I'm a huge fan of Raymonda--in all its silliness, that glorious score, etc. It's probably my favorite classical ballet after Sleeping Beauty.
Yet, it's a ballet that's always had some problems--people trying to make the story make more sense (something I feel is misguided), etc. I was wondering what people think is the best current production? I've only seen American Ballet Theatre's (which I enjoyed but I have to say I didn't like any of the changes they made--making it more of a real love triangle, etc), and on DVD the Kirov/Sergeyev version in a 1980s recording, and a 1987 recording of the Bolshoi/Grigorovich staging. I know the Bolshoi has since changed their staging further--one thing is they've removed The White lady I've read a change--as a traditionalist--I don't get but I believe the Marrinsky and Bolshoi still perform these productions though (?). I really enjoy both on DVD although the Kirov one is the one I have the most affection for as I first discovered Raymonda thanks to a library video of it when I was a teen.
What I'd really love is a reconstruction of the original 1898 production but I suppose that would prove impossible now...
So what are people's views on Raymonda? good and bad? I admit I don't know much about Nureyev's production although I found the reviews below of the version at Paris Opera fascinating. I often find Nureyev's takes on the classics a bit too heavy handed--all that Freud, Sleeping Beauty with its insanely heavy costumes and colours, etc, but it sounds like there's much to recommend in his Raymonda. I will look out for the forthcoming DVD
As for the DVDs of the Bolshoi production... I only have the Ludmila Semenyaka DVD and was wondering if people though it was worth getting the Natalya Bessmertnova production shot in 1989, only three years later. I have to admit I *adore* Semenyaka in the role, and I tend not to be a big fan of Natalya Bessmertnova who's on the '89 DVD. But I have a few probs with the Semenyaka DVD--the video quality really isn't very good--just poor video tape source that can't be helped but I wondered if the '89 was much better (for instance it's hard to make out some of the figures in the blue dream scene, and the filming of the Spanish dance is kinda a mess with odd angles--the sound also drops in and out a bit for a minute in Act III--all largely things I expect from ballet videos from 20 years ago that haven't been remastered, and feel bad about complaining, but still wish could be improved). I also noticed that the '89 DVD is listed as 125 minutes, whtn the one I have is 145 minutes. Was twenty minutes cut from the production by '89? Does anyone who's as obsessive as me know the changes made? Or maybe they just cut out the endless curtain calls after EVERY ballerina solo which are a staple of Russian ballet but on the Semenyaka DVD surely run an extra 15 minutes (!). Advice about which DVD people prefer and why would be well appreciated.
Anyway I see there's a seperate Ryamonda subforum where some of this should probably be discussed--but I'd love to hear more thoughts on one of my favourite ballets. I think some of the other Petipa ballets (outside the famous Tchaikovsky classics) are better loved--Bayadere, Don Quixote--and I love them too, but for me, after Sleeping beauty and maybe Swan Lake, Raymonda is the most perfect--just the music and that dancing are enough. (it's interesting the music doesn't grasp everyone the same--I have an online ballet friend who complained it lacked the melody of Minkus [!] which is maybe true but I have trouble sitting for three hours of Minkus, as much as I like many of his classic pieces--Glazunov's Raymonda score reminds me of a slightly more modern take of something between Sleeping Beauty and the Medeaval melacholy ness of Swan Lake--but modern in the sense it's based mor eon themes than melodies)