction of the original.

I wonder about the "return of the firebird" dvd you mention.  I purchased that DVD when it was first released, then there was the re-released version.  My version is from the early days of DVDs and has noticeable video compression artifacts.  I wonder if the re-released version is significantly improved.

The video quality is very good on all three ballets:
Firebird
Petrushka
Sheherazade

Check the video quality of Firebird, easy to tell it is good even from youtube sample

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSAcqQnj7yw&feature=related

[DarkAngel]

A break from actual ballet performances to watch documentary on the Ballet Russes after death of founder Sergei Diaghilev to its final demise, a period from roughly 1930-1960. The Ballet Russe carried on shortly after death of Daighilev but factional conflicts resulted in two Ballet Russe (original and Monte Carlo) touring during most of this period.

Both groups came to USA during WWII, amazing how young many of these dancers started especially ballerinas, age 14-15 was not unusual and they toured with mothers. Many members still alive and give interviews and colorful stories about behind the scence events, archival film footage and photos also tell the story when needed. Also interesting to see how Hollywood became a factor, all kind of cool stuff for ballet fans.......

[DarkAngel]

After viewing 5-6 of the top rated Nutcrackers these two have become my favorites, both are newer widescreen format so picture quality is quite good. Overall if I keep only one it is the San Francisco version because of the great spectacle of costumes and imaginative stage sets. The Drosselmeyer character is also a highlight, plays a more prominent role than other versions and more imaginative touches and character development which add to the fairy tale character of the story.

The act II character dance sets are also done with wonderful panache and beatiful creative costume designs, a real winner overall

[DarkAngel]

Prince of the Pagodas ballet by Benjamin Britten is a mixed bag, very good dancing - colorful costumes but the music is defintely 2nd tier compared to Tchaikovsky, Minkus, Delibes etc bland in many spots without the needed sparkle and panache of the masters.....no wonder it is hard to buy just the music to this ballet. The storyline is actually very interesting but the music never fully rises to the occassion

If you are looking for a lesser known ballet the previously mentioned Pharaoh's Daughter ballet is much better overall with stronger music and and even better stage set designs to match great costume and dance elements by Marius Petipa

[Brahmsian]

**HIGH RECOMMENDATION ALERT!**
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Any fan of ballet music (hello Harry!) will most definitely want to see this production by Opus Arte.  To be noted, this was my very first listen to the complete Sleeping Beauty ballet, and I was incredibly impressed, with both the music and the beautiful, lavish production on this DVD.  Now, Sleeping Beauty has nowhere near the same amount of dramatic content as does Swan Lake or Prokofiev's Romeo & Juliet.  However, that is about the only thing that is lacking (if indeed one is looking for dark and dramatic moments in spades in ballet).

Choreography by Marius Petipa and Sir Peter Wright
Holland Symfonia, conducted by Ermanno Florio

Principal dancers:

Princess Aurora - Sofiane Sylve
Prince Florimund - Gael Lambiotte

Het Nationale Ballet (Dutch National Ballet)

Release date:  2004

Beautiful, colorful, ornate, lavish sets and gorgeous, sumptuous costumes.  Sofiane Sylve is breathtaking.  Gael Lambiotte also is brilliant as the Prince.  Happy to say, that on a local note, Gael Lambiotte is now one of the principal dancers with my local Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and I've seen him dance on several occasions, and he is absolutely marvelous!

I can't recommend it highly enough for ballet lovers!   

[Brahmsian]

Just finished watching this one, Prokofiev's 'Ivan the Terrible'.  1990 Bolshoi production, with choreography by Yuri Grigorovich and Simon Virsaladze.  Irek Mukhamedov stars as Ivan IV, Natalya Bessmertnova as Anastasia, and Gedminas Turanda as Prince Kurbsky.  Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra conducted by Algis Zhuraitis.

Loved the music, some savory Prokofiev dissonances (and a lot of it), but also some beautiful Romantic passages (a la Romeo & Juliet).  It was definitely Prokofiev music, but at times I swear I thought I was listening to Shostakovich.

As much as I enjoying listening to this music for the first time, the highlight was the choreography.  Absolutely stunning, incredible action scenes and high degree of difficulty dancing.  I recommend to anyone to give it a viewing.

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[Brahmsian]

I should just change the name of this thread to ChamberNut's Ballet on DVD. 

Anyway, I had to watch this Swan Lake production again, with Nureyev/Fonteyn, along with the Vienna State Opera Ballet, and John Lanchberry conducting the Wiener Symphoniker.  Filmed in 1966

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I love this version for its tragic and sad ending. 

Are there any other versions or productions of Swan Lake that have a tragic/sad ending, instead of the more common 'happy fairy tale' endings?  I just find the sad/tragic ending goes more in line with the dramatic music of Tchaikovsky's score.

Here's to sad and unhappy endings! 

[smitty1931]

In regard to Swan Lake sad endings, years ago the Stuttgart Ballet danced it at the Kennedy Center at the finale both the lovers died and the entire set collapsed. It was startling to say the least. I turned to my wife and said " I could turn around and see this production all over again" As far as DVDs  go I would select the ABT version as close to perfect and I have seen all the available versions. The Nureyev version would be second and the La Scala version would be third. I saw the Kirov and Bolshoi versions of Swan Lake at Wolf Trap outside of D.C. An amusing story- the first time I saw the Kirov Swan lake I was in the front row and as Rothbart and the Prince fight he tore the wing off and at that point the tam tam or gong was hit to hard and I jumped out of my seat! I told that to friends and when the Kirov returned years later I took my friends to see it. They had heard my story and were looking forward to that scene, wouldn't you know it this time the Prince failed to pull the wing off and Rothbart died anyway and the gong was muted. I saw the tv broadcast of the next nights performance and this time the prince got it right. Needless to say Swan Lake is my favorite ballet by far.

[Drasko]

Or not on DVD

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An hour and a half video containing three complete ballets with Nureyev starring in reconstructions of original Fokine and Nijinsky choreographies, plus about half an hour documentary on Nijinsky with Nureyev's comments. Absolutely fantastic, and it's near criminal that it never made to DVD. I definitely recommend it to those who still have a VCR, those who don't can watch the complete video on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/v/3nLCSurR6sQ

crossposting from listening thread

[Drasko]

Le Train Bleu



Le Train Bleu is a ballet in one act with choreography by Bronislava Nijinska, libretto by Jean Cocteau, music by Darius Milhaud, curtain by Picasso, set by Henri Laurens, and costumes by Coco Chanel. Le Train Bleu premiered on June 20, 1924 at the Theatre de Champs-Elysees in Paris. The lead roles were danced by Bronislava Nijnska, Lydia Sokolova, Anton Dolin and Leon Woizikowski. The ballet was a sporting theme, and features a group of fashionable and wealthy friends amusing themselves on the Mediterranean coast. Cocteau's scenario as influenced by the Olympic Games, silent films and jazz music. Nijinska's choreography had a strong gymnastic element to it. Nijinska danced the role of the Champion Tennis Player, Woizikowski the part of a golfer, Dolin the swimming champion. The Train Bleu itself, an express train between Paris and the Cote d'Azur, does not appear in the ballet. The ballet's first complete revival was at the Oakland Ballet in 1989; it was restaged at the Paris Opera in 1992.

More detailed New York Times article about creation and re-creation of Le Train Bleu


original 1924 staging


Picasso's curtain

The only audio recording is 1972 recording by Igor Markevitch conducting Orchestra of the Monte-Carlo Opera. Nobody will mistake Monte-Carlo orchestra for Vienna Philharmonic but they sound wonderfully idiomatic (being practically in-house orchestra for the Ballet Russes in their post Diaghilev existence) under Markevitch who takes light music very seriously. It was available on fantastic Addes double disc full of rarely recorded French ballets of the period. Unfortunately that is very much out of print. It was reissued by Scribendum (with added third and completely unnecessary disc of some Markevitch's Japanese Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky and Schubert).


http://www.amazon.com/Musiciens-Francais-Des-Ballets-Russes/dp/B000004C7T


http://www.silveroakmusic.com/sc014.html

But the whole recording can be heard on youtube, split in two parts (even if it is only 22 minutes piece)
http://www.youtube.com/v/5kJc4oEuyR0 http://www.youtube.com/v/kOwW0Auguf4

Thankfully 1992 re-staging from Paris Opera Ballet is available on DVD.
http://www.youtube.com/v/7wEFYT6Y39g
central pas-de-deux


US: http://www.amazon.com/Diaghilev-Cocteau-Picasso-Dance-Ballet/dp/B000BZIT4S


UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Picasso-Dance-Paris-Opera-Ballet/dp/B000E1KKM8

[kishnevi]

Speaking of Nijinska, I recently borrowed this from the library.
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Les Noces was a modern revival of Nijinska's production from the 1960s, and one of the features was one of the dancers from that production providing a somewhat satirical memoir of what it was like to dance under her direction (not very pleasant for the dancers, although in the end well worth the result).  Her choreography for that piece was a sort of minimalism made physical--small repeated steps and gestures was the basis of it.  It was a little hard for me to take in, since that was the first time I've heard the music for Les Noces to begin with.  The Firebird, which had no connection to Nijinska,  was well danced, and interesting in that it was the first time I had heard the music as a complete whole and not simply a suite of excerpts.