Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (DVD) – Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gelsey Kirkland

Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Artists: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gelsey Kirkland, Alexander Minz, American Ballet Theatre, National Philharmonic Orchestra
Choreographer: Mikhail Baryshnikov
Conductor: Kenneth Schermerhorn
Director: Tony Charmoli
Video Format: NTSC 4:3
Audio Format: Dolby Digital 5.1 / Dolby 2.0
Region: All Regions
Number of Discs: 1
Studio: Kultur
Release Date: September 28, 2004
Run Time: 78 minutes

Mikhail Baryshnikov’s breathtaking and critically acclaimed Emmy-nominated production. This spectacular performance is danced by the magnificent team of Baryshnikov, one of the greatest classical dancers of the 20th century, and Gelsey Kirkland, both showcased at the peak of their careers, with members of the American Ballet Theatre.

The Nutcracker is the magical and lighthearted story of a small girl’s dream on Christmas Eve. Baryshnikov is the toy Nutcracker-turned-prince in this exhilarating production that marked his initial and universally acclaimed choreographic effort. The magical aspects will delight children, while the spectacular sets and performances will enchant and delight the child in all of us.

Celebrated by critics and public alike when it aired in 1977 on public television, the production delivers a brilliant and sparkling adaptation of the famous E.T.A. Hoffman tale along with Tchaikovsky’s classic score. The athleticism and precision of Baryshnikov’s solo variations will make you gasp and take your breath away. A holiday perennial, this production is a remarkable treasure to be enjoyed by generations to come.

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