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The Nutcracker / Baryshnikov, Kirkland, Charmoli |  | Artists: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gelsey Kirkland, Alexander Minz, Nanette Glushak, Gayle Young
Label: Kultur Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.99
Buy New: $13.99
as of 11/27/2009 19:32 CST details
You Save: $16.00 (53%)
New (30) Used (3) from $13.99
Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  88 reviews
Sales Rank: 1000
Format: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 78 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: KLTD2925D
ISBN: 0769729258
UPC: 032031292598
EAN: 9780769729251
ASIN: B0002S6428
Theatrical Release Date: December 16, 1977
Release Date: September 28, 2004
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
The American Ballet Theater version of the Tchaikovsky classic, a 1977 studio rendition directed by Tony Charmoli, has become a holiday perennial on PBS stations and home video. It's a favorite of parents who want to give their kids the gift of culture--and with good reason. There's a loose fairy tale plot to keep dance neophytes interested, and Boris Aronson's eye-candy production design is a series of lavish dioramas. From an imperial-era Russian Christmas party out of Tolstoy, a young girl named Clara (Gelsey Kirkland) is whisked in dreams to an imaginary world populated by the animated creations of the wizard toy maker Drosselmeier (Alexander Minz), who prances on his stick-thin limbs like a Dickens illustration come to life. The main attraction is, of course, Mikhail Baryshnikov, one of the greatest classical dancers of the century, at his absolute peak of athleticism and precision. An opening slow-motion montage diagrams his fabled smoothness of execution, elegant airborne trajectories that have a feather-light perfection. Music lovers who know only "The Nutcracker Suite" will relish the chance to hear this great score all the way through, conducted with lilt and vigor by Kenneth Schermerhorn. --David Chute
Product Description
Studio: Kultur Release Date: 10/25/2005 Run time: 79 minutes
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 88
 A wonderful Nutcracker production October 29, 2009
C Clark (California, USA)
I have seen many versions of the Nutcracker and this one really entertained me.
With Baryshnikov and Kirkland that should be no surprise, but over all it is a beautiful production.
The Nutcracker/Baryshnikov, Kirkland, Charmoli October 19, 2009
Jee
I love that Nutcracker Ballet for perfect christmas season yearly. I first saw it since I was a kid. I never bore with it!
 Make it a supplementary Nutcracker May 7, 2009
Philip A. Kraus (Chicago, IL United States)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
The strengths of this Nutcracker can be summed up very simply: the dancing of Baryshnikov and Kirkland, which is to no one's surprise excellent and engaging. And there is some fine dancing from other members of the American Ballet Theater.
However, if you're looking for a Nutcracker that will cause you to revel in the holidays as well as Tchaikovsky's glorious music, this isn't it.
The sets by Boris Aronson range from a very ordinary parlor for Act 1 to a downright ugly fantasy candyland for Act 2. The costuming is second rate. The Chinese dancers don't look Chinese; the Russians don't look Russian. Other costuming seems cheap and uninspired. The general filming is too soft focus with not enough color contrast. And who's idea was it to have the ugly Act 2 thrones downstage blocking the action?
From a choreographic standpoint, this is also a disappointing production.
The children in Act 1 don't have much fun dancing and there are not enough of them. The adults don't act particularly well. It seems corners were cut in a lot of the dances in Act 2 which seem under populated and lacking in imagination and fire. You'd think the Russian dance in a Baryshnikov production would set your TV on fire; it is so tame and forgetable here. The Arabian dance is sadly missing altogether!
The idea of having Drosselmeyer appear in the climactic Act 2
pas de deux is a major distraction. He's simply out of place and adds no joy to the procedings. I'm sure this was meant as some deep psychological addition to the procedings, but it simply kills the moment and has nothing to do with the sublime music. And Act 2, which should end on a magical note, seems downright despressing in this production as Kirkland gazes out of a window like a lost soul???
If you want to revel in Nutcracker as a holiday treat, you must turn to the glorious Balanchine version with the NYC Ballet (on DVD) which has Christmas and joy written all over it. Sumptuosly designed, filmed and cast, it should be your first choice. The ABT version can only serve a supplementary version for a serious collection.
 kept getting the wrong nutcracker video May 4, 2009
Christine L. Peterson (Waterman, IL)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I ordered a specific Nutcracker ballet video: the one danced & choreographed by Mikhail Baryshnikov. Instead of the video, I ended up getting credit for the purchase, as two separate shipments of nutcracker videos were not the Baryshnikov version. But the seller DID reply promptly, did take action promptly and did issue credit promptly.
Magical January 10, 2009
Howard C. Batt (Clearwater, Florida USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
There are many beautiful version of The Nutcracker but this one is magical. Criticism of the production quality for its blue cast is correct - it's not nearly so colorful as, for example, the very recent San Francisco version. But what makes it magical is that these are not ballet stars showing their abilities. Baryshnikov and Kirkland and Minz ARE the Nutcracker/prince, Clara and Drosselmeyer. All the other performances I've watched are beautiful (save one) but the story seems to get lost in the dancing. Kirkland is beautiful, sad, excited, enchanting and vulnerable. Her dancing is effortless and she obviously is completely in character. Minz is Drosselmeyer - there can be no other like him. Baryshnikov sometimes seems a little over the top but the chemistry between him and Kirkland pulls him back every time. The choreography perfectly fits the music which perfectly fits the choreography. The end is perfect with Clara not wanting to wake and looking through the window like a little girl wishing.
All of that removes the blue cast for me and makes this performance one I look forward to every year. It IS a dream, after all and dreams like this one usually are softly focused. The performance invites you to join the dream.
But, as with strawberries and blueberries - it shouldn't be watched out of season or it will become ordinary. Watch the others for beautiful production values. Watch this one to live in that magic moment with Kirkland and Baryshnikov and Minz and all the others who dance and act and make music so wonderfully.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 88
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