Mark Morris Dance Group: L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato

An unusual but winning combination of oratorio and ballet, this 2014 production from the Teatro Real in Madrid combines a stylish performance of excerpts from George Frideric Handel's 1740 pastoral ode L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato—primarily comprised of poems by John Milton, but also supplemented with additions by 18th-century arranger Charles Jennens—with a sequence of interpretive dances to the arias and recitatives, choreographed by Mark Morris. The musical side of this hybrid—which suggests a conversation between the passionate and reflective sides of humankind—is deftly handled by the company orchestra under Jane Glover, while sopranos Sarah-Jane Brandon and Elizabeth Watts, tenor James Gilchrist, and baritone Andrew Foster-Williams deliver sterling vocalism. The ballet, which Morris premiered in 1988, is beautifully handled by members of his Brooklyn-based company: clad in simple costumes and performing on spare sets framed by sensitive lighting, the dancers sometimes engage in quite literal movements representing shepherds or birds, but elsewhere portray emotional states in a dizzying array of solos and ensembles of changing sizes. Special credit is due here to director Vincent Bataillon, whose camerawork generally offers a full-stage view but is also quick to emphasize important details, and occasionally even offers a shot of the dancers from the rafters. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and PCM stereo on Blu-ray, extras include a performance of the overture, and a behind-the-scenes featurette. Notwithstanding the lack of English subtitles, this gorgeous ballet/oratorio is highly recommended. (F. Swietek)