Le Sacre du Printemps, Firebird (Stravinsky): Iosifidi, Bazhenova, Kondaurova, Gergiev / Kirov Orchestra & Ballet (2008)

Stravinsky and the Ballets Russes
Mariinsky Ballet 2008

The Firebird
Ekaterina Kondaurova (Firebird), Ilya Kuznetsov (Ivan Tsarevich), Marianna Pavlova (The Princess) & Vladimir Ponomarev (Kachtchei the Immortal)
Choreography & libretto: Michel Fokine (1910)
reconstruction Isabelle Fokine, Andris Liepa
Set & costume design:Anna & Anatoly Nezhny after original sketches by Alexander Golovin, Leon Bakst & Michel Fokine

The Rite of Spring
Alexandra Iosifidi (The Chosen One), Elena Bazhenova (300-Year-Old Woman) & Vladimir Ponomarev (Shaman)
Choreography after Vaslav Nijinsky (1913)
Scene plan: Igor Stravinsky & Nicholas Roerich, reconstructed and staged by Millicent Hodson;
Set and costume design: Nicholas Roerich, reconstructed and supervised by Kenneth Archer; Lighting: Vladimir Lukin

Mariinsky Orchestra / Valery Gergiev, conductor

Recorded: at the Mariinsky Theatre Jun-2008

Bonus: documentary 1909-2009 Ballets Russes & interviews with Millicent Hodson & Kenneth Archer (38')

Picture Format: NTSC, 16:9
Sound Format: PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1
Region Code: 0
Run Time: 123 min.
Subtitles: French, English
Booklet: 16 pages French, English, German

Today it is difficult to imagine the impact on audiences at the beginning of the 20th century of Serge Diaghilev (1872-1929) and his Ballets Russes. In celebration of the debut of the Ballets Russes in Paris in 1909, this wonderful Stravinsky evening at the Mariinsky Theatre showcases the original Nijinsky version of The Rite of Spring for the first time on DVD along with The Firebird, both conducted by Valery Gergiev. Thanks to the relentless work of Millicent Hodson, Nijinsky's original choreography has now been recreated, performed by the lead dancers and Ballet Company of the Saint Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre conducted by Valery Geriev, known the world over for his interpretation of Stravinsky's works.