BALLET ON DVD
All ballet books are delivered worldwide by Amazon USA.
|
Other ballet companies
Serata Con Carla Fracci (1973)
The title of this DVD "Serata con Carla Fracci" means "An Evening with Carla Fracci". It is a delightful and rare gem that was broadcast on Italian TV in 1973. You can see Carla Fracci dance in classical ballet pieces like The Sleeping Beauty - finale, Romeo and Juliet - balcony scene (the John Cranko version), plus pieces of a traditional private ballet class at the famous La Scala Theatre, with some barre and center.
|
Firestone Dances: Historic Ballet Performances (1962)
For more than thirty years, The Voice of Firestone brought the world's greatest artists into the homes of music lovers. Now, through a special arrangement with the New England Conservatory in Boston, Kultur is proud to make these rare telecasts available.
Among the treasures from the Firestone archives are Rudolf Nureyev's American television solo debut; the legendary team of Jacques D'Amboise and Melissa Hayden; the brilliant Maria Tallchief; Carla Fracci in a rare Pas de Quatre set to the music of Pugni; as well as principal dancers of the Royal Danish Ballet and a performance by the Ballet Espanol Ximenes-Vargas.
Ballet Espanol Ximenes-Vargas: Andalusian Dances
Maria Tallchief: Variations after Degas
Maria Tallchief and Oleg Tupine: Caprice
Rudolph Nureyev: Variation from The Sleeping Beauty
Rudolph Nureyev: Variation from Gayne
Kirsten Simone and Henning Kronstam: Pas de deux from The Sleeping Beauty
Carla Fracci: Variation from Pas de quatre
Jacques D'Amboise and Melissa Hayden: Pas de deux
Jacques D'Amboise and Melissa Hayden: Pas de deux from Don Quixote
|
Ballets Russes (2005)
Part history, part love letter, Ballets Russes may be the most purely delightful documentary in years. The movie follows the birth of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in the early 1930s, an event that eventually led - after years of exhilarating experiments, bitter artistic battles, and exhausting tours - to the establishment of modern ballet around the world. Ballet Russes combines astonishing film footage of fantastical ballets (featuring extravagant sets designed by Salvador Dali and costumes by Henri Matisse) and interviews with surviving dancers in their 70s, 80s, and 90s (ranging from Dame Alicia Markova, who was a prima ballerina with the original Ballet Russe under impresario Sergei Diaghilev, to Yvonne Craig, who went on to become Batgirl in the '60s tv show Batman); the result is a breathtaking range of scholarship and depth of feeling. The heart of the film is the dancers themselves, who are sly, thoughtful, gossipy, and amazingly youthful in spirit - even the most difficult times are discussed with humor and honesty. Ballet fans will find this an essential document, while anyone who's never even thought of going to ballet will be completely caught up in these dancers' passion and wonder. A beautiful, entrancing movie.
|
Tony Palmer's Film About Margot Fonteyn (2005)
Margot Fonteyn was the greatest dancer England has ever produced. In her life she transcended the world of dance and became a tabloid darling second to none, a true celebrity. And when, already in her forties, Fonteyn teamed up with Rudolf Nureyev, their astonishing union created one of the most brilliant and magical partnerships in all of ballet history. Their artistic and sexual chemistry electrified all those who were lucky enough to watch them perform. But her remarkable talent and façade of fastidious primness masked a dark torrent within. Fonteyn’s life was the stuff of unimaginable fiction: taken as an underage mistress; married to a Panamanian Ambassador; involved in an attempted coup; the lover of innumerable, often homosexual, public figures; a cultural icon of the swinging sixties; betrayed by her husband’s family, and, above all, a dancer of extraordinary physical eloquence and purity – all culminating in this fragile beauty dying a penniless, lonely recluse. This gripping film uncovers a mountain of archive footage, including memorable performances with Nureyev, and meetings with those who danced with her, knew her, and loved her.
|
Divine Dancers - Live from Prague / Prague State Opera (2006)
Divine Dancers
Live from Prague
Polina Semionova & Igor Zelensky · Daniil Simkin & Dmitri Simkin · Charles Jude · Natalia Hoffmann & Altin Kaftira · Delphine Baey · Maria Alexandrova & Sergey Filine · Stephanie Roublout, Jean Jacques Herment & Viviana Franciosi · Oksana Kutcheruk & Roman Mikhalev.
Recorded live at the Prague State Opera, 11 January 2006
|
The Art of the Pas de Deux, Vol. 2 (2006)
A gala evening of dance present by the Los Angeles International Ballet Festival, 1984. Program includes Tchaikovsky Pas de deux with Patricia McBride & Reid Olson; La Sylphide with Ghislaine Thesmar & Michal Denard; Flower Festival at Genzano with Linda Hindberg & Arne Villumsen; Don Quixote danced by Yoko Morishita & Tetsutaro Shimizu; Le Corsaire with Marielena Mencia & Yanis Pikieris; The Bluebird Pas de deux danced by Nadezda Zybine & Luis Astorga; Grand pas de deux from Sleeping Beauty with Ellen Bauer & Damian Woetzel. 81 min., Color.
|
Gaite Parisienne (1954)
The legendary “in-house” filming of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, shot and edited by Victor Jessen, is now available on DVD, with fascinating bonus features. The ballet stars Alexandra Danilova, Frederic Franklin, and Leon Danielian. DVD extras include audio commentary by Franklin, optional explanatory subtitles which identify many of the dancers in the ensemble, an interview with Frederic Franklin, a documentary titled “The Saga of Victor Jessen,” and a complete list of the ballet productions filmed by Jessen. B&W (feature) / Color (bonus segments), 87 min.
|
Giselle / Svetlana Zakharova, Roberto Bolle
Giselle
Teatro alla Scala, Milan, 2005
Svetlana Zakharova (Giselle)
Roberto Bolle (Albrecht)
Vittorio D’Amato (Hilarion)
Sophie Sarrote (A peasant)
Antonino Sutera (A peasant)
Marta Romagna (Mirta)
Orchestra e Corpo di Ballo del Teatro alla Scala
Release date: July 25 2006
|
Napoli / Royal Danish Ballet, Arne Villumsen, Linda Hindberg
The dramatic tradition of the remarkable dancer and choreographer, August Bournonville, is the keystone of the continuing excellence of the Royal Danish Ballet, and Napoli is his happiest masterpiece. Persuaded by his friend Hans Christian Andersen to travel to Italy, Bournonville was inspired by his stay in Naples to create this romantic ballet, which tells the story of the young fisherman Gennaro and his beloved Teresina.
From The Royal Theatre, Copenhagen; The Royal Danish Ballet. Music By E Helsted, G Rossini, Niels W Gade, H S Paulli, H C Lumbye.
Gennaro, a fisherman: Arne Villumsen. Veronica, a widow: Mona Jensen. Teresina, her daughter: Linda Hindberg. Fra Ambrosio, a monk: Tommy Frishøi.
Giacomo, a macaroni seller: Fredbjørn Bjørnson. Peppo, a lemonade seller: Flemming Ryberg. Giovanina: Annemarie Dybdal. Pascarillo, a street singer: Michael Bastian.
|
Art of the Pas de Deux
This compilation presents more than a dozen legendary dancers in some of the most celebrated pas de deux in the ballet repertoire. DVD includes excerpts from Romeo and Juliet, Raymonda, Firebird, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Cinderella, performed by Galina Ulanova, Maria Tallchief, Rudolf Nureyev, Maya Plisetskaya, Vladimir Vasiliev, Margot Fonteyn, Michael Somes, Alicia Alonso, Azari Plisetsky, Erik Bruhn, Lupe Serrano, Jacques D’Amboise, Patricia McBride, and others. 85 minutes, Color/B&W.
|
La Sylphide - Royal Danish Ballet
From The Royal Theatre, Copenhagen with The Royal Danish Ballet. When Lis Jeppesen - the Sylphide of our time - in diaphanous white costume and with shining wings, dances for the Scottish farmer James, whom she has entranced with her love and beauty, we are witnessing the first scene of the most famous and enduring ballet by August Bournonville. The great Danish choreographer and former dancer (he had partnered Marie Taglioni) created La Sylphide for the Royal Danish Ballet in 1836. Of all his surviving ballets it is the oldest and most widely performed. The Royal Danish Ballet rightly regards its interpretations of the Bournonville classics as being in the purest and most faithfully maintained tradition. Lis Jeppesen dances the lead role of La Sylphide, a role which demands lyrical interpretation as well as superb technique. Equal expressiveness and faultless dancing are required of James, here performed by Nikolaj Hübbe. Sorella Englund is the brilliant interpreter of the role of Madge, the witch and fortune-teller, whose rejection by James leads her to seek dreadful revenge on him, with tragic consequences. Gurn: Morten Munksdorf, Effy: Ann-Kristin Hauge, Anna: Kirsten Simone, Nancy: Anne-Marie Vessel.
|
The Dancer (1994)
A Film by Donya Feuer
The Dancer follows the young and gifted Katja Björner through years of intensive training at the Royal Swedish Ballet School as she develops into an international ballet star. Filmed with an eye toward conveying the physical aspects of dancing — the pain, sweat, and tears, as well as the exquisite beauty — The Dancer captures the fierce determination and struggle that goes into the desire to dance at the highest level.
|
Making Ballet - Karen Kain and The National Ballet of Canada
This feature-length documentary goes behind the scenes at The National Ballet of Canada to witness the seemingly magical process of creating a major ballet production. Making Ballet captures the drama within a drama - the making of "The Actress." Set to Chopin's Preludes, this ballet was created by world famous choreographer James Kudelka for prima ballarina Karen Kain. Making Ballet will delight film buffs as well as beginners and aficionados of the art form. 88 minutes. Bonus DVD features include a Karen Kain biography, filmmaker Anthony Azzopardi biography, stage director James Kudelka biography and "About the Ballet, 'The Actress'."
|
Swan Lake - Svetlana Zakharova, La Scala Ballet
A 2004 Teatro alla Scala production of Swan Lake, filmed in its then temporary premises in the Teatro degli Arcimboldi. Two classical ballet world stars take the lead roles: The young prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova – the most sought-after representative of the Russian style - as Odette / Odile and Roberto Bolle, the La Scala star dancer and most important ambassador of today’s Italian Ballet. Directed by Florence Clerc from Paris and Frédéric Olivieri, Artistic Director with the La Scala Ballet, the Milan staging combines the best of both worlds in ballet: It brings the Russian classical school together with the history of choreographic adaptation in the West. The version presented on this DVD is based on the choreography of Swan Lake which in itself has become a classic: The Burmeister version of the 1953 production at the Moscow Academic Music Theater, which first came to the West as Lac des cygnes at the Opéra in Paris in the 50’s, and has since been adapted numerous times.
|
Giselle - Carla Fracci, Erik Bruhn, American Ballet Theatre (1968)
Giselle - Carla Fracci, Erik Bruhn, American Ballet Theatre (1968).
David Blair's production, filmed in 1968, celebrates one of the twentieth century's great dance partnerships, that of Carla Fracci and Erik Bruhn. Carla Fracci, Erik Bruhn, Toni Lander, Bruce Marks, American Ballet Theatre.
|
Don Quixote - Nina Ananiashvili and Aleksei Fadeyetchev
Prima ballerina Nina Ananiashvili stars in this spectacular new full-length production of one of the world’s favorite ballets Don Quixote with the Russian State Perm Ballet. In this delightful ballet, Nina Ananiashvili and Aleksei Fadeyetchev portray the lovers Kitri and Basilio; Alexander Astafiev is featured in the title role as Don Quixote, and Evgeny Katusov is his comic squire Sancho Panza. This joyous new production of composer Leon Minkus’ ballet, which tells the tale of an old knight who dreams of chivalry and tilts at windmills, is a visual treat for dance lovers of all ages. Nina Ananiashvili’s superb technical command is a thrilling dance experience which the viewer will want to enjoy again and again. Don Quixote: Alexander Astafiev, Sancho Panza: Evgeny Katusov, Kitri/Dulcinea: Nina Ananiashvili, Basilio: Aleksei Fadeyetchev, Gamache: Vladimir Golub. Performed September 20th, 1992, at NHK Hall.
|
Swan Lake - Nina Ananiashvili and Aleksei Fadeyetchev
Ballet superstar Nina Ananiashvili makes her full-length ballet DVD debut with the Russian State Perm Ballet in the best-loved of all the classical ballets, Swan Lake. Nina Ananiashvili has been hailed as one of the most talented prima ballerinas to emerge in recent years. Her superb technique makes her portrayal of the dual role of Odette/Odile a major ballet event not to be missed by dance lovers. This historic production of Swan Lake, also starring the great Russian dancer Aleksei Fadeyetchev, was filmed during a performance commemorating the centennial of the composer Tchaikovsky’s death. This new production of the world’s favorite ballet, starring one of today’s greatest young dancers is a performance which will be cherished by children and ballet enthusiasts of all ages. Odette/Odile: Nina Ananiashvili, Prince Siegfried: Aleksei Fadeyetchev, Rothbart: Sergei Zagorulko, Queen: Vera Sokolovskaya, Jester: Andrei Shcherbinin, Pas de trios: Yulva Mashkina, Galina Frolova, Vitaly Poleshchuk. Performed October 11, 1992 at Bunkamura Orchard Hall.
|
ABT In San Francisco / American Ballet Theatre
ABT In San Francisco is a dazzling display of choreographic and dancing virtuosity, an excellent precise corps in traditional and modern ballet highlights. That ambitious claim is fully justified by brilliant performances, ranging from Handel's Airs, Chausson's Jardin Aux Lilas, Tschaikovsky's The Black Swan, Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet and Gottschalk's Great Galloping Gottschalk. Live from the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco, with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra.
|
Great Pas De Deux - Fonteyn, Nureyev, Makarova, Dowell, Baryshnikov, Bessmertova, and more
Stunning performances by the greatest ballet partnerships of recent times. Includes pieces from Le Corsaire, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, and more, danced by such luminous pairings as Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev, Cynthia Harvey and Mikhail Baryshnikov, Darcey Bussell and Jonathan Cope, and many more.
|
Romeo and Juliet / Alessandra Ferri and Angel Corella, La Scala
The revival of the classically choreographed version of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet by senior choreographer Kenneth MacMillan enjoyed a phenomenal success at La Scala in January 2000; it was the first time that Alessandra Ferri and Angel Corella, the acclaimed stars of the American Ballet Theatre, had danced together on stage. Hailed by the Italian press as the "new star couple," they both brought to their roles the youthfulness and innocence reflected in Prokofiev's music: Juliet, the young, inexperienced adolescent girl who puts all her faith in her feelings of love and undergoes the heights of passion as well as the depths of despair, and Romeo, the carefree young man certain of his feelings as a lover, ready to turn the established order on its head as a result, and knowing no bounds in his love for Juliet. The intensive role-play of the two protagonists turns the lovers' tragic end into a disaster we experience with them, transcending the conventions of the story's familiar close.
|
American Ballet Theatre at the Met - Mixed Bill (1985)
From the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, this triple bill of ballets, with an additional glittering pas de deux, is a delightful introduction to the range and excitement of American Ballet Theatre’s repertory. The first piece is Les Sylphides in which Mikhail Baryshnikov is the poet surrounded by the drifting chorus of sylphs. The Sylvia Pas de deux is a sparkling duet for Martine van Hamel and Patrick Bissell, and it is followed by Triad, one of Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s most poetic and sensitive short ballets. Finally, in a blaze of brilliant dancing, the Grand Pas from Paquita shows off the technical virtuosity of ABT’s dancers in a cascade of mock-Spanish bravura choreography staged by Natalia Makarova from the original Petipa version.
|
Rudolf Nureyev and Erik Bruhn - Their Complete Bell Telephone Hour Performances (1961-1967)
Erik Bruhn performances: Don Quixote Grand Pas with Maria Tallchief; Swan Lake "Black Swan" Pas de Deux with Sonia Arova; Coppelia Pas de Deux with Sonia Arova; Romeo & Juliet Balcony Scene with Carla Fracci; La Sylphide Grand Pas with Carla Fracci.
Rudolf Nureyev performances: Flower Festival in Genzano Pas de Deux with Maria Tallchief; Le Corsaire Pas de Deux with Lupe Serrano; Las Esmeralda "Diana and Actaeon" Pas de Deux with Svetlana Beriosova; Swan Lake "Black Swan" Pas de Deux with Svetlana Beriosova. 83 minutes, color and black and white.
|
Balanchine / Chaconne, Prodigal Son, Ballo Della Regina, Elegie, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux (1979)
Recorded in 1977, the casts include Mikhail Baryshnikov (Prodigal Son, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux), Suzanne Farrell and Peter Martins (Chaconne), Merrill Ashley and Robert Weiss (Ballo della Regina), Karin von Aroldingen (Prodigal Son, Elégie), Patricia McBride (Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux).
|
Balanchine / Tzigane, Andante from Divertimento No 15, The Four Temperaments, Selections from Jewels, Stravinsky Violin Concerto (1979)
Recorded in 1977, the performers are Suzanne Farrell and Peter Martins (Tzigane), Bart Cook, Adam Luders, Colleen Neary, Merrill Ashley, Daniel Duell (The Four Temperaments), Merrill Ashley, Gerard Ebitz, Bonita Borne, Daniel Duell, Heather Watts, Karin von Aroldingen, Sean Lavery (Jewels), Kay Mazzo, Karin von Aroldingen, Peter Martins, Bart Cook (Stravinsky Violin Concerto).
|
Balanchine (1984)
As seen on public television. Regarded as the "father of American ballet," George Balanchine's legacy lives on in his prolific body of choreographic work. Creating over 450 works, Balanchine is, arguably, the foremost contemporary choreographer of the 20th century. Through rare archival audio and video footage, interviews, film, and photographs, this program traces Balanchine's life from his youth at the Maryinsky Theater, through his work for Hollywood and Broadway, to his ultimate creation of the New York City Ballet. It also focuses on the themes of his work and his thoughts on dancemaking, using interviews with the choreographer himself. Features selections of his vast repertory of ballets, including Chaconne, Agon, Symphony in C, Serenade, Apollo, and A Midsummer Night's Dream, among others.
|
Suzanne Farrell - Elusive Muse (1990)
Romantic triangles. Unconsummated passion. Jealousy. Revenge. Just another day offstage at the New York City Ballet for ballerina Suzanne Farrell and her mentor, legendary choreographer George Balanchine. Elusive Muse traces the development of Farrell into an extraordinary performer while trying to define her passionate professional and personal relationship with "Mr. B." (Farrell says dancing with Balanchine was "more passionate, more loving" than a sexual relationship would have been.) Relying heavily on interviews with Farrell and her longtime dance partner, Jacques d'Amboise (who calls her a "goddess" and the "last, great muse for Balanchine"), the film follows her evolution from awestruck student to inspiration - Balanchine created some of his most breathtaking ballets for her, and lengthy footage of them, including "Diamonds" and "Mozartiana," is shown. The story is as tortured as ballet's best: Marriage to another dancer causes their banishment from the company and she's forced to dance in Europe to keep her career alive, but she triumphantly reunites (professionally) with her mentor. While performance footage documents her artistry, interviews with other dancers and choreographers testify to her growing talent and help explain how Mr. B worked. "God sent her to me," he is quoted as saying. Here, the rest of us get to glory in his handiwork.
|
|
Don Quixote. Nina Ananiashvili, Alexei Fadeyechev, Aleksandr Astafiev, Tchaikovsky Perm State Ballet.
Swan Lake. Nina Ananiashvili, Alexei Fadeyechev, Tchaikovsky Perm State Ballet (1992)
