The Firebird & Les Noces

In this Royal Ballet double bill of works by 20th century Russian composer Igor Stravinsky, music, sets, and costumes fuse with the dance to produce an experience that is as much about spectacle as individual performance. The more familiar work is certainly The Firebird, a Russian folk tale about a firebird who meets a young man in the enchanted garden of the immortal Kostchei and gives him one of her feathers as a talisman in exchange for her release. The ensuing action involves frustrated love, magic spells, and ominous curses, among other opportunities to show off a panoply of richly costumed, exotic characters (of course, all ends well, with the villain conquered, the corps de ballet restored to life, and the two principals wed). Staged live from the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, The Firebird is a spectacular treat for the eyes and ears. Les Noces, performed with vocal and orchestral accompaniment featuring four pianos, and showcasing the original choreography of Bronislava Nijinska, offers viewers the rare opportunity to see the first independent piece produced for Diaghilev's Ballets Russe. Depicting the rituals surrounding a wedding ceremony, Les Noces' subdued palette, iconic formations, and stark settings are a precursor to Balanchine's “black and white” ballets, foreshadowing the birth of what we now call modern dance, and therefore making it a seminal, important work. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1, DVD extras include a tribute to choreographer Nijinska and behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage. Essential for any dance collection, this is also highly recommended for general collections. Aud: C, P. (J. Reed)