Kirov Ballet: Classical Ballet Night

Kirov Ballet: Classical Ballet Night (2008)

This DVD is makes for a good night of classical dancing. The Kirov performs some of the lesser known ballets --at least to me-- (Diana and Actheon, Esmeralda, Flower Festival in Genzano, The Canteen Keeper, The Canteen Keeper, The Venice Carnival and the Pas de Quarte. The technique of the dancers is suburb. The cast includes stars such as Irina Kolpakova, Galina Mezentseva, Sergei Berezhnoi, and Boris Blankov. This evening of dance is also wonderful to watch because of the number of different choreographers highlighted including Agrippina Vaganova (founder of the Vaganava method), M. Petipa, A. Bournvillle (founder of the Bourniville method), Saint-Leon, and A. Dolin. For more information about Galina Mezentseva or the Vaganova method, visit the Willis Ballet.

La Sylphide performed by the Ballet de l’Opéra National de Paris

La Sylphide performed by the Ballet de l’Opéra National de Paris avec Aurélie Dupont et Mathieu Ganio (2004)

This is an amazing production by the POB. And if there were one performance of La Sylphide to see, this would be the one. I’ve seen this performance several times and each time is like seeing it for the first time because the dancing and acting is so captivating. James (Mathieu Ganio) is engaged to Effie (Melanie Hurel), but as their wedding day nears he ends up falling in love with La Sylphide (Aurélie Dupont). He is asleep in an armchair when the Sylph first appears and then shortly disappears…

American Ballet Theatre Now: Variety and Virtuosity

American Ballet Theatre Now: Variety and Virtuosity (1998)

For a night of beautiful and amazing dancing by American Ballet Theatre, watch this DVD. You will not be disappointed. Natalia Makarova (former prima ballerina) introduces the evening of dance. It is entitled Variety because classics as well as contemporary pieces are performed and ABT is a diverse company and Virtuosity because as, Artistic Director of ABT, Kevin McKenzie explains the pieces take you anywhere you want to go and there is an element of “suspended belief”. The show opens with the Black Swan Pas de Deux from Swan Lake danced by Susan Jaffe and Jose Manuel Carreno. Next is The Leaves are Fading (an Anthony Tudor ballet) danced by Amanda McKerrow and John Gardner, then Cruel World danced by Julie Kent and Robert Hill. In total there are six pieces performed. My personal favorite is the Grand Pas de Deux from Don Quixote danced by Paloma Herrea and Angel Corella. Bravo ABT!

Coppelia performed by the Royal Ballet

Coppélia performed by the Royal Ballet

Carlos Acosta and Leanne Benjamin perform brilliantly in Léo Delibes (music) and Ninette de Valois (Choreography) production of Coppélia. From beginning to end the audience is swept into the world of Swanilda, Franz, Coppélia (the lifelike doll) and Dr Coppelius (the doll maker). Swanilda and others mistake Coppélia for being a girl and Swanilda becomes jealous when she sees that her fiancé Franz is trying to get Coppélia attention. Swanilda sneaks into Dr Coppelius's workshop and is surprised when she finds out that Coppélia is just a doll...so begins this wonderful production.

Giselle: American Ballet Theatre

Giselle performed by American Ballet Theatre (1968)

Giselle has always been one of my personal favorites. The dancing in the opening scene captures the innocence and playfulness of the two young lovers Giselle (danced by Carla Fracci) and Albrecht (danced by Eric Bruhn). Halarion (who is also in love with Giselle) is danced by Bruce Marks (former Artistic Director of the Boston Ballet) The Mad scene (where Giselle finds out that Albrecht has cheated on her) is so realistic. The viewer sees Giselle’s tears and her decent into madness which transforms her from the playful innocent Giselle to one overcome by betrayal and grief. Act II is when Giselle joins the Wilis (females who have died because of love unrequited). This production is not to be missed!

The Nutcracker: The Kirov Ballet

The Nutcracker (Casse-Noisette) performed by the Kirov Ballet at the Mariinsky Theater (1994)

The Nutcracker ballet is a hard one to compare to others because they can be so diverse in terms of age, casting, the story, props, costumes etc. But the dancing in this performance is top-notch, which is to be expected from the Kirov Ballet. My own personal preference though is seeing children dance the roles of soldiers and mice, which is not done in this performance. Nevertheless, the Nutcracker is danced beautifully by the Kirov Ballet. Larissa Lezhnina plays “Masha/The Princess” also known as Clara or Marie and Victor Baranov dances the Nutcracker/The Prince.

Le Corsaire: American Ballet Theatre

Le Corsaire performed by American Ballet Theatre

Another great ballet performance by ABT. Le Corsaire has many subplots, so it can be hard to follow, but the main story line is the love story between Medora (danced beautifully with Julie Kent) and Conrad (danced with enthusiasm by Ethan Stiefel). Stiefel also stars in the movie Center Stage. The dancing is simply amazing and the ballet is action-packed from beginning to end. Excerpts from the Act II pas de deux can also be seen on the video Nureyev and Fonteyn: A Perfect Partnership. This performance is filled with ballet stars (ABT's Principal Dancers) including Angel Corella, Paloma Herrera, Vladimr Nalakhov and Gillian Murphy. A must see!