Dale Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 The Nutcracker, with the Mariinsky Ballet, which was filmed last year, will be released by Decca in December: http://www.deccaclassics.com/music/dvd/0743217.html Link to comment
Legwarmer Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Oh, thank you very much for this hint! I find it wonderful that there are more and more "up to date" DVDs of ballets. Unfortunately, I really dislike Golub who will dance the female lead on this DVD... might I buy it anyway to see the rest of it? Hmmh... Link to comment
volcanohunter Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 The price is outrageous but the DVD can be pre-ordered at Amazon. Let's hope it's a typo. http://www.amazon.com/Nutcracker-P-I-Tchai.../dp/B000WC2URM/ Link to comment
richard53dog Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 The price is outrageous but the DVD can be pre-ordered at Amazon. Let's hope it's a typo.http://www.amazon.com/Nutcracker-P-I-Tchai.../dp/B000WC2URM/ $65.99 for a DVD of the Nutcracker???????? Outrageous is almost too mild a description!! Link to comment
rg Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 compounding any other factors there is the issue of the strong GBP vs USD. Link to comment
innopac Posted December 2, 2007 Share Posted December 2, 2007 I am confused - the amazon site says this is a cd. But the cover picture is the same as the Decca dvd. Maybe it is so expensive because it is Chemiakin's production? Link to comment
volcanohunter Posted December 3, 2007 Share Posted December 3, 2007 The product code matches the DVD on sale at German Amazon for 30 euros (or about 25 euros if you deduct VAT), but keeping in mind that DVDs in Europe generally cost more than they do in the U.S., the American price ought to be some $40 lower than it is, which is why I'm inclined to think the listed price is incorrect. http://www.amazon.de/Tschaikowsky-Peter-Nu.../dp/B000WC2URM/ Link to comment
Natalia Posted December 11, 2007 Share Posted December 11, 2007 Mine came yesterday and I had a chance to flip through the main segments, until I can thoroughly enjoy it on the weekend. I must admit that I've adored this off-beat production since first seeing it at the Mariinsky soon after its premiere in 2001. At first glance, this is a magnificently-filmed pantomime-ballet, with first-rate performances by the principals, Irina Golub as Masha, Leonid Sarafanov as the Prince (appearing in only the pdd) and fabulous Anton Adasinsky as Drosselmeyer. Golub's childlike charm and sparkling dancing almost made me forget the ideal interpreter of this role, Natalia Sologub (no longer with the troupe) whose fluidity is hard to top. The most delightful surprise is the eloquently expansive performance of Ekaterina Kondaurova as the Queen of Snows. Chemiakin's luxurious sets and costumes can be admired well enough, although a bit of the 'WOW Factor' from seeing them in a live performance is lost. I also wished that the editing of the Snowflakes Waltz would have allowed us to appreciate the choreographic patterns a bit better, instead of flitting between long shots, middle shots and close ups so quickly. The Mariinsky's orchestra plays as beautifully as would be expected, led by Maestro Gergiev at his usual brisk pace. My main complaint is with the credits...or lack thereof. The accompanying booklet and on-screen credits cite only the names of dancers essaying Masha, the Prince, Drosselmeyer, Snow Queen and a few of the minor non-dancing characters in Act I. Why on earth mention the names of the two walk-on-role kitchen maids, yet leave us guessing as to the identities of the Act 1 Mechanical Doll solos and all of the Act 2 divertissement soloists? Here's my initial guess-list on who dances those roles. Anyone else who knows the true identity of these dancers please chime in: Act I Dolls: Prussian Soldier - Anton Pimonov? Markitanka - Julia Kasenkova Two Dervishes - ???? and ???? Act II Diverts: Two Spanish Matadors: Islom Baimuratov and ???? Snake Lady (Arabian): Kondaurova (again a triumph...perfect!) Chinese Trio: Andrei Ivanov, flanked by Tatyana Nekipelova and Julia Kasenkova Three Russian Petrushkas: Nikolai Zubkovsky, Maxim Zuzin & ???? Three Bumblebees (Flutes music): l to rt: Elena Schmill, Elena Vasyukovich, Jana Selina Five Pulchinellas (from Mother Ginger's skirt): impossible to name, due to facemasks Four Demi-solo ladies in Flowers Waltz: Elena Androsova, Daria Vasnetsova, Daria Sukhorukova & Ekaterina Petina Please DO chime in & correct me. This is frustrating. A word of warning: this is NOT the fairyland Nutcracker to buy for little children! But for adults who can appreciate sophisticated, witty designs, it's a winner. All in all, this is a first-class recording of a very special production. p.s. This is a 'basics-only' DVD. Considering the steep price, it's a shame that Decca could not have included one or two behind-the-scenes mini-documentaries, e.g., interviews with Chemyakin and the leading dancers or a look at the Mariinsky's costumes/prop-making shops (as this is a designs-uber-alles production, if there ever was one!). Perhaps the North American or Japanese editions of this DVD will be a bit more generous? Link to comment
Natalia Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Just bumping this up, on the off-chance that someone may be able to answer my QQs regarding solo casting (my earlier post, directly above this one). Link to comment
Legwarmer Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 I have a question: Is Irina Golub really as good as Masha? I watched a Swan Lake DVD in which she was in a Pas de Trois with Ekaterina Osmolkina and she had an extreme class-like facial expression of concentration. There was no joy whatsoever. I am thinking about buying this DVD but am unsure. Then again, how much does Masha appear in this ballet? ... Link to comment
Natalia Posted January 2, 2008 Share Posted January 2, 2008 Legwarmer, Masha carries the ballet, being on the stage practically throughout the work. She and the transformed Nutccracker Prince dance the Sugarplum pdd, for example. Golub is surprisingly wonderful in this. I've never been her greatest fan -- she has an unnatural, constant 'wide-eyed wonder/Disney Princess' expression when on the stage, IMO -- but the director of this video was able to extract a multitude of expressions from her this time and, of course, Golub has always been a very fine technician. The result is a first-class interpretation. Sarafanov appears only in the final pdd and is dazzling. As mentioned earlier, Kondaurova is in her element as leader of the Snowflakes. I'd just love to know who dances the Act I dolls and the Act II diverts. Link to comment
Andre Yew Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 I think we have to be careful about ballet videos, because we are watching a stage production through the eyes of a video camera and director. Things that read well in a theater can come across goofy or exaggerated in a TV closeup. I think we had a similar discussion about Laetitia Pujol's expressions in Emeralds on the POD video of Jewels. It's like watching a stage play on TV. FWIW, I've seen Irina Golub on-stage dancing Gamzatti, and there was certainly no end of expression in her dancing and acting. --Andre Link to comment
Legwarmer Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 FWIW, I've seen Irina Golub on-stage dancing Gamzatti, and there was certainly no end of expression in her dancing and acting. Then again, what isn't there on the DVD (facial expression) can barely be there in the theater, can it? If a dancer doesn't smile honestly, you catch it on DVD and in the theater likewise. Link to comment
Natalia Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 Sorry if I was not clear the first time. My problem is with Golub live, on stage. Even her Juliet has that dumb kewpie-doll smile and wide eyes all of the time. My delight came in seeing various expressions on Irina Golub's face in the film. My point is that the director of the Nutcracker film must have worked magic on Golub, 'cause I've never seen her this good live, on the stage. Good for Irina Golub. She is progressing. Up 'til now, I have thought of the Young Girl in Spectre de la Rose as her ideal role...which ain't saying too much, if you get my drift. Link to comment
Natalia Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 Just FYI - heard from my family in Russia that all of my guesses above are correct, e.g., Pimonov & Kasenkova as the Act I dolls, etc, etc. However, my question marks remain a mystery (the two dervishes in Act I and the 3rd 'Petrushka' in Act II). At least we now know the identity of 90% of the soloists on this DVD! Link to comment
carbro Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 New York City's Symphony Space will be screening this Nutcracker on December 21 and 28. Details on their webpage. A blurb is credited to BalletTalk. It comes from Natalia's post #8 on this thread. Congrats (I think), Natalia. Link to comment
Sacto1654 Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 Natalia, you're right--if you're used to the Balanchine-choreographed version of The Nutcracker that is a Christmas-season staple, this version will be quite a shock to you! It's small wonder that the version of this ballet the Kirov/Mariinsky Ballet will perform in the USA late this year is the famous Vassily Vainonen version from 1934. Link to comment
cubanmiamiboy Posted November 27, 2008 Share Posted November 27, 2008 ...so this is not based on Vainonen's...? And if not, what's the source...? Link to comment
Marc Haegeman Posted November 28, 2008 Share Posted November 28, 2008 ...so this is not based on Vainonen's...? And if not, what's the source...? It's a new choreography by Kirill Simonov, but it are Mikhail Shemyakin's designs which carry the show. Link to comment
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