Tchaikovsky Bolshoi Ballets box set released 2016. Below are the discs. Each of them has already been reported on this website, and you can get more details by using the links provided:
- Swan Lake. 2015. (Grade: D+)
- The Sleeping Beauty.2012. (Grade: A+)
- The Nutcracker. 2011. (Grade: F)
This might be the worst HDVD box set on the market now. The A+ Sleeping Beauty is one of the best HDVDs ever, and any ballet fan has to have it. But you would surely have something better to do with your time than to watch the remaining two titles, especially when we have so many other wonderful choices for both Swan Lake and the Nutcracker.
Read MoreRoyal Ballet Collection Box set released 2016. Below are the discs. All of them have already been reported on this website, and you can get more details by using the links provided:
- Adam Giselle. 2014. (Grade: A)
- Delibes Sylvia. 2009. (Grade: A-)
- Hérold La Fille mal gardée. 2015. (Grade: A-) This is a fine recording, but the 2005 version with Marianela Nuñez as Lise and Carlos Acosta as Colas is even better and, well, still indispensable.
- Liszt Mayerling. 2010. (Grade: A+)
- Minkus Don Quixote. 2014. (Grade: B-)
- Minkus La Bayadère. 2011. (Grade: A+)
- Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet. 2013. (Grade: B+) Again the older A+ version from 2007 with Carlos Acosta as Romeo, Tamaro Rojo as Juliet, and Laura Morera as the Head Harlot is still indispensable.
- Talbot Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. 2011. (Grade: A+)
- Talbot The Winter's Tale. 2015. (Grade: A+)
- Tchaikovsky Swan Lake. 2010. (Grade: D) Just ignore this sadly obsolete title. This production is not competitive.
- Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker. 2010. (Grade: B) This production is also not competitive.
- Tchaikovsky Sleeping Beauty. 2009. (Grade: B+) This production is also not really competitive.
- McGregor Triple Bill. 2011. (Grade: A+)
- Ashton Celebration. 2013. (Grade: A)
- Ashton Rhapsody/The Two Pigeons. 2016. (Grade: B-)
Read More2015 Royal Ballet Dance Review (our title). Recorded at the Royal Opera House in 2015 in part to honor Carlos Acosta, who retired from the ROB after the performance seen on disc. Emmanuel Plasson conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House except for the Carmen segment, which is conducted by the arranger Martin Yates. Sergey Levitin serves as Concert Master in all segments. Directed for TV by Ross MacGibbon. Keepcase booklet does not give track information or playing times. The disc menu is confusing. Released 2016, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound output. Here are the segments . . .
Read MoreDon Quixote ballet. Music by Ludwig Minkus arranged and orchestrated by John Lanchbery. Choreographed 2014 by Maina Gielgud after Rudolf Nureyev at the Ballet Company of Teatro alla Scala (Ballet Director Makhar Vaziev). Stars Giuseppe Conte (Don Quixote), Gianluca Schiavoni (Sancho Panza), Natalia Osipova (Kitri/Dulcinea), Leonid Sarafanov (Basilio), Matthew Endicott (Lorenzo), Riccardo Massimi (Gamache), Lusymay Di Stefano and Denise Gazzo (Two friends of Kitri), Vittoria Valerio (Street dancer), Christian Fegetti (Espada), Nicoletta Manni (Queen of the Dryads), Serena Sarnataro (Cupid), Antonino Sutera (Gypsy), Deborah Gismondi and Emanuela Montanari (Two Gypsies), Luigi Saruggia and Caroline Westcombe (King and Queen of the Gypsies), Vittoria Valerio and Christian Fagetti (Fandango soloists), and Virna Toppi (Bridesmaid). In addition, students of the Ballet Academy of Teatro alla Scala were directed by Frédéric Olivieri. Alexander Titov conducts the Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala. Set design by Raffaelle del Savio; costume design by Anna Anni; costume design supervised by Irene Moti; lighting design by Marco Filibeck; video director was Patrizia Carmine. Released 2016, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: D+
Read MoreLa reine morte (The Dead Queen) ballet. Music by Tchaikovsky. Libretto by Kader Belarbi. Choreographed and directed by Kader Belarbi in 2015 at the Ballet du Capitole. Stars Artjom Maksakov (King Ferrante of Spain), Davit Galstyan (Don Pedro, Prince of Portugal, son of King Ferrante), Maria Gutierrez (Doña Inés de Castro, Lady-in-waiting of Infanta), and Juliette Thélin (The Infanta, the daughter of the King of Navarre). Supporting dancers are Matthew Astley, Takafumi Watanabe, Kayo Nakazato, and Caroline Betancourt (Fools); Lauren Kennedy, Julie Loria, Virginie Baïet-Dartigalongue, Emilia Cadorin, Sofia Caminiti, and Solène Monnereau (Ladies of the court); Evgueni Dokoukine, Maxim Clefos, Minoru Kaneko, Shizen Kazama, Jérémy Leydier and Maksat Sydykov (Courtiers); Taisha Barton Rowledge (Lady of honor to the Infanta); Nicolas Rombaut (Lieutenant of the guards); Demian Vargas (Close advisor to the King); Matthew Astley, Shiven Kazama, Maxim Clefos, Evgueni Dokoukine, Minoru Kaneko, Jérémy Leydier, Nicolas Rombaut, and Maksat Sydykov (Councillors); Andrea Morelly (Priest); Lauren Kennedy, Julie Loria, Beatrice Carbone, Virginie Baïet-Dartigalongue, Taisha Barton Rowledge, Caroline Betancourt, Emilia Cadorin, Sofia Caminiti, Vanessa Dirven, Solène Monnereau, Kayo Nakazato, and Tiphaine Prévost (Ghost brides); Andrea Morelli and Takafumi Watanabe (Executioners) and Eukene Sagues-Abad (understudy to for Doña Inés). Koen Kessels conducts the Orchestre National du Capitole. Stage designs by Bruno DeLavenère; costumes by Olivier Bériot; lighting by Sylvain Chevallot. Directed for screen by Luc Riolon; produced by Fabienne Servan Schreiber and Laurence Miller. Released 2016, music was recorded with 48kHz/24-bit sampling, and the disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A-
Read MoreBach Christmas OratorioBallet. Music is the Bach Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248). Performed 2014 by the Hamburg Ballet at the Hamburg State Opera. Directed and choreographed by John Neumeier. Dancing stars are Lloyd Riggins (A man), Anna Laudere (The mother), Carsten Jung (Her husband), Karen Azatyan (A shepherd), Silvia Azzoni (Angel), Alexandr Trusch (Angel), Yuka Oishi and Silvano Ballone (Solo pair), Leslie Heylmann and Christopher Evans (Solo pair), and Vladimir Kocić (Street sweeper). Ensemble dancers: Lucia Ríos, Mayo Arii, Kristína Borbélyová, Yaiza Coll, Winnie Dias, Natalie Ogonek, Zhaoqian Peng, Madoka Sugai, Priscilla Tselikova, Miljana Vračarić, Marcelino Libao, Aleix Martínez, Konstantin Tselikov, Emanuel Amuchástegui, Jacopo Bellussi, Graeme Fuhrman, Alijoscha Lenz, Dale Rhodes, Lizhong Wang, and Eliot Worrell. Alessandro De Marchi conducts the Hamburg State Philharmonic Orchestra and the Chorus of the Hamburg State Opera (Chorus Master Eberhard Friedrich). Singing stars are Julian Prégardien (tenor), Mélissa Petit (soprano), Katia Pieweck (contralto), Manuel Günther (tenor), and Wilhelm Schwinghammer (bass). Costumes and lighting by John Neumeier; stage design by Ferdinand Wögerbauer; video direction by Thomas Grimm; produced by Bernhard Fleischer. Sung in German. Subtitles in German, English, French, Korean, and Japanese. Released 2015, all music recorded at 48kHz/24-bit specs, and disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound output. Grade: A+
Read MoreThe Nutcracker ballet. Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to libretto by Vasily Medvedev and Yuri Burlaka after Marius Petipa. Choreographed by Vasily Medvedev and Yuri Burlaka after Lev Ivanov. Stars Iana Salenko (Clara/Sugar Plum Fairy), Marian Walter (Nutcracker & Prince Coqueluche), Michael Banzhaf (Drosselmayer); Arshak Ghalumyan (Mouse King), Elena Iseki (Young Clara), and Linus Schmidt (Fritz) supported by soloists and corps de ballet of the Staatsballett Berlin and students of the Ballettschule Berlin. This is a reconstruction of the original 1892 Mariinsky historical version. Robert Reimer conducts the Orchestra and Children's Choir of the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Stage design by Andrey Voytenko; costumes by Tatiana Noginova; choreography assistant was Stanislav Feco. Produced by François Duplat; directed for TV and video by Andy Sommer. Released 2015, all music was recorded with 48kHz/16-bit sound sampling, and disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound output. Grade: B+
Read MoreRain ballet choreographed by Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker. Set to Music for 18 Musicians by Steve Reich. Performed 2014 at the Paris Opera Ballet. Star dancers of the Paris Opera Ballet are Valentine Colasante, Muriel Zusperreguy, Christelle Granier, Sae Eun Park, Léonore Baulac, Amélie Lamoureux, Laura Bachmann, Vincent Chaillet, Nicolas Paul, and Daniel Stokes. Georges-Elie Octors conducts the Ensemble Ictus and the Synergy Vocals. Set and lighting design by Jan Versweyveld; costumes by Dries Van Noten; produced by Françoise Gazio; directed for TV and screen by Louise Narboni; Director of Dance at POB was Brigitte Lefèvre. Released 2015, music was recorded with 48kHz/24-bit sound sampling and the disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound output. Grade: B+
Read MoreSwan Lake ballet. Music by Tchaikovsky. Recorded 2015 at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. Libretto by Yuri Grigorovich after the scenario by Vladimir Begishev and Vasily Geltser. Choreography by Yuri Grigorovich after Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov, and Alexander Gorsky. Stars Svetlana Zakharova (Odette/Odile), Denis Rodkin (Prince Siegfried), Artemy Belyakov (The Evil Genius), Yekaterina Barykina (The Princess Mother), Alexei Loparevich (The Tutor), and Igor Tsvirko (The Fool). Other dancers include: Kristina Kretova and Elizaveta Kruteleva (Friends to the Prince), Alexander Fadeyechev (Master of Ceremonies), Angelina Karpova (Hungrian Bride), Anna Rebetskaya (Russian Bride), Anna Tikhomirova (Spanish Bride), Daria Khokhlova (Neapolitan Bride), and Maria Semenyachenko (Polish Bride). The Three Swans are Angelina Karpova, Olga Marchenkova, and Ana Turazashvili; the Four Swans are Yulia Lunkina, Svetlana Pavlova, Margarita Shrainer, and Anna Voronkova; the Waltz Dancers are Karim Abdullin, Ivan Alexeyev, Dmitry Efremov, Egor Khromushin, Nelli Kobakhidze, Anna Okuneva, Yanina Parienko, and Anna Rebetskaya. Pavel Sorokin conducts the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra. Production design by Simon Virsaladze; lighting by Mikhail Sokolov; filmed by Vincent Bataillon; produced by François Duplat. Released 2015, the music was recorded with 48kHz/16-bit sound sampling, and the disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound output. Grade: D+
Read MoreLa fille mal gardée ballet with choreography by Frederick Ashton. Music originally composed by Ferdinand Hérold and arranged by John Lanchbery. Staged 2015 at the Royal Opera House. Stars Natalia Osipova (Lise), Steven McRae (Colas), Philip Mosley (Widow Simone), Christopher Saunders (Thomas), and Paul Kay (Alain). The Cockerel is danced by Michael Stojko; the Hens are Francesca Hayward, Meaghan Grace Hinkis, Gemma Pitchley-Gale, and Leticia Stock; Lisa's Friends are Christina Arestis, Claire Calvert, Olivia Cowley, Fumi Kaneko, Emma Maguire, Kristen McNally, Sian Murphy, and Beatriz Stix-Brunell; the Notary is Gary Avis, and the Notary's Clerk is Michael Stojko; other minor roles are danced by artists and students at the Royal Ballet. Barry Wordsworth conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House (Concert Master Vasko Vassilev). Scenario by Jean Dauberval; designs by Osbert Lancaster; lighting by John B. Read; directed for TV by Ross MacGibbon. Released 2015, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A-
Read MoreLa fille mal gardée is the oldest ballet in today's repertory. This is the leading version today with choreography by Frederick Ashton. Ferdinand Hérold originally composed the music (based on numerous folk songs), and John Lanchbery adapted and arranged the version of the music used on this disc. This was staged 2005 by Alexander Grant and Christopher Carr at The Royal Ballet. Stars Marianela Nuñez (Lise), Carlos Acosta (Colas), William Tuckett (Widow Simone), Jonathan Howells (Alain), David Drew (Thomas), Giacomo Ciriaci (Cockerol), Gemma Bond, Bethany Keating, Iohna Loots, and Natasha Oughtred (hens), Christina Arestis, Deirdre Chapman, Lauren Cuthbertson, Cindy Jourdain, Sarah Lamb, Laura Morera, Vanessa Palmer, Christina Elida Salerno (Lisa's friends), and Alastair Marriott (Notary). Anthony Twiner conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House (Associate Concert Master Sergey Levitin). Sets by Jean Dauberval; designs by Osbert Lancaster; lighting by John B. Read; directed for TV by Ross MacGibbon. Released 2009, music was recorded with 48kHz/24-bit sound, and disc has 5.1 PCM sound output. Grade: A+
Read MoreNapoli ballet to music by Edvard Helsted, H.S. Paulli, H.C. Lumbye, and Louise Alenius. Choreographed by Sorella Englund and Nikolaj Hübbe after August Bournonville. Stars Alban Lendorf (Gennaro), Alexandra Lo Sardo (Teresina), Benjamin Buza (Golfo), Lis Jeppesen (Veronica), Alba Nadal (Geovanina), Mette Bødtcher (Flora), Jean-Lucien Massot (Peppo), Fernando Mora (Giacomo), Poul Erik Hesselkilde (Pascarillo), Josephine Berggreen (Pilgrim), Magnus Christoffersen (Cyclist), Mogens Boesen (Carlino), Eva Bloborg (Carla, Guesthouse Owner), Cédric Lambrette (Fra Ambrosio), Maria Bernholdt (Prostitute), and Josee Bowman (Prostitute). Corps dancers include: Ulrik Birkkjaer, Carolina Baldwin, Marcin Kupinski, Gregory Dean, Holly Jean Dorger, Amy Watson, Susanne Grinder, Ide Praetorius, Christina Michanek, Amalie Adrian, and Jonathan Chmelensky. Graham Bond conducts Det Kongelige Kapel. Sets and costumes by Maja Ravn; lighting by Mikki Kunttu; dramaturgical retelling by Camilla Hübbe; staging by Sorella Englund and Nikolaj Hübbe assisted by Silja Schandorff and Claire Still; assistant direction of children by Ann Kolvig. Produced by Jens Lange; directed for the screen by Uffe Borgwardt and Peter Borgwardt. There are no bonus features. Opus Arte includes a cheap keepcase booklet with typefonts so tiny and ugly that you may need a maginfying glass to read it. Released 2015, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: B-
Read MoreCaravaggio Special Edition. The Caravaggio modern dance title as danced by the Staatsballett Berlin in 2008 was originally published in 2009 as Arthaus Item No. 101464. It has an obscure libretto, but the interesting music, dramatic lighting, all-out dancing, and fantastic video by Andreas Morell made it a hit. Our story on Caravaggio with lots of screenshots is also popular.
Read MoreSwan Lake ballet. Music by Tchaikovsky. Book by V. P. Begitchev and Vasily Geltzer. Choreography by Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov, Frederick Ashton, and David Bintley. Danced 2015 in the Anthony Dowell production at the Royal Opera House. Stars Natalie Osipova (Odette/Odile), Matthew Golding (Prince Siegfried), Gary Avis (Rothbart), Elizabeth McGorian (Queen), Alastair Marriott (Tutor), Ryoichi Hirano (Benno), and Erico Montes (Lord Chamberlain). Other dancers include Francesca Hayward, Yuhui Choe, and Alekander Campbell (Pas de trois); Tara-Brigitte Bhavnani and Nathalie Harrison (Chaperones); Erico Montes (A General); Manon Forssell Pyk and Emily-Rose Holland (Young Girls); Christina Arestis, Fumi Kaneko, Kristen McNally, Beatriz Stix-Brunell, Sander Blommaert, Tristan Dyer, Ryoichi Hirano, Fernando Montaño, Emma Maguire, and Paul Kay (Waltz); Francesca Hayward, Meaghan Grace Hinkis, Emma Maguire, and Yasmine Naghdi (Cygnets); Melissa Hamilton and Itziar Mendizabal (Two Swans); Tara-Brigitte Bhavnani, Olivia Cowley, Nathalie Harrison, Mayara Magri, Yasmine Naghdi, and Beatriz Stix-Brunell (Six Princesses); Christina Arestis, Kristen McNally, Kevin Emerton, and Thomas Whitehead (Spanish Dance); Claire Calvert and Bennet Gartside (Czárdás); Laura Morera and Ricardo Cervera (Neapolitan Dance); Jacqueline Clark, Sian Murphy, Demelza Parish, Lara Turk, Sander Blommaert, Nicol Edmond, Fernando Montaño, and Donald Thom (Mazurka). Boris Gruzin conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House (Concert Master Vasko Vassilev). Designs by Yolanda Sonnabend; lighting by Mark Henderson; production research by Roland John Wiley; staging by Christopher Carr; ballet mistress was Samantha Raine; principal coaching by Alexander Agadzhanov; Benesh notation by Anna Trevien and Gregory Mislin; directed for TV by Ross MacGibbon. Released 2015, disc has 5.0 (package says 4.1) dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: B-
Read MoreLe Corsaire ballet. Story: Anna-Marie Holmes version of the libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Joseph Mazilier, based on The Corsair oem by Lord Byron. Choreography and staging: Anna-Marie Holmes after Marius Petipa and Konstantin Sergeyev. Music composed by Adolphe Adam, Cesare Pugni, Léo Delibes, Riccardo Drigo, Prince Pyotr van Oldenburg, Ludwig Minkus, Yuly Gerber, Baron Boris Fitinhof-Schnell, and Albert Zabel, all edited by Lars Payne and Gavin Sutherland. Recorded 2014 as performed by the English National Ballet. Stars Alina Cojocaru (Medora), Vadim Muntagirov (Conrad), Erina Takahashi (Gulnare), Dimitri Gruzdyev (Lankendem), Junor Souza (Ali), Yonah Acosta (Birbanto), Michael Coleman (Pasha), Juan Rodriguez (Pasha Assistant), and Nancy Osbaldeston (Lead Villager). Odalisques danced by Shiori Kase, Alison McWhinney, and Laurretta Summerscales. Lead Roses danced by Nancy Osbaldeston, Ksenia Ovsyanick, Adela Ramírez, and Laurretta Summerscales. Lead Flowers danced by Jem Ghoi, Senri Kou, Jenna Lee, and Jia Zhang. Numerous minor roles are danced by artists of the English National Ballet, students of the English National Ballet School, and pupils of the Tring Park School. Gavin Sutherland directs the Orchestra of English National Ballet. Sets and costumes by Bob Ringwood; lighting by Neil Austin; directed for the screen by Chris Blaine with his brother Ben Blain as Producer for Charlie Productions. Stereo recorded with 48kHz/24-bit sound sampling and 5.1 dts recorded with 48kHz/16-bit sound sampling. Released 2014, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound output. Grade: B
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