Sergej Prokofjew

Prokowjef: Romeo & Julia (Royal Opera House) [DVD]

Given its premiere by The Royal Ballet in 1965 with Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn dancing the title roles, Kenneth Mac Millan's first full-evening ballet has become a signature work for the Company, enjoying great popularity around the world. From the outset, the production teems with life and colour as the townspeople, market traders and servants of the rival Montagues and Capulets go about their daily business in vibrant crowd scenes. But Romeo and Juliet take centre stage for those great pas de deux: the meeting in the ballroom, the balcony scene, the morning after the wedding and the final devastating tomb scene. Although The Royal Ballet has performed Romeo and Juliet over 400 times, each performance and pairing is subtly different and Lauren Cuthbertson and Federico Bonelli are utterly captivating in the title roles.

Press Reviews

". . . dance quality in this performance was technically exemplary at every rank in the cast hierarchy. No detail was left unpolished, from the magnificence of the ballroom scene to the market place, which was imbued with plenty of colour and dynamism from the harlots in particular. Intrinsic to the whole, of course, was Prokofiev's magnificent score. Its performance by the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House under the baton of Barry Wordsworth was achingly beautiful. " ( Independent Dance Reviews)

". . . [the] performance exemplified the Royal Ballet's high standards of seamless, naturalistic and musically attentive dance acting. " ( The New York Times)

" Such is the breathtaking impact of this production, with consistent excellence to savour from both principals and the corps, magnificent costumes and stage scenery and spot-on camera direction from Ross Mac Gibbon that criticism is effectively silenced. If you have been waiting for a truly outstanding Romeo and Juliet to appear on Blu-ray, then look no further. " ( International Record Review)

Cast
Lauren Cuthbertson ( Juliet)
Federico Bonelli ( Romeo)
Alexander Campbell ( Mercutio)
Bennet Gartside ( Tybalt)
Valeri Hristov ( Paris)
Christopher Saunders ( Lord Capulet)

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House; Barry Wordsworth

Stage Director: Monica Mason; Christopher Saunders
Choreographer: Kenneth Mac Millan

Catalogue Number: O A1100 D
Date of Performance: 2012
Running Time: 168 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic
Label: Opus Arte

Sergei Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet (Teatro alla Scala 2017) [Blu-ray]

Prokofjew, Sergej - Cinderella

Prokofiev: Cinderella [Blu-ray + DVD]

Bei weitem nicht so populär wie Romeo und Julia zählt Cinderella (1940-1944) doch zu den besten Ballettpartituren des 20. Jahrhunderts. 2002 schuf Alexei Ratmansky eine Choreographie für das Mariinsky-Theater, die seinen internationalen Ruhm als Choreograph begründete und seither zum Repertoire des renommierten Hauses in St. Petersburg gehört. Ratmansky verleiht dem Werk eine urbane Gewandtheit und moderne Erzählweise, die sich wie eine Frischzellenkur auswirkte, die noch 2013 beim Filmen dieser Produktion Wirkung zeigte. Valery Gergiev erweist sich als kongenialer Ausleuchter der grandiosen Partitur.

Commissioned by the Mariinsky in 2002, ' Cinderella' was the production that launched choreographer Alexei Ratmansky onto the world stage. Filmed in 2013 and now released on D V D and Blu-ray for the first time, the production stars one of the foremost prima ballerinas in the world today, Diana Vishneva. Recently described by The Telegraph as being 'as close to physical and technical perfection as it is possible to be', Vishneva delivers a dazzling performance, and is conducted by leading Prokofiev interpreter, Valery Gergiev. Ratmansky is the world s most influential ballet-maker, credited with revitalising classical dance through a series of highly individual productions. He breathes new life into Prokofiev s ballet, weaving together an array of different styles and echoing the complexities of the composer s score. The set, beautifully designed by Ilya Utkin and Yeveny Monakhov, transports us to the 20th century and this is reflected in the choreography s contemporary edge, which goes from lively court dances to a stunning pas de deux between Cinderella and her prince. What results is a fresh and modern account of the classic fairytale, with stunning performances from both the Mariinsky dancers and Mariinsky Orchestra. This Autumn the Mariinsky Ballet will tour the U S A, performing this production of Prokofiev's ' Cinderella'. Performance Reviews: ' When ballet is played and performed like this, it is the most natural and expressive art form there is. Clever Ratmansky. Wonderful Mariinsky. ' The Telegraph, ***** ' Gergiev teases out every tonal and chromatic subtlety; the result is complex and bittersweet, with a lovely sad shimmer to the strings. . . On stage, the evening is Vishneva s. . . she and her dancing are quite heart-stoppingly beautiful. ' The Guardian ' Vishneva as Cinderella has an endearing ability to share her happiness with the audience and casts a warm glow over the entire production. ' Dance Tabs ' This is Diana Vishneva s show. Ratmansky s choreography allows her to narrate with both her arms and expressive eyes. There is an easy fluidity to her movement which enchants a mere brush of her cheek reveals a tender vulnerability. . . Ratmansky s take on Cinderella is both refreshing and sophisticated. ' Bachtrack

Prokofjew: Cinderella (Dutch National Ballet, 2012) [DVD]

Christopher Wheeldon's acclaimed new Cinderella for the Dutch National Ballet is an imaginative interpretation of a much-loved classic.   Inspired by the original Brothers Grimm fairy tale, Wheeldon gives the characters renewed depth and complexity, complementing Prokofiev's celebrated and colourful score.   With sets and costumes by the renowned designer Julian Crouch, supported by stunning stage effects, this world premiere production is a truly magical experience, bringing an age-old fairy tale into the 21st century.  

Press Reviews

" Christopher Wheeldon goes from strength to strength. His track record at the Royal Ballet is outstanding: a dozen one-act ballets of real distinction; a full-length ballet, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, that proved to be such a success that it returns in 2013 for a third successive year. And now comes a new co-production for the ballet companies in Amsterdam and San Francisco which proves that the 39-year-old British choreographer truly is at the top of his game. . . a vibrant piece of theatre and an enchanting love story rolled into a hugely entertaining whole. Key to the production's success is the extraordinary stage pictures evoked by the British designer Julian Crouch, here making his first foray into ballet. His sets and costumes consume the stage with mouthwatering candy-coloured frocks, vivid architectural vistas and breathtaking masks that evoke strange creatures of the forest. " ( The Times)

" After a convoluted start, Christopher Wheeldon's narrative offers magic in every sphere - design, choreography, and orchestra. Anna Tsyganova's Cinderella is charming. " ( B B C Music Magazine ? ? ? ? )

Cast
Anna Tsygankova ( Cinderella)
Matthew Golding ( Prince Guillaume)
Larissa Lezhnina ( Stepmother Hortensia)
Megan Zimny Gray ( Stepsister Edwina)
Nadia Yanowsky ( Stepsister Clementine)
Remi Wörtmeyer ( Benjamin)
Alexander Zhembrovskyy ( Cinderella's Father)
Erica Horwood ( Cinderella's Mother)

Holland Symfonia; Ermanno Florio

Television Director: Jeff Tudor
Choreographer: Christopher Wheeldon

Catalogue Number: O A1114 D
Date of Performance: 2012
Running Time: 120 minutes
Sound: 2. 0 P C M & 5. 1 D T S
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic
Label: Opus Arte

Prokofievs Peter & der Wolf (Animationsfilm) [Blu-ray]

Prokofjew, Sergej - Peter and the Wolf

L'enfant et les Sortilèges / Peter and the Wolf [DVD]

Mahler/Prokofiev - Symphony No. 1/Piano Concerto No. 3 [Blu-ray]

Prokofieff: Romeo & Julia (Royal Opera House) [Blu-ray]