MacMillan's Winter Dreams

[volcanohunter]

Kultur will be releasing Kenneth MacMillan's Winter Dreams on January 27, 2009. As far as I know, this is the first time it will be available on DVD. It can be pre-ordered at Amazon, and the product code is B001KL3H0I.

http://estore.websitepros.com/1652646/Detail.bok?no=1390

Glad to see Kultur back in the dance business after a dry spell of two months.

[rg]

it's not clear if this disc will include the addition included on the originally released videocassette, entitled: THE ROYAL BALLET: WINTER DREAMS and noted in the NYPL cat. as follows:

Winter dreams c1992. 60 min. : sd. color

A Landseer Production for BBC Television in association with NVC Arts and RTP. BBC producer: Bob Lockyer. Producer/director: Derek Bailey.

Choreography for stage and television: Kenneth MacMillan. Music: Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky, arranged and played by Philip Gammon; traditional Russian music selected and arranged for guitar ensemble by Thomas Hartman. Scenario: inspired by Anton Chekhov's play The three sisters. Original scenery/costumes: Peter Farmer.

Performed by the Royal Ballet: Darcey Bussell (Masha), Nicola Tranah (Olga), Viviana Durante (Irina), Gary Avis (Andrey Prozorov, their brother), Genesia Rosato (Natasha, Andrey's wife), Anthony Dowell (Kulygin, Masha's husband), Irek Mukhamedov (Lt. Colonel Vershinin), Adam Cooper (Captain Solyony), Stephen Wicks (Lt. the Baron Tusenbach), Derek Rencher (Dr. Chebutykin, an army doctor), Gerd Larsen (Anfisa, the family nanny), Jacqui Tallis (maid), with Luke Heydon, Philip Mosley, David Pickering, and Alistair Marriott (soldiers).

Television adaptation of a stage work, introduced by Lynn Redgrave, who discusses how MacMillan's choreography captures the essence of Chekhov's play.

the additition to the 1992 Electra/Nonesuch release (which ran a total of 97min. 20 sec.), called IREK MUKHAMEDOV: THE POWER AND THE ART, is catalogued as follows in the NYPL dance coll.:

Irek Mukhamedov c1991. 55 min. : sd. color with b&w sequences

A BBC Production in association with Amaya Distribution and La Sept. Presented by Judith Mackrell. Telecast on BBC 1's Omnibus series on November 1, 1991. Producer: Julia Matheson. Director: Jill Evans. Narrator: Judith Mackrell.

Solo piano: Philip Gammon. Orchestra of the Royal Opera House conducted by David Garforth.

DANCE CONTENTS: Excerpts from: Spartacus (chor: Yuri Grigorovich), perf. by Mukhamedov. -- Rehearsal for The nutcracker: Act II male variation (b&w), perf. by Rudolf Nureyev. -- Rehearsal for Des Grieux's solo from Manon (chor: Kenneth MacMillan), perf. by Mukhamedov, coached by Dowell. -- Des Grieux's solo, perf. in costume in the studio by Mukhamedov. -- Rehearsal for Lescaut's pas de deux with his mistress, from Manon, perf. by Mukhamedov and Deborah Bull. -- Lescaut's drunken solo, perf. in costume in the studio by Mukhamedov. -- Diana and Acteon: male variation, perf. in costume in the studio by Mukhamedov. -- Rehearsal of the moon dance from Cyrano (chor: David Bintley), perf. by Mukhamedov with Stephen Jefferies. -- Serenade scene from Cyrano, perf. in dress rehearsal onstage by Mukhamedov and others. -- Giselle: Act II, Albrecht's variation, perf. in costume in the studio by Mukhamedov. -- Rehearsal of The nutcracker: Act II pas de deux (chor: Peter Wright after Ivanov), perf. by Mukhamedov and Lesley Collier. -- Rehearsal of pas de deux from Manon, perf. by Mukhamedov and Viviana Durante. -- Rehearsal of pas de deux from Winter dreams (chor: MacMillan), perf. by Mukhamedov and Darcey Bussell. -- Solo from Winter dreams, perf. in costume by Mukhamedov. -- Rehearsal of Winter dreams, perf. by Mukhamedov, Bussell, and others. -- Pas de deux from Winter dreams, perf. in costume in the studio by Mukhamedov and

Bussell. -- Rehearsal of Colas's solo from La fille mal gardée (chor: Ashton), perf. by Mukhamedov, coached by Dowell.

Documentary on former Bolshoi Ballet dancer Irek Mukhamedov's first year with the Royal Ballet of London. Speaking through an interpreter, Mukhamedov discusses his experiences in adjusting to a new style of dancing, learning new repertory, and adapting to life in London. Dame Ninette de Valois, Anthony Dowell, Kenneth MacMillan, Monica Mason, David Bintley, Alexander Agadjanov, and Lesley Collier, all of the Royal Ballet, share their observations of his work with the company. Dancers David Drew and Adam Cooper speak more specifically about his impact on the company's male dancers. Mukhamedov is seen in rehearsal and in studio performances of both his new roles and roles he danced with the Bolshoi.

[volcanohunter]

According to the jacket, the additional feature is Out of Line, "a documentary portrait of the influential British choreographer, Kenneth MacMillan, [the commas implying that he was the only influential British choreographer?] with extracts from many of his ballets including The Burrow, Romeo and Juliet, Gloria, Manon and The Prince of the Pagodas. Produced and Directed by Derek Bailey." My poor eyesight prevents me from reading the fine print.

http://estore.websitepros.com/stores/16526...g/D4438_fbc.jpg

[rg]

OUT OF LINE was initially(?) released on the videocassette set of THE PRINCE OF THE PAGODAS.

here's what the NYPL dance coll. cat. says about the docu.:

Out of line: a portrait of Sir Kenneth MacMillan (ca. 66 min.) / narrated by Derek Bailey ; recorded on the occasion of the 60th birthday of MacMillan and the premiere of The prince of the pagodas. MacMillan looks back upon his career as dancer, choreographer, and ballet director with the Royal Ballet and other companies. Additional commentaries are offered by critics Clive Barnes and Clement Crisp; Dame Ninette de Valois, founder of the Royal Ballet; ballerinas Lynn Seymour and Alessandra Ferri; designer Nicholas Georgiadis; and MacMillan's wife Deborah, a painter. Illustrating their remarks are excerpts from MacMillan's Prince of the pagodas, Romeo and Juliet, Manon, Mayerling, Danses concertantes, House of birds, The burrow, The invitation, Las hermanas, Gloria, and Isadora. MacMillan is seen at work in the studio with Darcey Bussell and Tetsuya Kumakawa of the Royal Ballet.