Description
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Mariinsky Ballet) | Chemiakin/Simonov Production | DVD
Product Information
- UPC: 044007432174
- Product Code: 074 3217 DH
- Product Type: Ballet Performance DVD
- Label: Decca Music Group Limited
- Format: DVD, NTSC
- Picture Format: 16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen
- Region Code: 0 (All Regions)
- Duration: 68 minutes
- Audio: LPCM Stereo, DTS 5.1 Surround
- Color: Color
- Release Year: 2008
Overview
This dazzling reimagining of Tchaikovsky's beloved "Nutcracker" presents a darker, more magical interpretation that returns to E.T.A. Hoffmann's original story. Performed by the world-renowned Mariinsky (formerly Kirov) Ballet, this production features innovative set and costume designs by acclaimed Russian artist Mihail Chemiakin with fresh choreography by Kirill Simonov that departs from the traditional ballet while honoring its heritage. The performance stars Irina Golub as Masha and Leonid Sarafanov as the Nutcracker Prince, with Alexander Kulikov as the Nutcracker. Valery Gergiev, the celebrated music director of the Mariinsky Theatre, conducts the Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre in Tchaikovsky's complete score, bringing new dimension to this Christmas classic with a production that balances whimsical fantasy with darker undertones.
Product Features
- Complete performance of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" ballet
- Innovative production by Mihail Chemiakin with new choreography by Kirill Simonov
- Performed by the prestigious Mariinsky Ballet and Orchestra
- Conducted by world-renowned maestro Valery Gergiev
- High-quality audio options including DTS 5.1 Surround Sound
- All-regions NTSC format for worldwide playback
- 16:9 Anamorphic widescreen format
- Includes booklet with production information
- Filmed in 2007 at the historic Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg
Interesting Facts
A Return to Literary Roots
While most productions of "The Nutcracker" are based on a sweetened adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffmann's original 1816 story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," Chemiakin's version returns to the darker, more complex elements of the original tale. Hoffmann's story features psychological depth and fantasy elements that were often simplified in traditional ballet productions. This Mariinsky version restores some of the eerier, more mysterious elements that make the original story so compelling.
Artistic Revolution
Mihail Chemiakin is not only a visual artist but also a sculptor and philosopher whose work often combines elements of the grotesque with childlike wonder. His "Nutcracker" designs caused a sensation when the production premiered in 2001, with critics noting how the production departed from the sugary sweetness of traditional versions. His reimagining of the rats as elegant, menacing creatures and the transformation of the "Kingdom of Sweets" into a more ambiguous realm reflects his distinctive artistic vision.
Gergiev's Musical Approach
Valery Gergiev's interpretation of Tchaikovsky's score is noted for its dramatic contrasts and emotional depth. Under his baton, familiar passages reveal new dimensions, with particular attention to the darker undertones in Tchaikovsky's music. As the artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre, Gergiev has been instrumental in revitalizing the company's approach to classic Russian works, emphasizing their complexity rather than treating them as museum pieces.
Cultural Significance
This production represents an important moment in the evolution of "The Nutcracker," which has been performed in countless versions since its premiere in 1892. By returning to Hoffmann's text and incorporating contemporary artistic sensibilities, the Mariinsky production offers a fresh perspective on a work that many audiences know only in its most traditional form. This reimagining demonstrates how classic ballets can remain vital and relevant through thoughtful reinterpretation.
Cast and Creative Team
- Masha: Irina Golub
- Nutcracker Prince: Leonid Sarafanov
- Nutcracker: Alexander Kulikov
- Herr Stahlbaum/Rat Emperor: Vladimir Ponomarev
- Frau Stahlbaum/Rat Empress: Elena Bazhenova
- Drosselmeyer: Anton Adasinsky
- Conductor: Valery Gergiev
- Production Design: Mihail Chemiakin
- Choreography: Kirill Simonov (2001), based on Marius Petipa (1892)
- Director of the Mariinsky Ballet: Makhar Vaziev
- Television Director: Denis Caïozzi
- Executive Producer: François Duplat
Track Listing
Act 1
- Titles - 1:29
- Overture - 3:10
- Christmas Eve In The Kitchen - 3:37
- The Stahlbaums Dress For Dinner - 2:09
- The Guests Arrive - 1:15
- The Grown-Ups Dance - 1:03
- Drosselmeyer Arrives - 2:45
- Dances Of The Mechanical Dolls - 3:40
- Masha Dances With The Nutcracker - 3:18
- Grandfather's Dance - 1:07
- The Guests Depart - 1:32
- The Drawing Room - Midnight - The Rats' Ball - 2:19
- Transformation - Battle Of The Rats & Toys - 5:47
- The Nutcracker And Masha Fly Off - 3:11
- Waltz Of The Snowflakes - 6:28
Act 2
- Inside The Sweet Shop - 8:05
- Dance Of The Spanish Matadors - 1:12
- Dance Of The Eastern Snake-Charmers - 3:18
- Dance Of The Chinamen - 1:14
- Dance Of The Petrushkas - 1:12
- Dance Of The Bumblebees - 2:25
- Dance Of The Pulcinellas - 2:34
- Masha Breaks The Spell - 0:57
- Waltz Of The Flowers - 5:27
- Pas de Deux: Masha And The Nutcracker Prince - 5:46
- Solo: The Nutcracker Prince (Tarantella) - 0:50
- Solo: Masha (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy) - 2:11
- Coda: The Nutcracker Prince, Masha & All Of Confiturenberg - 1:28
- Grand Wedding Waltz - 3:26
- Drosselmeyer Outside The Shop - 0:50
- The Wedding Cake - 0:39
- Curtain Calls - 2:10
- Closing Credits - 1:26
Publishers
Film © 2007 Mariinsky Theatre/Valery Gergiev Foundation Staging © 2007 Mihail Chemiakin Set, costume and staging Artwork © 2007 Decca Music Group Limited Produced by Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg & Valery Gergiev Foundation, in association with Bel Air Media, Paris.
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