Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28229 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-11-20
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Classical, Colour, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Widescreen, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 101 minutes

Special Features
Region 0

Synopsis
Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker' performed by The Kirov Ballet and Orchestra, conducted by Viktor Fedotov. Dancers include Viktor Baranov and Larissa Lezhnina. Filmed at the Maryinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

Customer Reviews

Excellent traditional Nutcracker
With the complete absence of videos from the major Russian ballet companies after 1992/3, this live recording at the Mariinsky Theatre of Vassili Vainonen's "Nutctracker" as danced by the Kirov Ballet in 1992, has now attained the status of treasurable rarity. Headed by that magnificent little jewel Larissa Lezhnina (long since a leading ballerina with the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam) and the charming Viktor Baranov, this recording gives a fair idea of this particular production which remains since its creation in 1938 one of Russia's most beloved "Nutcrackers". Part of Vainonen's lasting appeal is his ability to devise a choreography which superbly matches Tchaikovsky's at times monumental musical inspiration. The masterful Waltz of the Snowflakes, the Waltz of the Flowers, and the final Grand Pas de deux are excellent examples of his art.

A remarkable asset of this performance is the presence of the Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre, conducted by the incomparable Viktor Fedotov, one of the most able ballet conductors of our time.

Good video transfer and excellent digital sound.

Nutcracker in the Pure Kirov Classical style
I only bough this DVD at another persons suggestion as having 7 versions in my collection is a bit to Nutty. Marc Haegman has his own website with Kirov and ballet photos interviews etc. HE is right. One thing that scored this ballet for me is it is filmed live and you see round the theatre with different characters of people. Oleg Vingradov used special effects recorded seperatley and added them in to make it even more wonderful. At the start you see the house on the curtain with the snow falling and guests arriving. Victor Baranov dances in pure Kirov Style. What steals this for me though is the Pas de Deux before the Waltz of the Snow flakes. Larissa Lezina does even the most technically difficult moves with ease in the purest classical style to perfection and this has made her my favourite ballerina. 5 stars for the pas de deux alone. I even put the DVD in the player just for that pas de deux alone. Wow.
Highly recommended.

Oh no! No Sugar Plum Fairy!!
We bought this for our 4-year-old, and waited and waited for the piece of music that we all love..... but it never came!

This production revolves around Drosselmeyer rather than the Nutcracker;
and the Sugar Plum Fairy has been omitted, which is rather disappointing.

The Nutcracker wears a vague outfit in pale blue, not the bright traditional costume, which meant our daughter found it very difficult to identify him.

Quite pretty, and lovely accomplished ballet dancing, but not quite the traditional story we were expecting.