Stravinsky and the Ballets Russes. In 2008 the ballet troupe of the Mariinsky Theater in Saint Petersburg presented The Firebird and The Rite of Spring in celebration of the 1909 debut of the Ballets Russes in Paris. Special efforts attempt to recreate both works as they were originally performed by the Ballets Russes. Valery Gergiev conducts the Mariinsky Orchestra in both productions.
1. The Firebird stars Ekaterina Kondaurova, Ilya Kuznetsov, Marianna Pavlova, and Vladimir Ponomarev. Choreography and libretto by Michel Fokine (1910) as reconstructed by Isabelle Fokine and Andris Liepa; set and costume design by Anna and Anatoly Nozhny after original designs of Alexander Golovin, Léon Bakst, and Michel Fokine.
2. The Rite of Spring stars Alexandra Iosifidi, Elena Bazhenova, and Vladimir Ponomarev. Choreography after Vaslav Nijinsky (1913), reconstructed and staged by Millicent Hodson; set and costume design by Nicholas Roerich, reconstructed by Kenneth Archer; scene plan by Igor Stravinsky and Nicholas Roerich; lighting by Vladimir Lukin.
Denis Caïozzi directs both shows for TV and video. Released 2009, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade B-
Read MoreGiselle ballet. Music by Adolphe Adam to libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges & Théophile Gautier. Choreography by Marius Petipa. Staging and additional choreography 2009 by Rachel Beaujean and Ricardo Bustamante at the Amsterdam Muziektheater. This is the first prodution of Giselle by the Dutch National Ballet. Stars Anna Tsygankova, Jozef Varga, Igone de Jongh, Jan Zerer, Michele Jimenez, Maia Makhateli, Mathieu Gremillet, Arthur Shesterikov, Anu Viheriäranta, Emanouela Merdjanova, Natasja Lucassen, Jeanette Vondersaar, Francis Sinceretti, Dario Mealli, and artists of Het Nationale Ballet. Boris Gruzin conducts the Holland Sinfonia. Sets and costumes by Toer van Schayk; lighting by James F. Ingalls; television direction and production by Jeff Tudor & Adrienne Liron. Released 2010, disc has 5.1 Dolby sound. Our disc purchased from Amazon in the U.S. is restricted to region A. Caution: there are 2 "flavors" of this disc out now. In October 2014, the Region A disc is Amazon ASIN B002VR9QXW which is cheap in the US and Canada but expensive in Europe. At the same time, the All Regions disc is Amazon ASIN B003D8O8G8 which is reasonably priced in Europe but expensive in the US and Canada. This is, of course, the fault of suits and lawyers. Things could change--- be wary to get the disc you need at the best price. Grade: B+
Read MoreLe Songe ballet, a modern version of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream choreographed and directed by Jean-Christophe Maillot. Uses the famous music by Felix Mendelssohn mixed in with wild modern scores from Daniel Teruggi and Bertrand Maillot. It's called a "choreographic film" and was recorded in 2008 as performed by Les Ballets De Monte-Carlo at the Grimaldi Forum Monaco. Neither the disc package nor the keepcase booklet identifies the dancers and their roles. I believe the dancers are Bernice Coppieters, Jérôme Marchand, Jeroen Verbruggen, Anjara Ballesteros, Sarad Jane Medley, Jens Weber, Cyril Bréant, April Ball, Nathalie Nordquist, Asier Uriagereka, Julien Bancillon, Gioia Masala, Gaétan Morlotti, Oliver Lucea, Chris Roelandt, Ramon Gomes Reis, Rodolphe Lucas, Maude Sabourin, Sivan Blitzova, Francesca Dolci, Elodie Puna, Lisa Jones, Quinn Pendelton, Carolyn Rose, Jennifer Brie, and Katarzyna Kucharska. Scenography by Ernest Pignon-Ernest; costumes by Philippe Guillotel; lighting by Dominique Drillot; stage production associate was Nicolas Lormeau. Released 2011, disc has 4.1 dts-HT Master Audio sound. Grade: B+
Read MoreA Midsummer Night's Dream ballet. Choreography by George Balanchine. Music by Felix Mendelssohn. Based on the play by William Shakespeare. Directed 1999 by Kent Stowell and Francia Russell at the Pacific Northwest Ballet and recorded at the Sadler's Wells Theatre, London. Stars Patricia Barker (Titania), Paul Gibson (Oberon), Seth Belliston (Puck), Julie Tobiason (Hermia), Ross Yearsley (Lysander), Lisa Apple (Helena), Jeffrey Stanton (Demetrius), Ariana Lallone (Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons), Batkhurel Bold (Theseus, Duke of Athens) Kaori Nakamura (Butterfly), Charles Newton (Titania's Cavalier), Timothy Lynch (Bottom), Louise Nadeau (Divertissement), and Oliver Wevers (Divertissement). Stewart Kershaw directs the BBC Concert Orchestra (Leader Cynthia Fleming). Solo singers: Libby Crabtree, soprano, and Judith Harris, mezzo-soprano. Set and costume design by Martin Pakledinaz, lighting by Randall G. Chiarelli; directed for TV by Ross MacGibbon. This is the Blu-ray version of the A Midsummer Night's Dream that Opus Arte published earlier in HD DVD. Filmed in 1999, and released 2008, disc has 5.1 PCM audio. Grade: B+
Read MoreMozart Missa Solemnis in C minor (K139) "Weisenhausmessa" and Schubert Mass No. 6 in E flat major (D 950) concert performed at the 2012 Salzburg Festival. Claudio Abbado conducts the Orchestra Mozart Bologna and the Arnold Schoenberg Choir (Chorus Master Erwin Ortner). Soloists are Rachel Harnisch (soprano), Roberta Invernizzi (soprano), Sara Mingardo (alto), Javier Camarena (tenor), Paolo Fanale (tenor), and Alex Esposito (bass). Directed for TV by Michael Beyer; produced by Paul Smaczny at Accentus Music. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreDavid Garrett Legacy---Live in Baden-Baden concert. It's not an easy thing to pin down, but I think this concert was recorded on May 6, 2011 at the Baden-Baden Festspielhaus. The National Philharmonic of Russia backed up David Garrett on violin. The first half of the evening was devoted mostly to short, fun pieces by Fritz Kreisler. The Philharmonic was led for this by Vladimir Spivakov (their usual conductor), who was ill. Lorenzo Coladonato relieved Spivakov after the intermission, and led the orchestra in Garret's performance of the Beethoven Violin Concerto in D Major. The sound engineer was Matthias Eberhard; lighting by Bernd Herr; the director was Torben Schmidt; the producer was Norbert Waldmann. This was published by "Decca Records" but the logo is the old 6-sided one that I don't remember seeing for a long time. Released 2013, the disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: D+
Read MoreLeoš Janáček The Cunning Little Vixen opera to libretto by the composer. Directed by Laurent Pelly in 2009 at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. Stars Quinn Kelsey (Gamekeeper), Judith Christin (Gamekeeper's Wife, Owl), Isabel Bayrakdarian, Dennis Petersen (Schoolmaster, Mosquito), Kevin Langan (Parson, Badger), Gustláv Belácek (Harašta), Frederico Lepre (Pásek, Innkeeper), Marcella Polidori (Páskova, Innkeeper's Wife), isabel Bayrakdarian (Bystouška, the Vixen), and Lauren Curnow (Fox). Seiji Ozawa conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Chorus Master Piero Monti). Sets by Barbara de Limburg Stirum; costume design by Laurent Pelly; choreography by Lionel Hoche; lighting by Peter van Praet. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreMahler Das Lied von der Erde (Song of the Earth) & Richard Strauss Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration). Neeme Järvi conducts the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in a live performance in 2012 at Victoria Hall in Geneva. Paul Groves (tenor) and Thomas Hampson (baritone) are soloists. Directed for TV by Jason Starr; produced for Blu-ray by Allan Altman; executive producer was Edward Cardona. Sung in German. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreDance & Quartet triple bill of short ballets choreographed in recent years by Heinz Spoerli and performed 2012 at the Salzburg Festival (at the Felsenreitschule):
Lettres intimes. Music is Janáček String Quartet No. 2 ("Intimate Letters"). Cast of 13 stars Seh Yun Kim (Zürcher Ballett) and Arsen Mehrabyan (Royal Swedish Ballet) backed up by 5 women and 6 men from the Zürcher Ballett.
In Spillville. Music is Dvořák String Quartet in F Major ("American"). Cast of 11: stars Sarah-Jane Brodbeck (Zürcher Ballett) and Tigran Mikayelyan (Bayerisches Staatsballett) backed up by 4 women and 5 men from the Zürcher Ballett.
Der Tod und das Mädchen. Music is Schubert String Quartet in D minor ('Death and the Maiden"). Cast of 12: stars Yen Han (Zürcher Ballett) and Arsen Mehrabyan backed up by 5 women and 5 men from the Zürcher Ballett.
The music is performed by the Hagen Quartet with Lukas Hagen (1st violin), Ranier Schmidt (2d violin), Veronika Hagen (viola), and Clemens Hagen (cello). Dancers from the Zürcher Ballett (other than the named stars) are Artur Babajanyan, Mélanie Borel, Juliette Brunner, Ty Gurfein, Chris Jensen, Viktorina Kapitonova, Oleksandr Kirichenko, Sergiy Kirichenko, Samantha Mednick, Galina Mihaylova, Kyla Moore, Daniel Mulligan, Boris Myasnikov, Filipe Portugal, Flavia Salamanka, and Hasan Topcouglu. Set design by Florian Etti; costumes designed by Nelly van de Velden, Heinz Spoerli, and Florian Etti; lighting by Martin Gebhardt. Directed for TV by Agnes Méth. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: B-
Read MoreRavel's two one-act operas are directed as a double feature by Laurent Pelly at Glyndebourne in 2012:
1. The disc begins with L'heure espagnole ("The Spanish Hour", or, better perhaps, "The Spanish Pastime." to a libretto by Franc-Nohain. The stars are téphanie d'Oustrac, Elliot Madore, François Piolino, Alek Shrader, and Paul Gay.
2. Next comes L'enfant et les sortilèges ("The Child and the Spells", or better perhaps, "Spells of a Child") to a libretto by Colette. The stars are Khatouna Gadelia, Elodie Méchain, Elliot Madore, Paul Gay, Julie Pasturaud, François Piolino, Kathleen Kim, Natalia Brzezińska, Hila Fahima, Stéphanie d'Oustrac, and Kirsty Stokes. (Most of the stars sing several roles.)
Kazushi Ono conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra (Leader Pieter Schoeman) and the Glyndebourne Chorus (Chorus Master Jeremy Bines). Set design for L'heure espagnole by Caroline Ginet and Florence Evrad, adapted for this production by Caroline Ginet; set design for L'enfant et les sortilèges by Barbara de Simburg; lighting by Joël Adam; costume design by Laurent Pelly and Jean-Jacques Delmotte. Directed for TV by François Roussillon; sound supervision by Jean Chatauret; music producer Sébastien Chonion; executive producers George Bruell and Toni Hajal. Plays in all regions. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A for L'heure and Grade: B for L'enfant
Read MoreTchaikovsky---The Classic Ballets is a box set with 3 titles previously issued by Opus Arte as individual HDVDs. We have previously reviewed all of them, and all are available at full price. So follow our links here to learn more about each title:
1. Swan Lake with Marianela Nuñez and Thiago Soares, which we graded "D".
2. The Nutcracker with Miyako Yoshida and Steven McRae, which we graded "B".
3. The Sleeping Beauty with Alina Cojocaru and Federico Bonelli, which we graded "B+".
I don't think Opus Arte has a "budget" brand. But by offering these 3 decent (but in every case overshadowed) recordings as a package, Opus Arte has a chance to reach folks interested in a lower price point. You do the math!
Read MoreLang Lang Dragon Songs piano concert and documentary. This title has 3 segments:
1. A documentary and compilation of interviews made in 2005 and 2006 when Lang Lang (then age 23) returned, after making his way for years in the West as a child and young adult, to visit old haunts in China.
2. The "Dragon Songs." This is a recital of about 40 minutes with 6 solo pieces by Lang Lang and 3 pieces in which Lang Lang serves as accompanist backing musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments.
3. A performance by Lang Lang of the Yellow River Piano Concerto made in 2005 at a special patriotic performance.
The documentary and song recital were recorded in HDCAM 1080i and 5.1 digital sound. The Yellow River Piano Concerto was probably recorded for distribution on VHS tape. Released in 2013, the disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: C-
Read MoreCinderella ballet. Music by Sergei Prokofiev. Christopher Wheeldon (assisted by Jackie Barrett) choreographed in 2012 the world première of this production at Het Nationale Ballet (Dutch National Ballet). Stars Anna Tsygankova, Matthew Golding, Larissa Lezhnina, Megan Zimny Gray, Nadia Yanowsky, Remi Wörtmeyer, Alexander Zhembrovskyy, Erica Horwood, Boris de Leeuw, Simona Ferrazza, Dario Meali, and Jeanette Vondersaar. Spirits and fates portrayed by Suzanna Kaic, Young Gyu Choi, Serguel Endinian, Sasha Mukhamedov, Ernst Meisner, James Stout, Rink Sliphorst, and Jared Wright. Ermanno Florio conducts The Holland Symfonia. Libretto by Craig Lucas; sets and costumes by Julian Crouch; lighting by Natasha Katz; tree and carriage scene direction and design by Basil Twist; video projection design by Daniel Brodie; directed for screen by Jeff Tutor at Het Muziektheater, Amsterdam; produced by Adrienne Liron. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A
Read MoreCinderella ballet. Music by Sergei Prokofiev. The Birmingham Royal Ballet is directed and choreographed in 2010 by David Bintley in a new production. Stars Elisha Willis, Iain Mackay, Gaylene Cummerfield, Carol-Anne Millar, Marion Tait, Victoria Marr, Momoko Hirata, Lei Zhao, Angela Paul, Delia Mathews, Jamie Bond, Joseph Caley, Alexander Campbell, and Mathias Dingman. The Royal Ballet Sinfonia is conducted by Koen Kessels. Set and costume design by John F. Macfarlane; lighting by David A. Finn; video direction by Ross MacGibbon. Released 2011, disc has 5.1 Dolby Digital sound. Grade: B+
Read MoreThe Nutcracker and the Mouse King ballet. Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Performed 2011 by the Dutch National Ballet at the Amsterdam Music Theatre. Choreography by Toer van Schayk and Wayne Eagling. Stars Anna Tsygankova (Clara Staalboom), Matthew Golding (Prince/Drosselmeijer's Nephew), James Stout (Nutcracker), Wolfgang Tietze (Drosselmeijer), Nadia Yanowsky (Louise, Clara's sister), Rink Sliphorst (Frits, Clara's brother), Alexander Zhembrovskyy (Mouse King), Nicolas Rapaic (Mr. Staalboom), Rachel Beaujean (Mrs. Staalboom), Amaljá Yuno (Young Clara), Giovanni van den Berg (Young Frits), Juanjo Arqués (Poet), Roman Artyushkin (Faun), Steven Etienne (Old Don Juan), Erica Horwood (Prince inside the magic lantern), and Oleksey Smolyakov (Princess inside the magic lantern). Additional performers are Maria Chugai and Sasha Mukhamedov (lead Snow Flakes); Naira Agvanean and Arthur Shesterikov (Spanish dance); Anatole Babenko, Amanda McGuigan, Hannah de Klein, Natasja Lucassen, and Pascalle Paerel (Arabian dance): Sasha Mukhamedov, Edo Wijnen, Young Gyu Choi, and Bruno da Rocha Perreira (Chinese dance); Nadia Yanowksy, Junajo Arqués, Roman Artyushkin and Steven Etienne (Greek dance); Anouk Nelemans, Jingjing Mao, Sandra Quinty, Tess Sturmann, Nicolas Rapaic [Mr. Staalboom], Rachel Beaujean [Mrs. Staalboom], and Aina Bilkins [Jansje] (Russian dance [4 dancers not credited in keepcase booket]); Maiko Tsutsumi, Remi Wörtmeyer, Emanouela Merdjoanova, and Mathieu Gremillet (lead Flower Waltz). Ermanno Florio conducts the Holland Symfonia. Jan Maarten Koeman was Chorus Master for the "Waterland" Children's Choir. Set and costume design by Toer van Schayk; lighting design from Hans Åke Sjöquist. Directed for TV by Jeff Tudor; produced by Adrienne Liron and Jeff Tudor. Released 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A+
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