Peter and the Wolf

Sergei Prokofiev's delightful orchestral fable—a musical depiction of a clever young boy's stroll in the forest, where he encounters various woodland creatures, including a hungry wolf—has long been a staple of children's concerts, accompanied by charming narration. Transformed into a ballet by Matthew Hart for students in the Royal Ballet School in 1995, Peter and the Wolf is presented here in a 2010 revival. Most of the leads are played by talented and charming youngsters enrolled in the school—Peter (Kilian Smith), the bird (Laurine Muccioli), the duck (Charlotte Edmonds), and the cat (Chisato Katsura)—as are the smaller parts, such as the willowy bushes and bricks in a stone wall. But two roles are handled by mature performers: Will Kemp is imposing as Peter's grandfather, who also delivers the narration; and despite the heavy costume, Sergei Polunin manages some striking poses as the ravenous wolf. In conducting the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Paul Murphy favors tempos somewhat slower than usual—probably a concession to the needs of the dancers. But the colorful sets, imaginative costumes, and inventive choreography bring Prokofiev's score to vivid visual life. Presented in DTS-5.1 and LPCM stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM stereo on Blu-ray, extras include a rehearsal featurette, and a cast gallery. Likely to have wide appeal for family audiences, this is recommended. (F. Swietek)