Excellent…a rolling mass of desire, repression and duplicity FINANCIAL TIMES "This fresh, insightful version of a morally murky play finds the RSC on flying form" MAIL ON SUNDAY When a young novice nun is compromised by a corrupt official, who offers to save her brother from execution in return for sex, she has no idea where to turn for help. When she threatens to expose him, he tells her that no one would believe her. Shakespeare wrote this play in the early 1600s, yet it remains astonishingly resonant today. Artistic Director Gregory Doran directs this new production of Shakespeare’s astonishingly resonant work.

Britain is in crisis. Alienated, insular and on the brink of disaster. Can it be saved? An ineffectual Queen Cymbeline rules over a divided dystopian Britain. Consumed with grief at the death of two of her children, Cymbeline's judgement is clouded. When Innogen, the only living heir, marries her sweetheart Posthumus in secret, an enraged Cymbeline banishes him. Behind the throne, a power-hungry figure plots to seize power by murdering them both. In exile, Innogen's husband is tricked into believing she has been unfaithful to him and, in an act of impulsive jealousy, begins a scheme to have her murdered. Warned of the danger, Innogen runs away from court in disguise and begins a journey fraught with danger that will eventually reunite Cymbeline with a longlost heir and reconcile the young lovers. "Still handles the comedy very well, though, and draws some lovely performances from her cast. Bethan Cullinane makes a brave, determined, sweetly funny Innogen: moving in her silent shock at her husband's accusation of infidelity. Marcus Griffiths is a wonderfully bombastic and ridiculous Cloten and his attempts to woo Innogen through song are hilarious." (The Financial Times) "It's the strength of the performances that really make this production, and the cast's ability to draw out the underlying humour in every situation goes a long way to negating the flaws in the original text. Oliver Johnstone is brilliant as the suave, silver-tongued Iachimo, strutting about the stage and wearing all of his sexual potency on his sleeve. Some of the best scenes come when he focuses his scheming charm on the faithful Innogen, skilfully played by Bethan Cullinane. Marcus Griffith also manages to find much comic absurdity in the overblown ego of the otherwise contemptible Cloten. But these are compelling performances among many. It may not be one of the best-loved of the Bard's canon, but this production is full of passion and humour, and is riotous fun." (The Radio Times) "Comes straight from the heart... It's unafraid of emotion and boasts fine performances... This is an evening that belongs to the Director... Shakespeare's derided experimental romance has the capacity to touch the heart... Bethan Cullinane's Innogen moved me deeply..." (The Guardian)

Peter Wright’s timeless and enchanting interpretation of The Nutcracker has been in The Royal Ballet’s repertory for over thirty years. Presented in a festive period setting, this charming and magical production features Marianela Nuñez as the exquisite Sugar Plum Fairy and Vadim Muntagirov as her charming Prince. Vivid designs and spellbinding stage effects which include authentic Christmas tree decorations that magically come to life, and Tchaikovsky’s sumptuous, iconic score combine to create the quintessential Christmas ballet – an opulent treat for the senses for audiences of all ages. This production is filmed in High Definition and recorded in true Surround Sound.

Also available on Blu-ray



TCHAIKOVSKY Nutcracker & • Martin West, cond; Damian Smith ( Drosselmeyer ); Elizabeth Powell ( Clara ); Davit Karapetyan ( Nutcracker ); David Arce ( Mouse King ); Yuan Yuan Tan ( Snow Queen ); Pierre-François Vilanoba ( Snow King ); Vanessa Zahorian ( Sugar Plum Fairy ); Maria Kochetkova ( Grand pas de deux ); San Francisco Ballet O • BBC/OPUS ARTE 1002 (DVD: 132: 00) Live: San Francisco 12/19–20/2007


& Illustrated synopsis, cast gallery, artists interviews, documentary on 1915 World’s Fair


This is a wonderful production of Nutcracker , although it must be noted that it is not strictly traditional. The time and location have been shifted to 1915 San Francisco. The second act, usually located in The Kingdom of Sweets (or Candy Land, or Land of the Sugar Plum Fairy) has been placed in a pavilion at the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition. The act I setting in a Victorian “painted lady” and Edwardian costumes are still remote enough from today that the production retains a period flavor.


The first act is fairly faithful to the traditional story line: Christmas party, magical happenings at midnight, battle between soldiers and mice, ending with the “Waltz of the Snowflakes.” Instead of immobilizing the Mouse King by throwing her shoe, Clara distracts him and he steps into a large mousetrap. Clara and the Nutcracker travel to the Land of Snow in a glittering sleigh pulled by four horses with ingenious heads reminiscent of costumes from Equus . There is a spectacular snowfall during the “Waltz of the Snowflakes.” Throughout the act are many ingenious and effective special effects.


The second act, relocated to a pavilion at the Fair (identified as The Pavilion of Dreams), has many clever touches. Fitting with an international exposition, representatives from various countries arrive. A genie emerges from a large Aladdin’s lamp in the “Arabian Dance”; the Russian dancers leap out of giant Fabergé eggs, and Mother Ginger is transformed into Madame du Cirque whose copious gown is a large, festive three-ring circus tent from which emerges a dancing bear. The young Clara steps into a mirrored chamber and emerges as an adult to dance the pas de deux and variations usually assigned to the Sugar Plum Fairy and her prince. This is a first-class production with brilliant dancing, imaginative special effects, colorful costumes, and attractive scenery. Like many other productions of Nutcracker , the choreographer grounds the story line in reality by letting us know that all the fantastic happenings are merely Clara’s dream. For me, at least, that spoils the magic; it’s much more fun to pretend all the amazing events that begin at midnight really do happen. Telling us it was “just a dream” is like coming on stage after a magician has finished his act and announcing, “It’s an illusion, folks. The lady wasn’t sawn in half.” Do we really want a pin stuck in our balloon?


This San Francisco Nutcracker is on a par with Royal Ballet (their newer video from 2000 with Anthony Dowell’s incomparable Drosselmeyer), the Balanchine (with unnecessary interpolations and narration), and The Hard Nut , a clever, updated Nutcracker by Mark Morris. There are a plethora of Nutcracker videos; I’ve seen about a dozen of them. All have good and weak points, many dependent on the viewer’s likes and dislikes, but I would recommend the Royal Ballet, Balanchine, The Hard Nut (noting that it is significantly untraditional), and this San Francisco for serious consideration as first choices. All of the Nutcracker s that I’ve seen on video are, for lack of a better term, over-filmed, including this San Francisco. The image relentlessly shifts between cameras every second or two, there are many close-ups highlighting details that often aren’t important, pans, and dissolves that temporarily blur both images. Choreographer Helgi Tomasson has provided plenty of movement; we don’t need artificial action created by excessive editing. I sincerely hope that any of you who watch this video aren’t as bothered by the film direction as I was; the San Francisco Nutcracker deserves to be seen.


The bonus features, except for the First Republic Bank ad, are very interesting. Helgi Tomasson (choreographer, artistic director), Michael Yeargan (scenic designer), and Martin Pakledinaz (costume designer) in three separate interviews discuss their roles in creating the production. A separate track is devoted to the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exhibition with many historic photos. I wish the Cast Gallery or the booklet had included biographies of the principal dancers.


The picture is 16/9 anamorphic (wide screen), the sound formats are LPCM stereo and digital surround. Subtitles for the documentaries are in French, German, Spanish, and Italian.


FANFARE: David L. Kirk


Uncle Drosselmeyer: Damian Smith
Clara: Elizabeth Powell
The Nutcracker Prince: Davit Karapetyan
King of the Mice: David Arce
Queen of Snow: Yuan Yuan Tan
King of Snow: Pierre-François Vilanoba
Sugar Plum Fairy: Vanessa Zahorian

REGIONS: All
PICTURE FORMAT: 16:9
SOUND: DTS SURROUND 5.0 / LPCM 2.0 STEREO
SUBTITLES: French, German, Spanish, Italian

Jean-Christophe Maillot’s inspired adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew won 3 Masques d’Ors (best choreographic show, best male dancer (Petruchio) and best female dancer (Katherine) and has toured the world to great acclaim since it was created for the Bolshoi in 2013. Now Maillot’s own Monte Carlo Ballet bring this “funny, fast-witted version” (The Guardian) to the screen, with a fresh and witty re-interpretation of the combative relationship between Katherine and Petruchio as they fight to find true love. Set against an inspired selection of some of Shostakovich’s most memorable music, this is one the finest “Shakespeare ballets” and not to be missed. "The Taming of the Shrew conveys the idea that there’s someone for everyone, irrespective of who or what you are. Who can judge a relationship with an outside eye? Love works in mysterious ways, and it isn’t for us to question it." (Jean-Christophe Maillot).

William Shakespeare
COMEDY, ROMANCE, TRAGEDY
(4 DVD Box Set)

Shakespeare's Globe productions of As You Like It, Love's Labour's Lost and Romeo & Juliet are offered in this exclusive limited edition box set.

Thea Sharrock’s irresistible new production of Shakespeare’s popular romantic comedy As You Like It stirs wit, sentiment, intrigue and love into a charming confection which challenges the traditional rules of romance.

Using every kind of verbal gymnastics to poke fun, Shakespeare’s most intellectual comedy Love’s Labour’s Lost is brought to hilarious life in Dominic Dromgoole’s highly entertaining production, rich in visual humour and sexual innuendo. Dominic Dromgoole’s production of Romeo & Juliet brings refreshing clarity to one of Shakespeare’s most famous and best-loved tragedies. Ellie Kendrick, a truly youthful Juliet, and Adetomiwa Edun, a boyish Romeo, head an excellent cast whose period costumes point to the timelessness of parental disapproval, adolescent temperament, rivalry and violence.

As You Like It

Duke Frederick – Brendon Hughes
Orlando – Jack Laskey
Adam – Trevor Martin
Oliver – Jamie Parker
Rosalind – Naomi Frederick
Celia – Laura Rogers
Touchstone – Dominic Rowan
Le Beau / William – Gregory Gudgeon
Charles / Corin – Sean Kearns
Duke Senior – Philip Bird
Amiens / Sir Oliver Martext – Peter Gale
Silvius – Michael Benz
Jaques –Tim McMullan
Audrey – Sophie Duval
Phebe – Jade Williams
Hymen – Ewart James Walters

Thea Sharrock, director
Dick Bird, design
Fin Walker, choreographer
Music composed by Stephen Warbeck

Recorded live at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London, October 2009.

Love's Labour's Lost

King of Navarre – Philip Cumbus
Berowne – Trystan Gravelle
Longaville – William Mannering
Dumaine – Jack Farthing
Princess of France – Michelle Terry
Rosaline – Thomasin Rand
Maria – Jade Anouka
Katharine – Siân Robins-Grace
Boyet – Tom Stuart
Don Armado – Paul Ready
Moth – Seroca Davis
Holofernes – Christopher Godwin
Sir Nathanial – Patrick Godfrey
Dull – Andrew Vincent
Costard – Fergal McElherron
Jaquenetta – Rhiannon Oliver
Mercadé – James Lailey

Dominic Dromgoole, stage director
Jonathan Fensom – design
Music composed by Claire van Kampen

Recorded live at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London, October 2009.

Romeo and Juliet

Prince Escalus – Andrew Vincent
Mercutio – Philip Cumbus
Paris – Tom Stuart
Montague – Michael O'Hagan
Lady Montague – Holly Atkins
Romeo – Adetomiwa Edun
Benvolio – Jack Farthing
Abraham / Apothecary – Graham Vick
Balthazar / Peter / Gregory – Fergal McElherron
Capulet – Ian Redford
Lady Capulet – Miranda Foster
Juliet – Ellie Kendrick
Tybalt – Ukweli Roach
Nurse – Penny Layden
Friar John / Sampson – James Lailey
Friar Lawrence – Rawiri Paratene

Dominic Dromgoole, director
Simon Daw, design
Sian Williams, choreographer
Music composed by Nigel Hess

Recorded live at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London, August 2009.

Bonus:
- Cast gallery
- Famous speeches

Picture format: NTSC 16:9 Anamorphic
Sound format: LPCM 2.0 / DTS 5.1
Region code: 0 (worldwide)
Menu language: English
Subtitles: English
Running time: 8 hours 5 mins
No. of DVDs: 4 (DVD9)

Following Caesar’s assassination, Mark Antony has reached the heights of power. Now he has neglected his empire for a life of decadent seduction with his mistress, Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. Torn between love and duty, Antony’s military brilliance deserts him, and his passion leads the lovers to their tragic end. This production by the Royal Shakespeare Company, featuring Josette Simon as Cleopatra and Antony Byrne as mark Antony and directed by Iqbal Khan, was greatly praised by critics. “Richly textured, with big saucy acting.” (Daily Mail) “This Antony & Cleopatra is the best I’ve ever seen.” (Evening Standard) Extra features include interviews with Josette Simon, Antony Byrne & Ben Allen, and Laura Mvula's commentary, "Making music for the stage." Director Iqbal Khan also gives commentary.

Virtuoso percussionist Evelyn Glennie collaborates with RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran to create a satirical futuristic vision of a world resounding with the rhythm of battle, a form of incidental music suited to this Shakespearean rarity.

“Lechery, lechery, still wars and lechery: nothing else holds fashion.” Love, rivalry and war are a-plenty in this new production. Troilus and Cressida swear they will always be true to one another. But in the seventh year of the siege of Troy their innocence is tested, and exposed to the savage corrupting influence of war, with tragic consequences. “Sweeping and confident production of Shakespeare’s rarely performed tragedy.” (The Standard)

REVIEWS:

Adjoa Andoh memorably brings out the manipulative monstrosity behind Ulysses’s beguiling rhetoric, literally loading the dice when it comes to the choice of a Greek champion to fight Hector. Oliver Ford Davies is a classic Pandarus, brimming over with senile prurience so that even a line such as “I’ll go get a fire” gains a lurking suggestiveness. The central lovers are also well played, with Amber James’s spryly intelligent Cressida provoked beyond endurance by the naive insistence of Gavin Fowler’s Troilus on her fidelity.

-- The Guardian

“Something wicked this way comes…” Returning home from battle, the victorious Macbeth meets three witches on the heath. Driven by their disturbing prophecies, he sets out on the path to murder. This contemporary production of Shakespeare’s darkest psychological thriller marks both Christopher Eccleston’s RSC debut and the return of Niamh Cusack to the Company. This recording was produced live from Stratford-Upon-Avon. "Christopher Eccleston and Niamh Cusack make a gripping central couple." (The Stage 5 Stars) "Urgent and wonderfully sinister." (Evening Standard 4 Stars)

“A landmark production as women take charge,” (Evening Standard) In a reimagined 1590, society is a matriarchy. Baptista Minola is seeking to sell off her son Katherine to the highest bidder. Cue an explosive battle of the sexes in this electrically charged love story. Shakespeare’s fierce, energetic comedy of gender and materialism is turned on its head to offer a fresh perspective on its portrayal of hierarchy and power, directed by Justin Audibert. “Bonkers but… brilliant.” (The Sunday Times)

This Blu-ray Disc is only playable on Blu-ray Disc players and not compatible with standard DVD players.

Also available on standard DVD
Caius Martius Coriolanus is a fearless soldier but a reluctant leader. His ambitious mother attempts to carve him a path to political power, but he struggles to change his nature and do what is required to achieve greatness. In this new city state struggling to find its feet, where the gap between rich and poor is widening every day, Coriolanus must decide who he really is and where his allegiances lie. This is one of Shakespeare's most overtly political plays, the modern dress setting for Angus Jackson's production emphasizes the contemporary relevance of the themes explored in ‘Coriolanus’. This release completes the RSC’s tetralogy of Shakespeare’s Roman plays ‘Julius Caesar’, ‘Titus Andronicus’ and ‘Antony and Cleopatra’, all released by Opus Arte earlier this year. ‘‘As the culmination of an ambitious, thoughtfully realized season of some of Shakespeare's less popular works, it solidly earns its place in the RSC's Roman canon.’’ (Whatsonstage) ‘‘It's a production that's built around artful clashes of violence and elegance.’’ (Time Out) ‘‘Coriolanus is an illuminating study of extremes and intransigence on both sides of the political divide. It’s a hefty, occasionally unwieldy, beast of a play, but Angus Jackson’s modern-dress production steers a clear line through, pinpointing key moments. ’’ (The Evening Standard)

Falstaff
Sir John Falstaff - Bryn Terfel
Ford - Roberto Frontali
Fenton - Kenneth Tarver
Dr Caius - Robin Leggate
Bardolph - Peter Hoare
Pistol - Gwynne Howell
Alice Ford - Barbara Frittoli
Nannetta - Desirée Rancatore
The Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House
Bernard Haitink, Conductor
Graham Vick, Stage Director

Il trovatore
Manrico - José Cura
Count di Luna - Dmitri Hvorostovsky
Leonora - Verónica Villarroel
Azucena - Yvonne Naef
Ferrando - Tómas Tómasson
Ines - Gweneth-Ann Jeffers
Old gypsy - Thomas Barnard
The Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House
Carlo Rizzi, Conductor
Elijah Moshinsky, Stage Director

Rigoletto
Duke of Mantua - Marcelo Alvarez
Matteo Borsa - Peter Auty
Count Ceprano - Graeme Broadbent
Countess Ceprano - Dervla Ramsay
Rigoletto - Paolo Gavanelli
Marullo - Quentin Hayes
Sparafucile - Eric Halfvarson
Gilda - Christine Schäfer
The Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House
Edward Downes, Conductor
David McVicar, Stage Director

Extras:
Each opera has an illustrated synopsis, various documentaries and interviews with members of the creative team

Picture format: NTSC 16:9 Anamorphic
Sound format: Dolby Surround / Dolby Stereo
Region code: 0 (All Regions)
Menu Language: English
Subtitles: English
Running time: 8 hours 15 minutes
No. of DVDs: 3

Also available on Blu-ray

Scottish Ballet’s 50th anniversary year came to a spectacular close with the world premiere of The Snow Queen. This glittering new production is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s much-loved tale – which was also the basis for Frozen. It is set to the music of Rimsky-Korsakov, performed live by the full Scottish Ballet Orchestra. From the bustle of a winter’s market to the shivers of a fairytale forest, take a journey to the Snow Queen’s icy palace. Along the way you’ll meet a colorful cast of characters, from young lovers parted by a spell to a circus ringmaster with a few tricks up his sleeve. This glittering production is sure to delight the whole family. “Scottish Ballet’s Christmas present to us all... a truly memorable high.” (The Glasgow Herald)

This Blu-ray Disc is only playable on Blu-ray Disc players and not compatible with standard DVD players.

Also available on standard DVD
This incredible box set presents the best of Russian opera. Included in the set are Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov, Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin and Pique Dame, Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh, and Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. Recorded in renowned opera houses such as Teatro Regio, Torino, and De Nederlandse Opera, these performances are not to be missed.

Sound Format: 2.0LPCM + 5.1(5.0) DTS
Subtitles: EN, FR, DE, IT, ES, NE
Running Time: 919 mins

This new audio release features the music and speeches from the 2017 Royal Shakespeare Company production of Antony and Cleopatra, directed by Iqbal Khan. The music is presented by Laura Mvula. Also included is the music from the 1953 Shakespeare Memorial Theatre production by Antony Hopkins. Following Caesar’s assassination, Mark Antony has reached the heights of power. Now he has neglected his empire for a life of decadent seduction with his mistress, Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. Torn between love and duty, Antony’s military brilliance deserts him, and his passion leads the lovers to their tragic end. This production by the Royal Shakespeare Company, featuring Josette Simon as Cleopatra and Antony Byrne as mark Antony and directed by Iqbal Khan, was greatly praised by critics. “Richly textured, with big saucy acting.” (Daily Mail) “This Antony & Cleopatra is the best I’ve ever seen.” (Evening Standard)