Ballet Performance Videos and DVDs 10

Ballet videos - Othello, Picaso, Pagodas, Pulcinella, Rambert, Raymonda, Road to the Stamping Ground and  Romeo & Juliet.

See Ballet Videos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 13

Prince of Pagados Video (D2947)

Sir Kenneth MacMillan's glorious version of The Prince of the Pagodas provides a fascinating and magnificent spectacle of classical dance on the grandest scale. Nicholas Georgiadis' enchanting designs complement Britten's only ballet score by establishing a fairy tale ambience, and Darcey Bussell produces a dazzling performance as Princess Rose. "The principal players are magnificent. A grand achievement". THE FINANCIAL TIMES.

194 mins.  (2005)
DVD - Region 1

Raymonda - The Bolshoi Ballet In Moscow Video

DVD (D1170) - $29.99
This glorious three-act ballet boasts a magical score by Alexander Glazunov, filled with melody, color and grand effects.

ACT 1 – Ludmila Semenyaka is magnificent as the youthful, charming Raymonda, niece to the Countess Sybil de Daurice of France. Raymonda is engaged to the gallant knight Jean de Brienne, who is superbly portrayed by Irek Moukhamedov. Because he must immediately depart on a campaign with King Andrei II of Hungary, the youth comes to the castle to bring his fiancée gifts and to bid her farewell. That night as Raymonda muses on her beloved, a statue of the White Lady, patroness of the House of Daurice, appears in a vision. She beckons the girl to the Magic Garden of Dreams, where Jean awaits her. But the apparition suddenly disappears, and in Jean's place there is an unknown, exotic Eastern knight, who makes a passionate declaration of love to the bewildered Raymonda, when she faints, the knight vanishes. As dawn breaks, Raymonda awakens in the belief that her dream has been a terrible omen of her destiny.

ACT II – A celebration is underway at the castle. Among the guests is the Saracen knight Abderakhaman, performed by the electrifying Gedeminas Tarands. In him the terrified Raymonda recognizes the mysterious stranger she saw in her dream. Though he promises to give her riches and power in return for her heart and hand, she rejects him. Aberakham tries to abduct Raymonda. Unexpectedly however, Jean and the other knights return from their mission. To resolve the differences between Jean and Abderakham, King Andrei proposes a duel of honor. Aberakhman is defeated and Jean reclaims the overjoyed Raymonda.

ACT III – Raymonda and Jean are married at the court of King Andrei. In honor of the monarch, Hungarian dances are performed during the wedding festivities.

146 mins. (1980)
VHS - NTSC format only (Canada, USA).
DVD - All Region

Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance About (PBS American Masters Production) DVD

Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance About

In a life that inspired controversy, no one disputes the place that Jerome Robbins holds as the preeminent director/choreographer of American musical theatre. He transformed Broadway with shows like West Side Story, Gypsy and Fiddler on the Roof, and he forged a career in ballet, first at American Ballet Theatre, then at New York City Ballet.

This two-hour film, produced and directed by Judy Kinberg and written by best-selling Robbins' biographer Amanda Vaill, features excerpts from Robbins' work, never-before-seen rehearsal footage, and interviews with many of his colleagues from ballet and Broadway, including Mikhail Baryshnikov, Suzanne Farrell, Jacques d'Amboise, Arthur Laurents, Chita Rivera, and Stephen Sondheim.

130 mins. (2009)
DVD - All Region

Romeo and Juliet - Zhdanov and Ulanova Video  (D1202)

Romeo and Juliet

An historic performance by the legendary Galina Ulanova highlights this lush production of the ever-popular ballet. Choreographed by Leonid Lavrovsky and conducted by world famous Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, this film is rich in detail and characterized by its lovely interior and exterior location work. Yuri Zhdanov is the young Romeo to Ulanova’s unforgettable Juliet. A great ballet is here filmed paying great attention to all the values: musical, choreographic and scenic. This remastered version eliminates the narration that heretofore had interrupted Prokofiev’s score at critical points in the ballet.

91 mins. (2008)
DVD - All Region

Romeo et Juliette - Monte Carlo Video (D4104)

Starring: Bernice Coppieters, Chris Roelandt. Conductor: Valery Gergiev. Choreographer: Jean-Christopher Maillot. Composer: Sergei Prokofiev.

Choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot's version of Romeo et Juliette downplays the social and political ramifications that most 20th century choreographers have interpreted in Shakespeare's play and concentrates on the emotional violence inherent in adolescent sexuality.

152 mins. (2006)
DVD - Region 1

Romeo & Juliet Video (D2973)

Sir Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet has long been one of the greatest successes in The Royal Ballet repertoire, winning worldwide acclaim as an impassioned and thrilling view of Shakespeare's tragedy and of Prokofiev's glorious score. His sensual choreography poignantly captures the conflict between blossoming love and cankerous revenge.

130 mins.  (2005)
DVD - Region 1

Romeo and Juliet Video

DVD (D2102) - $29.99
Ballet in three acts after William Shakespeare. Paris Opera Ballet. Music – Sergei Prokofiev. Juliet: Moniquie Loudieres. Romeo: Manuel Legris. Tybalt: Charles Jude.  Mercutio: Lionel Delanoe. Orchestre De L'Opera National De Paris conducted by Vello Pahn. Choreography and Staging: Rudolf Nureyev. Set Design: Ezio Frigerio. Costume Design: Ezio Frigerio and Mauro Pagano. Lighting Design: Vinicio Cheli. Directed by Alexandre Tarta.  Produced by Francois Duplat and Damien Mathieu.

“One again the Paris Opera Ballet offers one of the most beautiful performances you could ever hope to see … very moving … Shakespeare is well served!” Le Parisien. “… a splendid recreation, totally faithful to Nureyev, this Romeo and Juliet is one of the great events of the year” Le Figaro.

150 mins. (2000)
DVD - Region 1

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See also our  Instructional Ballet Dance Videos 1, Ballet Dance Videos 2,  Ballet Dance Videos 3, Ballet Dance Videos 4 or our other Videos and DVDs.