Greatest Ballets of the World The Nutcracker Romeo and Juliet Sleeping Beauty Swan Lake

Four of the most legendary ballets in the world spring to life with these performances that carry the art of dance to sheer perfection! The Sleeping BeautyWith its perfect fusion of music and choreographic ideas, The Sleeping Beauty is the quintessential romantic ballet, and it finds its spiritual home preserved in the outstanding classic traditions of the Kirov Ballet. The stylish grandeur of choreographer and artistic director Oleg Vinogradov's production shows the entire company at its best. The highest tradition in dance continues with Larissa Lezhnina, one of Kirov's brightest new talents, brilliant as Princess Aurora, and Farukh Ruzimatov's performance in the role of Prince Desire demonstrates both power and grace. Swan Lake Evelyn Hart and Peter Schaufuss dance the leading roles in Natalia Makarova's production of the much-loved ballet classic. Her innovative interpretation presents a tale of ideal and eternal love, paring it down to Siegfried and Odette's love for one another. The Nutcracker: The showman of twentieth-century dance, Maurice Bejart presents his unique version of the well-loved Christmas ballet "The Nutcracker." Using Tchaikovsky's score in its entirety, Bejart takes the story as a springboard from which to evoke the memories, emotions and feelings of his own life's journey from a Marseille childhood. Recorded live at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. Romeo and Juliet: Angelin Preljocaj's startling choreography of Shakespeare's tragic star-crossed lovers, set to Sergei Prokofiev's powerful score, is performed by the Lyon Opera Ballet, widely acclaimed for their stylish and innovative productions. The contrast between the ballet's cold environment and the lovers' heated encounters is beautifully realized in supple and imaginative duets danced by Pascale Doye and Nicolas Dufloux