DSanderson

I bought a Boris Godunov on this series, which includes the Nutcracker rg refers to, Cinderella, Gisella, and I Pagliacci. The Boris is absolutely dreadful, murky picture, fuzzy sound, and no subtitles. The company that produced these appears to be "ABC Empire" Avoid at all costs! Dana

The Tales of Hoffmann DVD is chockful of bonus material (info taken from the Criterion Collection website): - New, restored high-definition digital transfer - Audio commentary by director Martin Scorsese and film music historian Bruce Eder - New video interview with director George A. Romero - The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (1956), a short musical film directed by Michael Powell, based on the Goethe story - Rare collection of production designer Hein Heckroth’s design sketches and paintings - Gallery of archival production and publicity photographs - Original theatrical trailer - Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing - New essay by film historian Ian Christie Here's the link to Amazon.com Dana

Perhaps it's time to give up on Amazon and try another retailer? For example, CD Universe has this for $25.99: Pharaoh's Daughter Dana

(Edited to remove reference to non-Amazon.com retailer.) I just checked Amazon.com, and the problem is that the DVD is listed twice! One is listed as "special order" or out of stock, while the other is listed as in stock and will likely ship in 24 hours. The one in stock is $29.68. Problem solved!

In their most recent catalogue, Opus Arte has announced their plans to release a DVD of "Jewels" in 2006, so presumably it will be the POB performance. Dana

TDK is announcing the October release of the POB Ivan the Terrible from 2003 with Nicolas Le Riche as Ivan, Karl Paquette as Kurbsky, and Eleonora Abbagnato as Anastasia. Dana

In the U.S., this DVD was released on the EuroArts label; in Europe, on TDK. Here is a link to the DVD information page on the TDK site: TDK Dana

Info from: TDK Swan Lake Svetlana Zakharova (Odette/Odile) Roberto Bolle (Prince Siegfried) Antonio Sutera (Jester) Gianni Chisleni (Rothbart) Sabrina Brazzo (Princess) Flavia Vallone (Queen) James Tuggle, Corpo di Ballo ed Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, 2004 Choreography: Vladimir Bourmeister after Lev Ivanov Special Feature: The Rehearsal NTSC, 16:9, 146 minutes, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1, PCM-STEREO Release Dates: Europe: Sep. 2005 UK: Autumn 2005 USA, Canada: Autumn 2005

Due August 30th: CINDERELLA - Raisa Struchkova, Gennadi Lediakh, Lesma Chadarain, Marina Kolpakchi, Ekaterina Maximova, Bolshoi 1961 THE GLORY OF THE BOLSHOI - Vladimir Vasiliev, Galina Ulanova, Irek Mukhamedov, et al. THE GLORY OF THE KIROV - Mikhail Baryshnikov, Rudolf Nureyev, Natalia Makarova, Natalia Dudinskaya, et al. Dana

ArtHaus has DVD budget line called "Phi", which includes several Glyndebourne operas and Bolshoi ballets (Ivan the Terrible, Spartacus, Swan Lake, Raymonda, Romeo and Juliet, and likely a few others yet to be released). These are no-frills DVDs, e.g., only a one audio soundtrack, no bonus features, etc. I'm happy to see these released and at a bargain price to boot. The ArtHaus website: http://www.arthaus-musik.de Dana

My favorite ballet music would have to be from "Romeo and Juliet" and "Swan Lake" Dana

Thanks for the welcome, Estelle! This new La Sylphide video is the first I've seen, and I look forward to tracking down the older one. Paul Parrish's description is certainly intriguing. Dana

Magical and romatic - that's the perfect way to describe it, in my opinion. For the most part, I've been very impressed with all the Paris Opera Ballet videos I've seen, even the somewhat maligned Romeo and Juliet.

Hardy Classics now has the DVD posted on their website (http://www.hardyclassic.it): GISELLE: Carla Fracci, Rudolph Nureyev, Ida Menozzi, Mauro Maiorani, Patrizia Lollobrigida, Antonio Garofano, Domenico de Santis, Cristina Latini dirige Alberto Ventura, 15/02/1980 Hardy Classic Video Hcd 4019 1 DVD Dana

Over the weekend, I watched the POB La Sylphide (TDK) and was absolutely delighted by the performance. I'll leave it to the experts to go into the finer points, but I thought Aurelie Dupont and Mathieu Ganio were excellent. The DVD comes with a bonus feature "La Syphide Rediscoved" that includes interviews with Pierre Lacotte, Aurelie Dupont, and Mathieu Ganio. Has anyone else had a chance to watch this? Dana

GISELLE - Carla Fracci, Erik Bruhn; John Lanchbery, American Ballet Theatre 1978 (DG/Unitel) - release date is August 9th GISELLE - Carla Fracci, Rudolf Nureyev (Hardy Classics) This is not yet listed on Hardy's website but is listed on HMV.jp; hopefully it'll be released soon in the U.S.

Slated for either August or September: SPARTACUS - Irek Mukhamedov, Lyudmilla Semenyaka, Aleksandr Vetrov, Maria Bilova; Algis Zhuraitis, Bolshoi Ballet 1990 (ArtHaus) SLEEPING BEAUTY - Nina Semizorova, Aleksei Fadeyechev, Nina Speranskaya; Aleksandr Kopilov, Bolshoi Ballet (ArtHaus) Dana

July 26th (U.S.): CREOLE GISELLE - Virginia Johnson, Eddie Shellman, Dance Theater of Harlem, 1988 (Kultur) THE STONE FLOWER - Tatiana Terekhova, Aleksandr Gulyaev, Anna Polikarpova, Irina Christyakova; Alexandre Viliumanis, Kirov Ballet 1991 (Kultur) THE SLEEPING BEAUTY - Irina Kolpakova, Sergei Berezhnoi, Lubov Kunakova, Kirov Ballet 1983 (Kultur) Dana