The Paris Opera Ballet: Six Ballets

Compiling a half-dozen short pieces from the early 1980s, choreographed by Norbert Schmucki and performed by members of the Paris Opera Ballet, Six Ballets is both technically mediocre (despite the remastered video and audio in Dolby Digital stereo) and thematically rather unadventurous. Half of the selections are set to familiar music: an ensemble offering paired to Tchaikovsky melodies, the “Black Swan” pas de deux from the same composer's Swan Lake, and a pas de trois from Les patineurs (the ballet suite that Constant Lambert arranged to themes by Meyerbeer). The other three pieces consist of two duets—the first set to traditional Russian Orthodox chants and the second to music by Shostakovich—as well as a solo dance featuring music by Manuel Valera. The choreographic style differs from selection to selection, but is mostly conventional, venturing into the vaguely modernistic only in the Shostakovich number. On the plus side, however, the dancing is excellent throughout, and features such celebrated performers as Patrick Dupond, Noëlla Pontois, and Claude de Vulpian in their prime. DVD extras include a clip of the “White Swan” pas de deux from Swan Lake, taken from the companion DVD The Paris Opera Ballet: Seven Ballets. Recommended for dance collections, and a strong optional purchase elsewhere. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)