Product Description

Long beloved by American audiences, and the most-often shown version of the ballet on US television, this Emmy-nominated production is at last being made available in the UK. Baryshnikov was at the height of his career as a classical dancer in 1977 when he staged this beloved holiday classic for the American Ballet Theatre. Gelsey Kirkland had left the New York City Ballet to dance with the Russian superstar, and their partnership was magical. In this Soviet-influenced version, Baryshnikov casts himself as the hero who is transformed from a wooden figure to a soaring prince, and Kirkland plays an adolescent girl of delicacy and vulnerability. Alexander Minz portrays Drosselmeyer, a mysterious wizard who not only conjures the fantasy but also dances with the romantic couple. Kenneth Schermerhorn conducts the National Philharmonic in a fast-paced performance of Tchaikovsky's music. Celebrated by critics and public alike, Baryshnikov's The Nutcracker delivers a brilliant and sparkling adaptation of the famous ETA Hoffmann tale along with Tchaikovsky's classic score.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5660 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-10-09
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Classical, Colour, DVD-Video, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 79 minutes

Synopsis
Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland perform Tchaikovsky's classic ballet of the Hoffman story. The imaginative choreography is by Baryshnikov. Kenneth Schermerhorn conducts the National Philharmonic Orchestra.

Review
Baryshnikov's staging, thanks in the main to Kirkland's radiance, might just be the best Nutcracker of them all. --Allen Robertson, Dance Now

Customer Reviews

Mediocre
This Nutcracker was filmed for TV, using dancers from the American Ballet Theater. The big name was of course Baryshnikov, who had recently come to the West.
The whole production is second rate, mostly because of lack of imagination rather than lack of resources. Sets and costumes look dull and the direction generates no excitement whatsoever.
The corps-de-ballet is mediocre, but most of the solo dancing is very good.
Baryshnikov makes a great start. His scene as the Nutcracker is wonderful for the mechanical percision of his movements, but once the mask is off, his Narcissism gets the upper hand. He dances "alone", trying to seduce the camera rather than his partner. Great dancing, but it failled to enchant me.
The opposite is true of his co-star, the lovely Gelsey Kirkland. In the beginning I was struck by how child-like she seemed. As the performance progressed I was enthralled by her grace and charm. She was a real "floater", -you think she barely touched the ground when she danced,- and she had a beautiful sense of "flowing" with the music. If I were rating her performance, I would give it 5 stars without hesitation. I think this dvd is worth viewing for her alone.

Good
Basically I would think this is for Nutcracker nuts only. Its great but comes in the middle somewhere of all the ones Ive seen. It was filmed for TV and I think things are best when it is filmed with a live audience in a theatre. Thats just my thought. How ever at the start you see Barishnykovs fantastic skill in Slow motion, a pre highlight before the start and performing his jumps with the greatest of ease effortless. What he must have been like when he was excelling himself must have been out of this world. I would say for Nutcracker nuts only but still recommended. I like his Don quitoxe best for seeing his dancing.

truncated version of a beautiful ballet
Dancers fabulous as usual, but unfortunately the original full length ballet has been severely cut, (to 78 minutes, for goodness sake) missing out a great many of the set pieces and therefore not showing to its best advantage. The missing scenes are wonderful to watch. I did have the full version originally and wish I could obtain it again.