Ballet Performance DVDs -Raymonda, Romeo & Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake

La Bayadere (The Temple Dancer) was filmed live at the Kirov Theater (on the stage where it premiered in 1877) starring Gabriella Komleva as the pathetic temple dancer, Nikia; Tatiana Terekhova as Gamzatti, the Rajah's daughter, and Rejen Abdyev as Prince Solor. This performance exhibits the perfection achieved by the Kirov corps de ballet. The orchestra, under the baton of Victor Shirokov, plays Minkus' scintillating music. A piece of history, and a work of art, La Bayadere is quite simply a gem to be savored again and again. 130 mins. (2008) DVD-Region 1

Magnificent scenic effects and dramatic choreography have ensured the popularity of Petipa’s exotic ballet Le Corsaire, a story of pirates and shipwreck, set on the Ionian coast. This production features Altynai Asylmuratova and Faroukh Ruzimatov who give exuberant and extroverted performances. "…the leading dancers were little short of sensational". 85 mins. (2005) DVD-Region 1.

Shakespeare's masterpiece of murder and intrigue in mist-shrouded Scotland is brought to life through dance in this superb production by the Bolshoi Ballet taped live at Moscow's historic Bolshoi Theatre. Choreographed by Vladimir Vasiliev in 1980 to powerful music by the celebrated composer, Maestro Molchanov, Macbeth stars Alexei Fadeyechev in the title role and Nina Timofeyeva as his unscrupulous consort. Brilliantly danced, and acted with bloodcurdling conviction, Macbeth is superb drama and stunning entertainment for all. 97 mins. (2008) DVD-All-Region.

Choreographer: Jean-Christopher Maillot. Composer: Cera, Lazkano. A series of seven choreographic displays explores the richness of human relations. Seven original music compositions, written for the 20th Anniversary of the Printemps des Arts have been selected by Choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot. 70 mins. (2006) DVD-Region 1.

Starring: Arne Villumsen and Mona Jessen. Conductor: Peter Ernst Lassen. Choreographer and Composer: August Bournonville. The dramatic tradition of the remarkable dancer and choreographer, August Bournonville, is the keystone of the continuing excellence of the Royal Danish Ballet, and Napoli is his happiest masterpiece. Persuaded by his friend Hans Christian Andersen to travel to Italy, Bournonville was inspired by his stay in Naples to create this romantic ballet, which tells the story of the young fisherman Gennaro and his beloved Teresina. 97 mins. (2006) DVD-Region 1.

Natalia Makarova is universally acknowledged as one of the greatest ballerinas of our age. The content of this television spectacular was chosen to show off the astonishing range and artistry of this uniquely gifted dancer. Some of Makarova's most acclaimed interpretations, including Natalya Petrovna in Ashton's A Month in the Country and Juliet in MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet, are featured in this recording alongside dances created especially for her. 65 mins. (2007) DVD-Region 1.

This historic performance from 1968 captures Rudolf Nureyev at the peak of his career. Nureyev’s legendary performance makes this the definitive Nutcracker DVD. Also features Merle Park as Clara with Artists of the Royal Ballet, London. Watch, and enjoy being transported with Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairies and the Nutcracker Prince into a world of fantasy! DVD digitally re-mastered. 100 mins. DVD-Region 1.

Peter Wright's version of The Nutcracker is a wonderfully lavish production and an absolute delight for all viewers. The magical tale is wonderfully played with fantastic clarity and the sets and costumes are sumptuous without being overly ostentatious. Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Choreography: Peter Wright, Lev Ivanov, Vincent Redmon. Conductor: Barry Wordsworth. The Royal Ballet Sinfonia: The Orchestra of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Leader: Yuri Torchinsky. Cast: The Sugar Plum Fairy- Miyako Yoshida; The Prince- Irek Mukhamedov; Clara - Sandra Madgwick; and Drosselmeyer - Joseph Cipolla. 97 mins. (2008) DVD-Region 1

Sir Kenneth MacMillan's glorious version of The Prince of the Pagodas provides a fascinating and magnificent spectacle of classical dance on the grandest scale. Nicholas Georgiadis' enchanting designs complement Britten's only ballet score by establishing a fairy tale ambience, and Darcey Bussell produces a dazzling performance as Princess Rose. "The principal players are magnificent. A grand achievement" - The Financial Times. 194 mins. (2005) DVD-Region 1.

This glorious three-act ballet boasts a magical score by Alexander Glazunov, filled with melody, color and grand effects. ACT 1 – Ludmila Semenyaka is magnificent as the youthful, charming Raymonda, niece to the Countess Sybil de Daurice of France. Raymonda is engaged to the gallant knight Jean de Brienne, who is superbly portrayed by Irek Moukhamedov. Because he must immediately depart on a campaign with King Andrei II of Hungary, the youth comes to the castle to bring his fiancée gifts and to bid her farewell. That night as Raymonda muses on her beloved, a statue of the White Lady, patroness of the House of Daurice, appears in a vision. She beckons the girl to the Magic Garden of Dreams, where Jean awaits her. But the apparition suddenly disappears, and in Jean’s place there is an unknown, exotic Eastern knight, who makes a passionate declaration of love to the bewildered Raymonda, when she faints, the knight vanishes. As dawn breaks, Raymonda awakens in the belief that her dream has been a terrible omen of her destiny. ACT II – A celebration is underway at the castle. Among the guests is the Saracen knight Abderakhaman, performed by the electrifying Gedeminas Tarands. In him the terrified Raymonda recognizes the mysterious stranger she saw in her dream. Though he promises to give her riches and power in return for her heart and hand, she rejects. Him. Aberakham tries to abduct Raymonda. Unexpectedly however, Jean and the other knights return from their mission. To resolve the differences between Jean and Abderakham, King Andrei proposes a duel of honor. Aberakhman is defeated and Jean reclaims the overjoyed Raymonda. ACT III – Raymonda and Jean are marries at the court of King Andrei. In honor of the monarch, Hungarian dances are performed during the wedding festivities. 146 mins. (1980) DVD-All-Region.

Starring: Alessandra Ferri, Wayne Eagling. Sir Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet has long been one of the greatest successes in The Royal Ballet repertoire, winning worldwide acclaim as an impassioned and thrilling view of Shakespeare's tragedy and of Prokofiev's glorious score. His sensual choreography poignantly captures the conflict between blossoming love and cankerous revenge. 130 mins. (2005) DVD-Region 1

Russian Ballet Highlights features Russia’s two most celebrated ballet companies, the Bolshoi and the Kirov, in extracts from five of the great ballets in their classical repertoire. Recorded in Moscow and St Petersburg, these performances show off, to the full, the skill of the Russian dancers and the magnificence of their productions. 58 mins. (2007) DVD-Region 1.

The aristocratic beauty of the Bolshoi Ballet brings this acclaimed production of Swan Lake alive with ennobling presence and artistry. Natalia Bessmertnova is soft and lyrical in the dual role of Odette and Odile; her eminently feminine quality makes her the ideal interpreter of this classic. The elegance and magnetism of Siegfried is masterfully portrayed by Alexander Bogatyrev. With exquisitely designed sets, and a dance corps whose skill rivals that of the principal ballerinas. This historic production was choreographed by the critically acclaimed master Yuri Grigorvich, with Tchaikovsky’s timeless score performed by the Moscow Symphonic Orchestra under the baton of Algis Zhuraitis. 117 mins. (2008) DVD-All-Region.

Regarded as the greatest of all the classical ballets, this spectacular production was filmed live in Russia at the Maryinsky Theater featuring the Kirov Ballet. Tchaikovsky's score, the first in his trimvirate of ballets, is the perfect compliment to this masterpiece, the greatest romantic ballet of all-time. Prima ballerina Galina Mezentseva gives a memorable in the dual role of Odette/Odile, and Konstatin Zalinsky portrays Prince Siegfried. Choreography by Lev Ivanovich Ivanov and Marius Petipa. 144 mins. (1992) DVD-All-Region.

William Forsythe's research into ways of engendering and organizing movement has led him to pursue counterpoint, proprioperception, entrainment, and authenticity for organizational principles that also allow improvisation. Artistic director and choreographer of the Ballet Frankfurt and himself trained in ballet, Forsythe shows an appreciation of and often a critical engagement with classical dance, transforming and revitalizing it. When he works collaboratively, Forsythe challenges the traditional distinction between choreographer and dancer, thus questioning hierarchy, authorship and disciplinary boundaries. 78 mins. (2007) DVD-Region 1.

“One of the best dance films ever made” – NY Times. Spartacus is the Bolshoi doing what the Bolshoi does best: interpreting contemporary works whose thematic origins are classic. Vladimir Vasiliev, “a dancer of unshakable heroic optimism, exceptional virtuosity, and irresistible dynamism” (Horst Koegler), is perfect as Spartacus. Natalia Bessmertnova, one of the Bolshoi’s most lyrical, feminine dancers, is also seen in one of her finest roles. Anna Kisselgoff, dance critic of The New York Times, writes “Yuri Grigorovich’s Spartacus already familiar to American audiences, comes into its own here as both ballet and film. The inherent cinematic approach in Mr. Grigorovich’s staging of Aram Khachaturian’s score falls perfectly in place…Vladimir Vasiliev, as the slave who leads an unsuccessful revolt against the Romans, dances and acts on a heroic level that is the performance of a lifetime. Marius Liepa matches him on every point magnificently as the villain, the Roman general Crassus, and Natalia Bessmertnova and Nina Timofeyeva round out the ballet’s great original cast. With its phalanxes confronting the camera head-on and its slow-motion shots of Mr. Vasiliev soaring through the sky, the film takes its chances. It is also one of the best dance films ever made.” 92 mins. (2008) DVD-All-Region

La Bayadere (The Temple Dancer) was filmed live at the Kirov Theater (on the stage where it premiered in 1877) starring Gabriella Komleva as the pathetic temple dancer, Nikia; Tatiana Terekhova as Gamzatti, the Rajah's daughter, and Rejen Abdyev as Prince Solor. This performance exhibits the perfection achieved by the Kirov corps de ballet. The orchestra, under the baton of Victor Shirokov, plays Minkus' scintillating music. A piece of history, and a work of art, La Bayadere is quite simply a gem to be savored again and again. 130 mins. (2008) DVD-All-Region.

Mikhail Fokine was Diaghilev’s chief choreographer 1909-14 and he is considered to have been the creator of modern dance. This sparkling Russian gala features four Fokine ballets, all associated with Nijinsky. Recorded live from the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, the Kirov Ballet brings to life, once again, the full glory of the Ballets Russes. Featuring Sheherazade, Le Spectre de la Rose, The Polovtsian Dances, and The Firebird. 110 mins. (2005) DVD-Region 1.

Highlights From The Royal Ballet features stunning performances from one of the world’s leading ballet companies. This wonderful compilation showcases the talent of Anthony Dowell, Lesley Collier, Wayne Eagling, Alessandra Ferri and many others n superb productions of popular ballet favorites. 60 mins. (1999) DVD-Region 1.

This superb collection of stunning pas de deux, from many of the best-loved classical ballets, features some of the most celebrated partnerships of recent times, including Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev in a convert performance from Le Corsaire. 91 mins. (1995) DVD-Region 1.

A magical tour through the land of flying horses, dancing fish, and tumbling clowns highlights this magnificent Bolshoi Ballet production of The Little Humpbacked Horse. Featuring the legendary Maya Plisetskaya in the role of the Queen Maiden and with Vladimir Vasiliev as the young man who befriends the little horse with magical powers, this fairytale ballet features dazzling sets and a fine musical score that is bound to enchant children and delight ballet lovers. 84 mins. (2008) DVD-All-Region

Starring: Aurelie Dupont, Manuel Legris, Vincent Cordier, Nathalie Quernet. Conductor: David Coleman. Choreographer: Rudolf Nureyev. Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The Sleeping Beauty remains, as Rudolf Nureyev often called it, the ‘ballet of ballets’. It is the most accomplished and the most brilliant, as well as one of the most spectacular of the 19th century, and the most representative of the ‘noble’ style of classical dancing. Rudolf Nureyev's version, which he created for the Opera Ballet in 1989, was recorded at the Opéra Bastille in 1999, in a new production (sets and costumes) created by his faithful collaborators, Ezio Frigerio and Franca Squarciapino, who had already produced Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet and La Bayadère. 148 mins. (2006) DVD-Region 1.

Fernando Bujones, principal dancer of the American Ballet Theatre, performs the much beloved “Sleeping Beauty” as the guest artist of the Ballet del Teatro Municipal. The program was recorded during a live performance March 29, 1982, at the 125th anniversary performance of the magnificent Teatro Municipal in Santiago, Chile. The company of 60 dancers, under the Artistic Direction of Mr. Ivan Nagy, is an impressive classical company of outstanding artistic level. The beautiful sets and costumes were designed by Carlos Carvalho, one of the best contemporary designers. This production recreates as faithfully as possible the version staged by Nicholas Sergeyev for London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre, premiered in 1939 by Margot Fonteyn and Robert Helpman. 120 mins. (2006) DVD-All-Region.

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