Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker - featuring The Royal Ballet

If all you want is a package that looks pretty on the outside, the Royal Ballet's 2009 Nutcracker is a snap. It's by a troupe recognized worldwide, Sir Peter Wright is an acclaimed choreographer/producer, it's on Blu-ray, a ton of glowing, five-star reviews sings its praises. How could you go wrong?In two ways, unfortunately. First, the production itself turns the story into something quite different from the one Tchaikovsky set to music for ballet master Marius Petipa in St. Petersburg in 1892. Second is the performance of this staging (in its 25th year when this recording was made), over which hangs the air of tired routine.The biggest change Wright makes in the story is adding action during the opening overture and the closing apotheosis that doesn't exist in Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. Because this new plot isn't explained on-screen, you must have seen one of the two previous videos of Wright's production or read the synopsis in the liner notes to understand what's going on.Wright's version makes the magician Drosselmeyer the central character. Because his mousetrap killed off half the mice in the palace, the vengeful Queen of the Mice changed Drosselmeyer's nephew into a nutcracker doll. The nephew can regain his human form only by destroying the Mouse King and being loved by a young girl. On impulse, Drosselmeyer takes the nutcracker/nephew doll with him to the Stahlhaum's Christmas party and gives it to young Clara, who falls in love with it and sneaks downstairs after bedtime to find it. But Drosselmeyer conjures up a battle between the mice and the toy soldiers, led by the Nutcracker Prince, who is in danger until Clara bops the Mouse King on the head. Then the doll turns back into his human form.Drosselmeyer accompanies the happy couple through the Land of Snow to Act II's Land of Sweets, remaining to preside over the entertainments he has prepared for them. In Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, Drosselmeyer does not appear in Act II, and his presence is annoying. After the fun in the Land of Sweets is over and Clara finds herself back outside her home, she meets the nutcracker/nephew and vaguely but not fully recognizes him. Returning to Drosselmeyer's study, he is warmly embraced by his surprised uncle, who has apparently forgotten he's seen his nephew throughout Act II.To this unnecessary level of plot complications are added chauvinistically British elements. For example, during the early stage of the family party, Clara has a vision of an angel, then St. Nicholas shows up to bless the children, dressed like an Anglican bishop. Clara and the Prince are whisked away to the Land of Sweets by angels as though they're being escorted through the heavens to the Pearly Gates. Had Petipa and Tchaikovsky called for angels, they would not have been Anglican.If Wright's production sounds OK, then you should look to the Royal Ballet's 2000 DVD with Alina Cojocaru as Clara and Anthony Dowell as Drosselmeyer, under the baton of Russian conductor Evengii Svetlanov  The Nutcracker/ Cojocaru, Dowell, Royal Ballet . Fans of Wright's Nutcracker would have been much better served if Opus Arte had upgraded that lively performance to Blu-ray instead of issuing this plodding one from 2009. In the 2000 production, Cojocaru has enough sparkle and Dowell has the good taste not to let Drosselmeyer drain the life out of Act II. In this newer performance, Iohna Loots and Gary Avis don't have the charisma. The clarity of Blu-ray doesn't help. Because this Land of Sweets is almost devoid of color, Drosselmeyer's flamboyant green and blue cape is what keeps capturing the eye.Most detrimental is Koen Kessels' flaccid conducting, which starts out slow and gets slower. And slower. The Arabian Dance crawls like a dirge, lacking any touch of sensuality. By the time the Waltz of the Flowers arrives, the pace is so ponderous that the corps de ballet can barely maintain its footing without falling over. Perhaps the tempo drags to help Miyako Yoshida in the Sugar Plum Fairy's variation. In her mid-40s when this performance was recorded, Yoshida has been a Sugar Plum Fairy specialist for a long, long time. She carefully tip-toes through the steps, concentrating mainly on keeping the beauty-contestant smile on her face directed toward the audience. There's nothing spontaneous here, no life.The music of the apotheosis, which in this case leads to the final added scene, drags through the mud, maybe to permit the stage-set change. That's a portent that it's time to put this tired production to rest.Instead, you might try what has become the Mariinsky's standard version conducted by Valery Gergiev from 2012, despite Alina Somova's wobbling Sugar Plum Fairy. For a more refreshing view, I would recommend the Dutch National Ballet's Nutcracker and the Mouse King Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty & Swan Lake [Blu-ray] or, even better, the Mariinsky's 2007 performance of Mihail Chemiakin's imaginative production Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker, Marinsky Theatre [Blu-ray], which restores the magic to a ballet that has grown stale from routine.

After watching this performance, it's difficult to imagine a more "definitive" Blu-Ray production of this ballet.Let me start by saying that the video and audio quality are superb. I have a reference system in my home theater and I'm very picky when it comes to A/V quality, and both the audio and video here left me with no complaints whatsoever. The orchestra is present but not overbearing, and you hear just enough footwork on stage to make you feel connected. In some opera and ballet recordings the stage action can be too loud which not only makes the characters seem to stomp around, but also interferes with hearing the music; but if the stage action is inaudible the performance can seem too "distant" (sometimes eerily so). This one gets it just right.The staging and scenery are mesmerizing. When the Christmas tree grows out of the stage it is truly breathtaking.Also well done is the mix of broad camera work and close-up shots. I have seen ballet and opera DVDs where you don't get enough shots of the entire stage to appreciate the big-picture choreography, and in others the jumping between different camera angles is so fast you feel like you're having a seizure.As for the performers themselves... Gary Avis is wonderful as Drosselmeyer, not only dancing well but portraying his character with sensitivity. Because of the HD video and close-up shots you do get to see the dancers' facial expressions, and Avis definitely conveys both his love for Clara and his yearning to have his nephew back. Yoshida excels as the Sugar Plum Fairy, dancing with the right balance of grace and confidence.Oh, and the extra features are fun too, especially getting to hear Peter Wright tell the story of the Nutcracker to the children in a rehearsal space. Really cute.HIGHLY recommended.

Watching the 2009 Opus Arte Royal Balet London Nutcracker is a nice Christmas tradition. We saw it live many years ago in USA as kids. As a child, it was a bit confusing to follow the story line. This Blu Ray comes with a special feature that describes the ballet version of the story, which is based on 'The Nutcracker and the Mouse King'. It's helpful for kids if the story is explained to them, & watching it on Blu Ray helps to take a break and explain different scenes. And also, kids might sometimes have a hard time paying attention, so it allows you to stop for a break. Even if kids don't understand all of the story line, they will still enjoy the costumes and dancing. Seeing the Nutcracker live is a special treat, but having it available on Blu Ray is very convenient to enjoy in the comforts of your own home. Viewed from the audience, some details can be missed, but the disc captures the most important parts of each scene, like having a front row seat. The picture quality on a plasma TV was clear & excellent. The sound through a Yamaha/Klipsch surround sound system was not the same as sitting in front of a live symphony orchestra, but it was very life like and realistic, especially at volume. Even the sound of the applause was very realistic. I enjoyed this disc very much & I feel that the price was reasonable and I'm happy with my purchase.

A really lovely production and with the same Sugar Plum Fairy in the breathtaking Miyako Yoshida as the Nutcracker production with Anthony Dowell playing Drosselmeyer which I have also reviewed. This time Drosselmeyer is the excellent Gary Avis and Miyako is partnered by my favourite male principal in Steven McCrae. However in this ballet the principle lead dancer playing Clara is English. She is very good indeed but she is not quite as good as the principle dancer Aliana Cojacoru in the Nutcracker with Anthony Dowell. Both the principle dancers in the Anthony Dowell Nutcracker are Russian and it shows.. I would like to stress that there is very little to chose between the two productions however. This Nutcracker is exceedingly good and you will not be disappointed if you buy it. It is a wonderful ballet and it is danced extremely well with beautiful costumes, colours and stage sets. For me however the Russian dancers in the Nutcracker with Anthony Dowell just have the edge. They seem to eek more from every second they are on stage and give even more to every single tiny movement, even facially they just are more expressive and more artistic. Anthony Dowell's ballet and Anthony Dowell as Drosselmeyer I would give 6 stars to as it is just THE best I have ever seen. This Nutcracker however gets and fully deserves its 5 stars because it is absolutely wonderful and a joy to own and these 2 productions are the best you will find anywhere. Absolutely superb.

I do not normally watch ballet these days, but having heard The Nutcracker Suite a few times over the years, I was tempted to purchase this version after reading so many positive reviews. I am glad I did because I enjoyed it tremendously. It has given me a new taste in Ballet so I ordered a version of Swan Lake on Blu-Ray and absolutely loved that as well. This is a wonderfully staged and extremely entertaining version which every fan of Ballet will be delighted to watch. Good picture and sound (DTS if you have the right equipment) even though it is not a Blu-Ray. An excellent buy of a very popular ballet.

One of the better versions of the Nutcracker hardly changed over the years and still playing. The best version I have seen though is by The Birmingham Royal Ballet. It was recorded many years ago but unfortunately now only available on NTSC DVD. Needs to be reissued for UK play.

I can watch this anytime, particularly at Christmas.

Chose this DVD after reading the reviews but I was very disappointed. The colour is very poor with the first act being very dark and then act 2 is very light and the colours bland. Have seen several productions of the Nutcracker and this was not one of the better ones.