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Product Description
MacMillan's vision has been vital in shaping The Royal Ballet's style and repertory, and what better way to appreciate his art than with this rare chance to experience three contrasting works in a single performance. Abstract, dramatic, humorous this programme gives a wonderfully varied introduction not just to MacMillan's work but to the beauty and dramatic power of ballet itself. Concerto, to Shostakovich's Second Piano Concerto, contrasts moments of exuberance and elegiac reflection. The Judas Tree places a single woman among 13 men to enact a harrowing event that is recognizably contemporary but with biblical overtones. Elite Syncopations completes the programme with a sparkling evocation of a dance hall that brings ragtime rhythms to the dance, and a ragtime band to the stage.
Review
There has never been a choreographer that I can think of who could produce three such contrasting works, and you sit watching in wonderment at the fertile imaginings of his mind --Telegraph
It's grisly, and yet horribly exciting in its momentum, as the men show off to each other like skateboarders, flinging themselves into barrel turns while knotting and unknotting their legs. --Independent
It's grisly, and yet horribly exciting in its momentum, as the men show off to each other like skateboarders, flinging themselves into barrel turns while knotting and unknotting their legs. --Independent
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is by far the most interesting and enjoyable of the recent crop of ballet dvds, a Triple Bill of works choreographed by Kenneth Macmillan, all three very different indeed. There is good camerawork and editing for these three fast-moving ballets, filmed at Covent Garden, and this is the order in which they were presented in the theatre:
"Concerto" is a plotless piece to sparkling Shostakovitch music, performed on a bare stage in golden light. The central pas de deux features the superb Marianela Nunez, (who brings uniquely touching qualities to everything she does), partnered by Rupert Pennefather: it is 'out of this world' and one of the most beautiful things Macmillan created. All the dancers are seen to advantage in this sharp, positive and stimulating work, and this glowing ballet is stunning in blu-ray!
"The Judas Tree" is probably Macmillan's most disturbing and challenging piece: a one-act ballet which includes gang-rape, betrayal and murder, it also has the overtones of a religious allegory. Dance couldn't get darker, this is not a ballet to suit every viewer (and this must be the first ballet-dvd to have a Content Warning on the box!), but the dramatic choreography is astonishing. The cast, in particular Leanne Benjamin, perform this brave and intensely thought-provoking work marvellously. It greatly repays watching several times.
Rounding off the programme is Macmillan's fabulous "Elite Syncopations", an all-out send-up, it's an on-stage party danced to jazzy ragtime, requiring a variety of skills from the whole cast. The dancers wear zany bodystockings plus crazy hats, and there is an edge to this colourful entertainment: it's saucy and subversive. The wicked 'Tall Girl/Short Boy' skit, MUST be the most hilarious turn currently on any ballet stage anywhere!
"Concerto" is a plotless piece to sparkling Shostakovitch music, performed on a bare stage in golden light. The central pas de deux features the superb Marianela Nunez, (who brings uniquely touching qualities to everything she does), partnered by Rupert Pennefather: it is 'out of this world' and one of the most beautiful things Macmillan created. All the dancers are seen to advantage in this sharp, positive and stimulating work, and this glowing ballet is stunning in blu-ray!
"The Judas Tree" is probably Macmillan's most disturbing and challenging piece: a one-act ballet which includes gang-rape, betrayal and murder, it also has the overtones of a religious allegory. Dance couldn't get darker, this is not a ballet to suit every viewer (and this must be the first ballet-dvd to have a Content Warning on the box!), but the dramatic choreography is astonishing. The cast, in particular Leanne Benjamin, perform this brave and intensely thought-provoking work marvellously. It greatly repays watching several times.
Rounding off the programme is Macmillan's fabulous "Elite Syncopations", an all-out send-up, it's an on-stage party danced to jazzy ragtime, requiring a variety of skills from the whole cast. The dancers wear zany bodystockings plus crazy hats, and there is an edge to this colourful entertainment: it's saucy and subversive. The wicked 'Tall Girl/Short Boy' skit, MUST be the most hilarious turn currently on any ballet stage anywhere!
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Three half hour works by Kenneth MacMillan, which run the gauntlet from funny, through grim, to relaxed and beautiful.
Elite Syncopations was, we are told in the brief introduction, created as an antidote to his darker, tragic works, and it succeeds very well. A cheery, lightweight piece, beautifully performed and characterised. I particularly liked Iohna Loots as the nice girl, and Sarah Lamb as the sexy starlet displays all her strengths. The duet between Paul Kay as the short boy, and Laura McCullock as his too tall partner is wonderfully funny. (Apologies for the misspelt names, by the way!) The design is witty and colourful, the rag time music performed by an onstage band with verve and enjoyment.
The Judas Tree is a very dark work, which I personally feel goes too far for public performance. Magnificently danced, at one level it is clear that the woman (Leanne Benjamin) has provoked the lusts of the men until she is gang raped, which also leads to her murder (and resurrection), the murder of a friend and a suicide. Outside that, however, it is intrigingly unclear. Is the woman real? Or does she represent, for example, lust? Is the piece about the need to control male sexuality, in other words, a new take on the old sex equals death theme? And exactly who has betrayed exactly what? Dark designs also intrigue, and the music, which I believe was specially composed, complements and supports the action. I shall be watching the piece again, trying to work out what it is really about, and also for the excellent performances, with various dancers exploring the dark side of masculinity, but not for evening relaxation, which is how I tend to use ballet DVDs, even the classic tragedies.
Concerto I found very beautiful. The coreography is wonderfully fitted to the (great)music, and there is no plot to distract from the sound and movement. The design is simple and calm, elegant and abstract, part of the work which is not always the case with some of the classics. I was slightly uncertain about the quality of Helen Chadwick as the solo girl, but I'm no expert on the technicalities of dance, and I often find a performance by an unfamiliar artist grows on me. Otherwise, it's gorgeous.
I thought this was a very well balanced triple bill from a top ballet company, great music and which I'd recommend to any adult (not children, not with the Judas Tree on the disc) who wants to stretch their knowledge of ballet beyond the classics.
Elite Syncopations was, we are told in the brief introduction, created as an antidote to his darker, tragic works, and it succeeds very well. A cheery, lightweight piece, beautifully performed and characterised. I particularly liked Iohna Loots as the nice girl, and Sarah Lamb as the sexy starlet displays all her strengths. The duet between Paul Kay as the short boy, and Laura McCullock as his too tall partner is wonderfully funny. (Apologies for the misspelt names, by the way!) The design is witty and colourful, the rag time music performed by an onstage band with verve and enjoyment.
The Judas Tree is a very dark work, which I personally feel goes too far for public performance. Magnificently danced, at one level it is clear that the woman (Leanne Benjamin) has provoked the lusts of the men until she is gang raped, which also leads to her murder (and resurrection), the murder of a friend and a suicide. Outside that, however, it is intrigingly unclear. Is the woman real? Or does she represent, for example, lust? Is the piece about the need to control male sexuality, in other words, a new take on the old sex equals death theme? And exactly who has betrayed exactly what? Dark designs also intrigue, and the music, which I believe was specially composed, complements and supports the action. I shall be watching the piece again, trying to work out what it is really about, and also for the excellent performances, with various dancers exploring the dark side of masculinity, but not for evening relaxation, which is how I tend to use ballet DVDs, even the classic tragedies.
Concerto I found very beautiful. The coreography is wonderfully fitted to the (great)music, and there is no plot to distract from the sound and movement. The design is simple and calm, elegant and abstract, part of the work which is not always the case with some of the classics. I was slightly uncertain about the quality of Helen Chadwick as the solo girl, but I'm no expert on the technicalities of dance, and I often find a performance by an unfamiliar artist grows on me. Otherwise, it's gorgeous.
I thought this was a very well balanced triple bill from a top ballet company, great music and which I'd recommend to any adult (not children, not with the Judas Tree on the disc) who wants to stretch their knowledge of ballet beyond the classics.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If you are a lover of Ballet then this is a wonderful Triple Bill. It would be worth buying for the first ballet alone. Elite Syncopations is one of the most delightful,and happy ballets ever coreographed. I have watched it several times and all the way through have a smile on my face and even laugh out loud on occasions. The dancing is superb and the Scott Joplin music exquisitely played.
The second ballet is very dark and quite difficult to watch because of the story and I would strongly recommend that it not be shown to young children. But the dancing again is superb.
The third ballet is Concerto, with no story, just pure dance, which again is a delight and beautifully danced. The Royal Ballet and Corps de Ballet have outsone themselves and I urge all lovers of dance to buy this DVD.
The second ballet is very dark and quite difficult to watch because of the story and I would strongly recommend that it not be shown to young children. But the dancing again is superb.
The third ballet is Concerto, with no story, just pure dance, which again is a delight and beautifully danced. The Royal Ballet and Corps de Ballet have outsone themselves and I urge all lovers of dance to buy this DVD.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Triple Bill to Treasure
As usual the Royal Ballet were superb.
Elite Syncopations is a lovely piece, two moments which stood out to me particularly were Iohna Loots and Liam Scarlett as the... Read more
Elite Syncopations is a lovely piece, two moments which stood out to me particularly were Iohna Loots and Liam Scarlett as the... Read more
Published 2 days ago by Shmendrick
Recommended for two of the three items
Firstly I must confess that I have not viewed The Judas Tree as I, perhaps wrongly, instinctively feel that the content of the ballet is not to my taste so my grade and comments... Read more
Published 5 months ago by I. Giles
Amazing, if you enjoy contemporary dance
Having seen this production and attended this particular recorded performance, it brought it all back. The contrasting works in this programme make it compelling viewing. Read more
Published 10 months ago by lindyloo48
THREE SHORT BALLETS
THE DVD APPEARED SHORTLY AFTER THE TELEVISION BROADCAST.
THIS GEM BY MACMILLAN IS A DELIGHTFUL ADDITION TO MY BALLET LIBRARY
THIS GEM BY MACMILLAN IS A DELIGHTFUL ADDITION TO MY BALLET LIBRARY
Published 18 months ago by MICHAEL KELLEY
Ballet with a warning ?
What can one say?this is a DVD containing three short Ballets,and I get the feeling that whichever way you look at it everybody is catered for with the three here under... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Roger Smith
Variety from Covent Garden
Saw this from Orchestral Stalls with same cast. The DVD is a great reminder of an enjoyable evening - Lacks only the great hospitality the Royal Opera House gave me. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Arthur Wyatt
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