Press Release: New Release DVD of Mariinsky Nutcracker

[Jan McNulty]

DVD / BLU-RAY RELEASE from WARNER CLASSICS / NVC ARTS

 

THE NUTCRACKER

 

Mariinsky Ballet & Orchestra

Live from the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, conducted by Valery Gergiev

DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: 3 December, 2012

 

 

This enchanting and very traditional production of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker was created for the Mariinsky Ballet (then the Kirov Ballet) by renowned Soviet choreographer Vasily Vainonen in 1934, and is his most celebrated production for the Company. It was revived in 1954 and has remained in the Company’s repertoire ever since.

 

The Mariinsky Theatre’s Musical Director, Valery Gergiev, conducts Tchaikovsky’s glorious score, and Vainonen’s stunning choreography is complemented by Simon Virsaladze’s wonderfully colourful designs. The roles of Masha and her Nutcracker Prince are danced by two of the Mariinsky’s award-winning, international soloists, Alina Somova, and Vladimir Shklyarov, all of which make this as magical and memorable a Christmas treat as ever.

 

Alina Somova is a young star of the Mariinsky Ballet, famous for her extraordinary technique, who has already danced many of the major roles. She has performed with the Mariinsky during their tours of the UK, including performances of Jewels in 2008, and Juliet at Covent Garden in 2009. In those performances of Romeo and Juliet she was partnered by Vladimir Shklyarov as Romeo. Shklyarov is also a rising star of the Mariinsky, known for his athleticism and elegance. He danced the role of Prince Siegfried during the Mariinsky’s Covent Garden tour in 2011.

 

This production was newly recorded earlier this year at the Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg, in High-Definition.

 

Masha the Princess ALINA SOMOVA

The Nutcracker Prince VLADIMIR SHKLYAROV

Masha ALEXANDRA KORSHUNOVA

Drosselmeyer FYODOR LOPUKHOV

 

Music by PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY

Libretto by MARIUS PETIPA after the story by ETA Hoffmann

Choreography by VASILY VAINONEN

Production design by SIMON VIRSALADZE

 

Mariinsky Ballet & Orchestra

Musical Director VALERY GERGIEV

/2 The Nutcracker

 

NTSC 16:9

L-PCM Stereo + DTS + 5.1 Surround Sound

Duration: 103 minutes

All Regions

 

DVD Catalogue No. 2564-65630-9

Blu-ray Catalogue No. 2564-65436-5

[alison]

So, is this still the exceedingly pink production which got pretty badly panned by the critics when the Kirov brought it over a decade or so ago?

[DavidW]

Are the Mariinsky not doing a 3D Nutcracker in cinemas this December too?