I ordered this DVD via Amazon UK and received it yesterday. The DVD is all I hoped for after I read the detailed descriptions in the respective thread. Costumes and stage setting are beautiful, the dancing of the corps is excellent and the soloists are brilliant.
I was so glad I bought this… until Raymonda's variation during the third act started.
During this variation, which is danced beautifully by Olesia Novikova, some "artistic" person decided to fade in the hands of the piano player who accompanies this variation. The fading occurs on the right side of the screen and does not interfere with Novikova's dancing, but it is extremely distracting if you suddenly see those hands. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it, absolutely useless and in my opinion an effrontery against the dancer!
I am really angry at Arthaus or whoever is responsible for this and if there were more current performances of Raymonda available on DVD I honestly would think about returning the DVD, but as this is not the case…..
If anybody has already received a Blu-ray of the ballet, please let me know if there is the same problem or if there is possibly a choice option to avoid this silly fading.