Cinderella

While there is no shortage of DVD versions of Sergei Prokofiev's delightful 1944 fairy tale ballet, this 2010 mounting at the Birmingham Royal Ballet—filmed for the BBC—offers imaginative new choreography by David Bintley, set against John Macfarlane's opulent design. The four chief dancers—Elisha Willis as Cinderella, Iain Mackay as The Prince, and Gaylene Cummerfield and Carol-Anne Millar as Cinderella's stepsisters—are backed by the colorful, exuberant score ebulliently played by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia under Koen Kessels. Willis and Mackay make a lovely couple, performing individually and in duet with zest and feeling, while the other soloists provide strong support, and the large corps de ballet carry off their routines wonderfully. Macfarlane's sets and costumes are the frosting on the cake, offering a lustrous blend of elegance and style. While other versions—including Frederick Ashton's famous perennial—boast their own merits, Bintley and his colleagues have produced a fine alternative, well-presented here with Dolby Digital 5.1 and LPCM stereo options. Highly recommended. (F. Swietek)