PRESS RELEASE: DVD Release - DON QUIXOTE Rudolf Nureyev The Australian Ballet

[Jan McNulty]

DON QUIXOTE

Rudolf Nureyev

The Australian Ballet

 

RESTORED & REMASTERED IN HIGH DEFINITION

FROM THE ORIGINAL 1973 FILM

Plus documentary footage of restoration process

Release Date on DVD and Blu-ray: 20 August, 2012

 

Warner Classics/NVC Arts is delighted to announce the high-definition release on DVD and Blu-ray of Rudolf Nureyev’s iconic 1973 film of Don Quixote, with The Australian Ballet.

 

So elaborate was Rudolf Nureyev's vision of the Cervantes classic that his lavish film ballet ultimately required the facilities of a gigantic Australian aircraft hangar to produce. Choreographed and co-directed by Nureyev, the film received its Sydney premiere in 1973, and a London Royal Gala presentation in 1974, and went on to travel briefly to New York. Despite rave reviews, prints gradually fell out of circulation and grew scarce. For 25 years, incomplete copies were scattered across two continents, with the film developing a reputation as a fabled lost treasure.

 

After a painstaking five-year process, Nureyev's Don Quixote was at long last reassembled. As it had been shot in 35mm, it could be digitally remastered. Thus the film was restored to its original glory, and a standard definition DVD of the production was released in 2003.

 

These forthcoming DVD and Blu-ray releases on Warner Classics are new high definition transfers from that restored 35mm film. Therefore, they are even more brilliant than the standard definition restored version.

 

Starring Rudolf Nureyev as Basilio, the production also features Nureyev's co-director Sir Robert Helpmann as Don Quixote and Lucette Aldous as Kitri.

 

Also features:

“A Little Bit of Don Quixote”

Superb documentary footage detailing the restoration process of the original 35mm film from 1972

 

 

Choreographer RUDOLF NUREYEV

Directors RUDOLF NUREYEV

 

 

8]and ROBERT HELPMANN

Music LUDWIG MINKUS, arr. JOHN LANCHBERY

Performed by THE STATE ORCHESTRA OF VICTORIA

Conducted by JOHN LANCHBERY

 

Basilio RUDOLF NUREYEV

Kitri LUCETTE ALDOUS

Don Quixote ROBERT HELPMANN

Sancho Panza RAY POWELL

Lorenzo FRANCIS CROESE

 

 

“A dance film for all audiences, an exciting, intelligently conceived spectacle. This is as much a dramatic film as a ballet film.” New York Times

 

“Both Nureyev and Lucette Aldous burst out of the screen dancing with tremendous precision and verve.” The Daily Telegraph

 

Catalogue No: 2564 65944-0 DVD

Catalogue No: 2564 65946-0 Blu-ray

 

Duration: Approx 127 mins

Full colour

NTSC 4:3 Full Screen

All Regions

L-PCM Stereo

Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound

[alison]

Ooh, I think that's one I only have on video ...

[Fiona]

Gailene Stock is one of Kitri's friends in this, I believe. Her husband is also in it.