Ballet on DVD

[Drasko]

Wanted to ask a particular question but why not make this into general thread about ballet on DVD, similar thread on opera has 26 pages by now, one can hope this one will make it to page 2.

Particular question I wanted to ask is, is there any staging of Miraculous Mandarin on DVD? Amazon search comes up with only one, something that seems like poor VHS to DVD transfer of some Russian staging with very little info about it.

And that's about it, which is strange since there are clips of at least three different productions on youtube, and there is Bejart choreography with girl played by dancer in drags but nothing seems to be available. Have I missed something?

There was also very good choreography by Dimitrije Parlic for Belgrade Ballet from late 50s, with Duska Sifnios as a girl (for whom later Bejart will create Bolero). Sifnios did reconstruction of it sometime in late 90s and that reconstruction (with new cast obviously) was, I believe, filmed and shown on Belgrade TV but never made available commercially (nor has been 60s film of Sifnios dancing the Bolero for that matter). 

[suzyq]

I checked Arikvmusic and they have a dvd with the ballet Miraculous Mandarin.  Their web
address is:  www.arkivmusic.com.  Click DVD's than ballet - there are a lot of cd's with the music for the ballet but as you arrow down you will see it.  There may be other copies, if you have questions send them an email - they are very helpful.

Hope this helps.

[Scarpia]

Unfortunately, the issue you seem to be referring to is very badly reviewed on Amazon.

[DarkAngel]

Most of us have the several verions of the major ballets on CD sets.......but what about some discussion of essential DVD or Blu Ray versions of these, I have a relatively small collection and need some opinions for more that really stand out.......

There is so much visual artistry in ballet that must be seen as well as heard

[DarkAngel]

Scheherazade
I never realized this was a popular ballet piece with Russian dance companies and not just an orchestral showpiece, I just love the costumes and eastern dance movements. I have two versions both great but I give the edge to the lavish production below, what a feast for the eyes and ears! (look at the costume detail)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E-xMztMgJM&feature=related

Petrushka
Same DVD contains a rare and excellent version of Petruska ballet, not to be missed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPX698CbDdo&feature=related

[Brahmsian]

Scheherazade
I never realized this was a popular ballet piece with Russian dance companies and not just an orchestral showpiece, I just love the costumes and eastern dance movements. I have two versions both great but I give the edge to the lavish Kirov production, what a feast for the eyes and ears! (look at the costume detail)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E-xMztMgJM&feature=related

Petrushka
Same DVD contains a rare and excellent version of Petruska ballet, not to be missed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPX698CbDdo&feature=related

Very nice.  Thanks for sharing this! 

[DarkAngel]

I am currently looking for best Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake ballet DVD.......
I have a couple of each and have been studying youtube samples, need some input from the members here to further my collection

I have finally come to fully appreciate the artistic beauty of the audio/visual impact of ballet, need to feed the beast inside

[Scarpia]

A reconstruction of the original choreography of the Rite of Spring by Stravinsky, available on DVD and Blu-Ray.

[DarkAngel]

A reconstruction of the original choreography of the Rite of Spring by Stravinsky, available on DVD and Blu-Ray.

How did you like that DVD?

I got that DVD recently mainly because there are very few options, and it is a new modern release.........
but not really what I had hoped for, bunch of dancers dressed up like American Indians dancing/hopping around in circles? I thought there would be more action and savage ritual, more bright colors etc, pretty conventional overall with the music being more exciting than the action on stage

That DVD is supposed to be based on original performances but seems strangely simple and earthbound, I have sampled other modern DVD versions that use dancers in leotards swarming together like a seething organic mass with stark modern bare stage and lighting, also not my preference but seems more in touch with essence of the modern angular sounds of Rites of Spring. I ideally would want something that combines these two approaches.....

I see another version from 1990 is soon to be released paired with a Bloshoi Petrushka, will give it a look over when released 4/13/10

[Scarpia]

How did you like that DVD?

I got that DVD recently mainly because there are very few options, and it is a new modern release.........
but not really what I had hoped for, bunch of dancers dressed up like American Indians dancing/hopping around in circles? I thought there would be more action and savage ritual, more bright colors etc, pretty conventional overall with the music being more exciting than the action on stage

That DVD is supposed to be based on original performances but seems strangely simple and earthbound, I have sampled other modern DVD versions that use dancers in leotards swarming together like a seething organic mass with stark modern bare stage and lighting, also not my preference but seems more in touch with essence of the modern angular sounds of Rites of Spring. I ideally would want something that combines these two approaches.....

I see another version from 1990 is soon to be released paired with a Bloshoi Petrushka, will give it a look over when released 4/13/10

It is what it is, HIP Stravinsky.  I guess it took less to create a riot in those days than one would think.   I had another version by choreographed by a repulsive pervert named Uwe Scholz which I sold.  (Choreography involved throwing feces around the stage.)  There was another "silent film" set to Sacre with Rattle conducting which was utter trash.  I don't think there is a better Sacre out there.

[DarkAngel]

It is what it is, HIP Stravinsky.  I guess it took less to create a riot in those days than one would think.   I had another version by choreographed by a repulsive pervert named Uwe Scholz which I sold.  (Choreography involved throwing feces around the stage.)  There was another "silent film" set to Sacre with Rattle conducting which was utter trash.  I don't think there is a better Sacre out there.

I saw some youtube samples of Scholz "rites of spring" that is the modern version I referred to with dancers in body leotards forming seething mass of motion.......unusual but not what I am looking for, I would like something that combines both modern and traditional styles using best of both worlds.
Hopefully the 4/13/10 release DVD of 1990 rites of spring will be just what I seek

[Scarpia]

I saw some youtube samples of Scholz "rites of spring" that is the modern version I referred to with dancers in body leotards forming seething mass of motion.......unusual but not what I am looking for, I would like something that combines both modern and traditional styles using best of both worlds.

That Scholz release contained two version, the one you refer to and one with music performed on piano transcription and a single dancer featuring the antics I described.  The ensemble piece had it's moments but the other was so off-putting that I couldn't justify keeping it.  Plus I like the idea that by selling my copy I was depriving the distributor of a sale.

[Drasko]

How did you like that DVD?

I got that DVD recently mainly because there are very few options, and it is a new modern release.........
but not really what I had hoped for, bunch of dancers dressed up like American Indians dancing/hopping around in circles? I thought there would be more action and savage ritual, more bright colors etc, pretty conventional overall with the music being more exciting than the action on stage

I like that DVD. Firstly it has excellent Firebird. Kondaurova is superb in title role, tall with lots of presence, bird-like, with those expressive long arms and hands and right measure in mime. Fokine choreography stands or falls mostly on performance of the title role, rest of the cast doesn't have much to dance but Mariinsky corps de ballet, costumes and scenery manage to convey nicely Russian fairy-tale feel of the piece.

I'm not big fan of Nijinsky Rite, dramatically choreography seems pale in comparison with music, but it was from dance point of view pretty radical for 1913, with sharp, jerky movements, inelegant thumping and jumping around. As Scarpia said, it is what it is: a piece of history and I would rather more like to have it, and to have seen it, than not.

There is Rite of Spring choreography that I'd like to see complete: Preljocaj's, but doesn't seem to be available on DVD. Beginning and ending can be seen on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW49BFunwlU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfAaoLJuGyY

[Scarpia]

I see another version from 1990 is soon to be released paired with a Bloshoi Petrushka, will give it a look over when released 4/13/10

I'd like to know where you found that listing, I've been unable to confirm it.
Note added:  duh, found it.  They neglected to put "Stravinsky" in the title so searches didn't turn it up.

There is Rite of Spring choreography that I'd like to see complete: Preljocaj's, but doesn't seem to be available on DVD. Beginning and ending can be seen on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW49BFunwlU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfAaoLJuGyY

Now, that is impressive.

[Brahmsian]

Swan Lake ballet DVD[/b].......

I prefer a Swan Lake with the "unhappy ending".  It fits in much better with the dramatic music at the end.  The DVD with Nureyev/Fonteyn and Lanchbery w/ Vienna Symphony Orchestra offers this dark ending.

I just recently watched a live Swan Lake here in my city, with the upbeat, happy ending, and it just wasn't nearly as effective. 

[DarkAngel]

I prefer a Swan Lake with the "unhappy ending".  It fits in much better with the dramatic music at the end.  The DVD with Nureyev/Fonteyn and Lanchbery w/ Vienna Symphony Orchestra offers this dark ending.

I do have the 1960s Nureyev/Fonteyn Romeo & Juliet Ballet DVD, but not the Swan Lake you mention.....

I now have several Swan Lakes in........but still going through the initial viewing process.

Although not the only consideration "newer is better" for me, widescreen format and especially Blu Ray.
I do my viewing on 52" LCD TV, upscaling done by Oppo Blu Ray player and the detail on some newer productions is amazing....



Any comments on these welcome......

[DarkAngel]

I have always loved the music to Delibes ballets Coppelia & Sylvia........

but have never seen the actual ballets till recently getting these DVDs. Coppelia is a beautiful fun ballet with timeless storyline, I liked this so much I will probably get a 2nd version for my collection, anyone have a recommendation besides version I show above?

Sylvia is not often performed today and they are very few choices for DVD, so the one above is the default modern choice to own. The story is more contrived and harder to pull off based on mythology characters compared to Coppelia, but the music maybe even better, Tchaikovsky was very impressed with music of this work.......still waiting for my DVD to arrive

[sTisTi]

I do have the 1960s Nureyev/Fonteyn Romeo & Juliet Ballet DVD, but not the Swan Lake you mention.....

I now have several Swan Lakes in........but still going through the initial viewing process.

Although not the only consideration "newer is better" for me, widescreen format and especially Blu Ray.
I do my viewing on 52" LCD TV, upscaling done by Oppo Blu Ray player and the detail on some newer productions is amazing....



Any comments on these welcome......

I have the Gergiev production, not bad but unfortunately with the silly happy ending
Really, do yourself a favour and get the Nureyev/Fonteyn version, it's simply in a class of its own. The picture quality is surprisingly good considering its age, and the ending is extremely well done, hard to beat imo.

[DarkAngel]

I have the Gergiev production, not bad but unfortunately with the silly happy ending
Really, do yourself a favour and get the Nureyev/Fonteyn version, it's simply in a class of its own. The picture quality is surprisingly good considering its age, and the ending is extremely well done, hard to beat imo.

I watched Gergiev Swan Lake last night, pretty good with great picture quality but I also think there are better overall versions to be had........this is good enough to keep in my collection for now

I have watched youtube videos nof Nureyev Swan and yes he is great dancer but not ready to pay for this yet, age of video does not help and I have some others ahead in line for buys, more interested in overall visual impact of the work than in following any individual dancers skill.....

[DarkAngel]

My next move for Swan Lake is to get two additional versions after checking youtube: