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This triple bill of ballets, with an additional glittering pas de deux, is a delightful introduction to the range and excitement of American Ballet Theatre's repertory.
The first piece is Les Sylphides in which Mikhail Baryshnikov is the poet surrounded by the drifting chorus of sylphs.
The Sylvia Pas de deux is a sparkling duet for Martine van Hamel and Patrick Bissell, and it is followed by Triad, one of Sir Kenneth MacMillan's most poetic and sensitive short ballets. Finally, in a blaze of brilliant dancing, the Grand Pas from Paquita shows off the technical virtuosity of ABT's dancers in a cascade of mock-Spanish bravura choreography staged by Natalia Makarova from the original Petipaversion.
(What's This?)
"The best thing on the disk is the Sylvia. The music is good, some of it quite familiar. These two dancers are, in a word, sensational. They project the image of youthful energy, an utter disdain for gravity, and they do so many pirouettes you’ll be holding on to the arms of your chair to keep from getting dizzy.
In Les Sylphides, we see Baryshnikov clearly at his prime.
So take a good look at classical ballet…And a good look is what you get. Picture quality is excellent, very clear…" - Paul Shoemaker, Music Web International
LES SYLPHIDES Music: Frederic Chopin Choreography: Michel Fokine Conductor: Paul Connelly Mikhail Baryshnikov • Cynthia Harvey Marianna Tcherkassky • Cheryl Yeager
SYLVIA - PAS DE DEUX Music: Leo Delibes Choreography: George Balachine Conductor: Alan Barker Staged by: Andre Eglevsky Martine Van Hamel • Patrick Bissell
TRIAD Music: Sergei Prokofiev Choreography: Kenneth Macmillan Conductor: Alan Barker Amanda McKerrow • Robert La Fosse • Johan Renvall
PAQUITA Music: Ludwig Minkus Orchestrated by: John Lanchbery Choreography: Natalia Makarova after Petipa Conductor: Paul Connelly Cynthia Gregory • Fernando Bujones
Directed for Television and Video by Brian Large Executive Producer for NVC ARTS: Robin Scott
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