"Actor: Manuel Legris"

• Proust, Ou Les Intermittences Du Coeur | DVD | (03/03/2008) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £22.99

• Sleeping Beauty | DVD | (07/11/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

  When Rudolf Nureyev created a new version of The Sleeping Beauty for the Paris Opera Ballet in 1989, Tchaikovsky's richest, most gem-studded score was about to celebrate its 100th birthday. He made some modifications to the original score and stagings, but basically took Marius Petipa's choreography and polished it with the greatest of respect for what he dubbed "the ballet of ballets". Ten years later, the Opera Bastille adopted his version in a sumptuous new production, and what a sensory experience it turns out to be. For one thing, the brilliance of the classical sets and costumes fills the huge stage of the Opera Bastille with extravagant glamour. For another, the quality of the dancing is superb at every level. Aurélie Dupont as Princess Aurore and Manuel Legris as her Prince Désiré trigger sublime romance in their ultimate pas de deux. Other highlights include Nathalie Aubin's sinuously evil Carabosse, finally managing to deliver the fateful needle in a bunch of flowers before meeting her match in the Lilac Fairy, and the parade of fairy-tale characters in Act III. This is a connoisseur's production, true. It celebrates one of the greatest classical ballets and the genius of one of the greatest dancers. But it is also a superb entertainment, certain to generate a festive thrill in the chilliest of hearts. On the DVD: Excellent sound quality (Dolby Digital 2.0) and the 16:9 picture format do proper justice to the sweeping, theatrical scale of the production. The disc also includes printable articles on Petipa's and Nureyev's choreography and a link to NVC Arts' Web site. The comprehensive booklet includes explanations of Nureyev's alterations, a brief history of the ballet and a plot synopsis. --Piers Ford

• Rudolf Nureyev's Don Quichotte | DVD | (03/03/2003) from £9.98   |  Saving you £15.01 (150.40%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Don Quichotte, composed by Ludwig Minkus for the Bolshoi in 1869, was relatively unknown in the West until Nureyev's new choreography--which naturally gave him centre stage as Basile--was introduced at the Vienna State Opera in 1966. A later production in 1981 forms the basis for this 2002 success by the Paris Opera. Don Quichotte is in some ways a misnomer for the ballet. Rather than being the dominant character, here the beloved hero of Cervantes' original novel and tilter at windmills is a catalyst for the troublesome events which beset the love story of Basile and Kitri. The dream in which the knight encounters the queen of the dryads becomes a glittering fault in the narrative. But there is no doubting the fluid delights of the pas de deux between Basile (Manual Legris) and Kitri (the enchanting Aurélie Dupont), always literally several steps ahead of their would-be romance spoilers, which rather overshadow the pathos of Jean-Marie Didière's Quichotte. Nureyev's triumph, though, remains the teeming ensemble dances that reaffirm the close marriage between Minkus's score and the unfolding drama, here immeasurably enhanced by Alexandre Beliaev's Goya-esque designs. Ermanno Florio's musical direction keeps the pace light and busy. On the DVD: Don Quichotte is presented in 16:9 video aspect ratio with a choice of stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS (by far the best) soundtracks: the quality is all you'd expect of a standard modern television broadcast, although the subtleties of the theatrical lighting don't always shine through. Extras are limited to previews of other TDK releases. --Piers Ford

• Sylvia - Delibes And Neumeier | DVD | (03/01/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  A performance by the Paris National Opera Company choreographed by John Neumeier. Recorded at the Opera National De Paris in March 2005.

• Notre-Dame De Paris | DVD | (03/04/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Victor Hugo's beautiful story of love and death is here transformed into a stunning piece of choreography starring Paris National Opera etoiles Isabelle Guerin and Nicolas Le Riche. The ballet features a score by film composer Maurice Jarre and costumes designed by the legendary Yves Saint Laurent. The ballet created in 1965 at the Paris Opera has frequently been revived. Now thirty-six years later with its clear and incisive language its poetic pas de deux and passionate trios and the staging which makes the crowd scenes so intense Roland Petit's Notre-Dame de Paris has become a modern classic.

• Dancer's Dream - The Great Ballets Of Rudolf Nureyev / Romeo And Juliet | DVD | (07/07/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Rudolf Nureyev's 1984 production of Prokofiev's 'Romeo and Juliet' when he became director of the Paris Opera Ballet

• Dancer's Dream - The Great Ballets Of Rudolf Nureyev / Sleeping Beauty | DVD | (31/05/2004) from £20.23   |  Saving you £-0.24 (-1.20%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Sleeping Beauty

• TDK DVD Ballet And Concert Sampler 2006 | DVD | (30/01/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £4.99

  A compilation of ballet and concert excerpts from the TDK 2006 catalogue.

• Paris Opera Ballet-Seven Ballets | DVD | (15/09/2008) from £13.38   |  Saving you £4.61 (34.45%)   |  RRP £17.99

  This DVD of seven original dances is set to music from acclaimed composers such as Tchaikovsky Sibelius and Grieg choreographed by Norbert Schmucki and Marius Petipa and features the stars of The Paris Opera Ballet the Company known as ""the cradle of classical ballet."" Among the many fine dancers you will discover Sylvie Guillem acclaimed as the most exciting new talent in years; Patrick Dupond the wonder boy of the world dance scene; and Nolla Pontois the epitome of a French ballerina. ""A Triumph..."" - Los Angeles Times Dances: 1. Escamillo - Norbert Schmucki - Spanish Folk 2. Le Petit Pan - Norbert Schmucki - Grieg 3. Bambou (Extract) - Norbert Schmucki - African Folk Music 4. Grande Pas Classique - Marius Petipa - Auber 5. Rixe - Norbert Schmucki - Saint Saens 6. Une Femme - Norbert Schmucki - Sibelius 7. The White Swan (Swan Lake) - Marius Petipa - Tchaikovsky

• Shaolin Collection | DVD | (23/01/2006) from £40.48   |  Saving you £-15.49 (-62.00%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Shaolin Collection 8 Box Set