Search - The Nutcracker Ballet on DVD

Review from Oz

M. Corbould | Ilford via Sofala, N.S.W Australia | 02/21/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This recording is an absolute delight, and has to represent the best value for your DVD dollar available anywhere today. Filmed in 1995, (4x3 format, Playable in all Regions) it features Artists of The Ballet of The Slovak National Theatre and Children of The Dance Conservatory, Bratislava with music by the Sofia National Opera Orchestra. The role of Clara is danced by Nora Gallovicova, and The Nutcracker by Jozef Dolinsky (who choreographed this production and is also the company's Ballet Master).
This is not the great "tour de force" production that you would expect from some of the better known international companies that have the facility to solve a problem by simply throwing more money at it, but rather a prime example of a company maintaining its integrity by utilising the available resources at its disposal, and combining it with the enthusiasm of the dancers and students to produce a very `human' ballet that I found absolutely charming and still thoroughly enjoyable after 10 viewings over a 3 week period.
It obviously pressed all the right buttons for me, so I guess the bottom line has to be; Should you buy a copy of this disk? No, you should buy two. Keep one to enjoy yourself and give the other as a gift. The extra 10 bucks is hardly likely to break the budget, and with the extra royalties going into the company's kitty, maybe we'll be lucky enough to see more of them in the future."

Disappointed

Doruk Sargin | Istanbul, Turkey | 03/20/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I have to admit i am not very pleased with my purchase. I recently saw this ballet in my country, Turkey, and i liked it so much i wanted a copy of the Nutcracker. However, when i recieved this Slovakian copy, i realized the version i saw in Turkey was a renewed version and way more entertaining. The players in this show dance and act according to the original play written 150 years ago. Plus, the stage and decorations are appalling. There is no fairy coming out of the chimney or there is no christmas tree that is supposed to increase in size in mid-play. (becasue all the actors in the play are actually toys - duh!)
Costumes and lighting is not so good either. In the Egypt scene, number of dancers is reduced from three to one. And what a hideous dancer that one is.

In short, if you want to see the Nutcracker played good, this one is not it. Scout more and find a better copy. That is what i'll do.

"

Innovated Production

J. Hinojos | San Diego | 01/02/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I originally saw this production on VHS and have been searching for the DVD. It is not as elaborate as some of the other productions with all the special effects but the dancing is outstanding and the interpretation of the ballet is very good. I would recommend this for anyone."