Stars: Damaas Thijs, Elisabet Ros, Gil Roman, Colonne Orchestra, Edmon Colomer

Summary: Recorded live at the Theatre Musical De Paris this is choreographer Maurice Bejart's own life story, through his passionate committment to dance, set to Tchaikovsky's music with only a nodding reference to the familiar 'Nutcracker' story.

This unique take on THE NUTCRACKER ballet focuses on the life story of choreographer Maurice Bejart and only references the Tchaikovsky tale briefly. The production is a bold, non-traditional French performance.

WIN DVDs by rating this DVD

Average User Rating:

WIN DVDS by being amongst the first to review this DVD. Reviewing DVDs earns you bonus entries and lets you WIN DVDs!Please login before reviewing this DVD. If you're a new user, register for free and enter to WIN FREE DVDs!

This is a Nutcrackerwith a difference. Tchaikovsky's most popular ballet ("Dance of the sugar plum fairy", "Waltz of the flowers" etc.) undergoes a transformation, interpreted by the French choreographer Maurice Bejart, from Christmas fairy story into a tale of a boy who dreams he loves his dead mother. The boy erects an enormous statue to her that becomes the focus of the production in Act 1 rather than the traditional Christmas tree. Maurice Bejart's memoir of his early years includes Goethe's embodiment of evil, Mephisto, recalled from his father's books and the figure of Marius Petipa, the original choreographer of The Nutcracker(both are danced by Gil Roman). For in this interpretation the boy, after failing to bring the statue to life, decides to become a dancer. In Act 2 the Spanish dance becomes a vehicle for a toreador, another of Bejart's childhood passions, but most striking is the interpolation of a French dance in this sequence of national dances to the tune of "Under Paris Skies" played on the accordion by Yvette Horner. Bejart's new concept might seem a shade self indulgent on paper, but only in the scene where the boy hugs his mother's statue in an Oedipus-like embrace does a moment of excess intrude. His imaginative choreography, the superb dancing by his Ballet Lausanne and the rhythmically lilting playing of the Orchestra Colonne under Edmon Colomer all give undiluted pleasure.

On the DVD:The picture quality from the Chatelet theatre in Paris is top-notch, catching the lighting effects and colourful costumes with excellent definition. Several high angle crane shots reveal the deft ensemble work of this company. In the accompanying special feature we go behind the scenes of the production to meet Bejart and his collaborators. The long service many of them have given offers testament to the corporate spirit manifested in the dancing. Those looking for an alternative view of the traditional rendition of Tchaikovsky's ballet will not be disappointed by the artistry on display here. --Adrian Edwards

Aspect Ratio:	16:9 Wide Screen
Main Language:	French
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Behind The Scenes Documentary
Subtitles:	English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Release Date:	December 3, 2001
Runtime:	103 minutes
Certification:	Exempt.
Catalogue Number:	D V B L B N C
Keywords:	Music, Ballet, Dance, Wide, Screen, Works, Maurice, Nutcracker, Stage, Classical, Performing, Arts, Bejart's
Genre:	Music/Performing Arts