Stravinsky - The Firebird & Les Noces / Royal Ballet

Rating:
Summary: The best possible version, so far...
Review: Before getting this version of The Firebird I got the recently relesaed version by the Bolshoi called "The Firebird Returns", and I can testify to the London version's superiority, as far as dancing and stgaing are concerned. Leanne Benjamin is exquisite as the Firebird, her first pas de deux with Johnathan Cope is a marvel of precision and balance between dancing and pantomime, as she desperately tries to free herself from the Prince's arms. Mr Cope does not have much to do, no solos nor variations, so it's difficult to judge his talent from this tape - get a copy of The Prince of the Pagodas to see what he is capable of! Mr. Drew's Kotschei is a marvel of characterization: evil with a touch of humour, so far superior to his Russian counterpart!
As for the sets, I believe they do not reproduce the 1909 originals, which were destroyed by humidity, but the new ones made for the 1922 revival.
As for Les Noces, I found the version released by the Paris Opera Ballet better danced. They sing a French translation of the Russian text and their male soloist - Kader Belarbi - transmits a sense of dignity to the nuptial ceremony that is lacking in Mr. Pickering.

One should not neglet to mention Mr. David Drew's funny account of how Ms. Bronislava Nijinska taught the choreographyto the first cast in the 60'.

Rating:
Summary: The best possible version, so far...
Review: Before getting this version of The Firebird I got the recently relesaed version by the Bolshoi called "The Firebird Returns", and I can testify to the London version's superiority, as far as dancing and stgaing are concerned. Leanne Benjamin is exquisite as the Firebird, her first pas de deux with Johnathan Cope is a marvel of precision and balance between dancing and pantomime, as she desperately tries to free herself from the Prince's arms. Mr Cope does not have much to do, no solos nor variations, so it's difficult to judge his talent from this tape - get a copy of The Prince of the Pagodas to see what he is capable of! Mr. Drew's Kotschei is a marvel of characterization: evil with a touch of humour, so far superior to his Russian counterpart!
As for the sets, I believe they do not reproduce the 1909 originals, which were destroyed by humidity, but the new ones made for the 1922 revival.
As for Les Noces, I found the version released by the Paris Opera Ballet better danced. They sing a French translation of the Russian text and their male soloist - Kader Belarbi - transmits a sense of dignity to the nuptial ceremony that is lacking in Mr. Pickering.

One should not neglet to mention Mr. David Drew's funny account of how Ms. Bronislava Nijinska taught the choreographyto the first cast in the 60'.

Rating:
Summary: Classic Stravinsky
Review: The Firebird and Les Noces, two disparate ballets by Igor Stravinsky, are skillfully danced by The Royal Ballet of Covent Garden on this DVD recorded in 2001. The Firebird is a revival of the original Mikhail Fokine choreography. Bronislava Nijinska's Les Noces (The Wedding) is also faithfully reproduced. The scenery and costumes of The Firebird are striking and lavish, while they are plain and austere for Les Noces.

The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, under the able direction of John Carewe, beautifully performs the unabridged score of The Firebird. Before the curtain rises, an on-screen plot synopsis accompanies the first few minutes of music. From start to finish, the well-mannered British audience (as opposed to the typically clap-happy American audience) does not needlessly interrupt the dancing with inappropriate, annoying applause. In the opening scene, Leanne Benjamin, the Firebird, flits across the stage with bird-like jumps. Prince Ivan, Jonathan Cope, appears next, hopping down from the wall that encloses the enchanted garden of the immortal and evil sorcerer Kotschei. Ivan hides, lying in wait to catch the Firebird and seizes her after she steals an apple from the magic tree. What ensues is a captivating performance by Ms Benjamin. Her acting is first-rate but her dancing is inspired, arms waving and hands fluttering. She is the firebird. Her leg work, turns, and jumps (developpes, chaines, and jetes) are marvelously executed. Jonathan Cope's partnering shows sensitivity and deftness. He and Benjamin dance as one, his lifting very silky and effortless. Cope's facial expressions and body language demonstrate fine acting. David Drew as Kotschei is deliciously grotesque: long fingernails, black skeleton costume, flowing cape, humped back, and scraggly beard. His grotesqueness, however, is tinged with humor. Genesia Rosato, the beautiful Tsarevna, is suitably demure. She and her 12 princesses play catch with apples taken from the enchanted tree (not great dancing, but an interesting diversion). Watching these attractive women in their long nightgowns prancing around the stage provides pleasure. The finale, full of pomp and circumstance, is emotionally and visually satisfying, intensified by a succession of full orchestral chords.

In Les Noces, the two principals--Zenaida Yanowsky as the bride and David Pickering her groom--are nice to look at, but they do little dancing. The real stars in this dance-cantata are the men and women (especially the women) of the corps de ballet. Because this is a tricky ballet, full of changing beats and irregular tempos, dancers can easily lose count and make errors. Fortunately, they never do. Nijinska's choreography is just as fresh and modern today as it was when it was first performed in 1923. But the music (composed for four pianos, percussion, small chorus, and four soloists) is what makes this ballet-cantata a masterpiece.

These two performances are emotionally and intellectually stimulating. Anyone who appreciates Stravinsky will be rewarded with the purchase of this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: The Royal Ballet excels again
Review: This excellent version of two of Stravinsky's classic scores is danced by the superb Royal Ballet. 'Firebird' is particularly enthralling, with the recreation of the original Diaghilev sets of 1909. Ballet lovers will also be glad to have this rare chance to see 'Les noces', rarley performed but here given a persuasive performance by the company. I would have liked to see the two ballets performed in the opposite order, as Firebird might have been a more colourful ending - but this does not in any way mar a briliant issue.

Rating:
Summary: firebird &les noces dvd
Review: well performed, great for the lover of CLASSIC ballet. shot on a very obvious childishly simple stage. the ballet is technically correct but dead. no tv effects were used. look at the newest "midsummer night's dream" dvd to see what can be done with video and a computer. this firebird dvd is well danced but boring. i think it is a terrible dvd of an exciting ballet. this is not the dvd to teach your kids to love ballet. sorry . i am so disappointed with this dvd that i am trying to return it.BORING,BORING,BORING.