Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Barenboim, Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin
It's easy to see whyThe Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky's perennially  popular ballet first performed in 1892, has such enduring appeal. As Patrice  Bart's 1999 production shows, it is always beautiful to look at, lending itself  to the Christmas season where it has a permanent place in the schedules of the  major dance companies. And Hoffmann's tale of the troubled child who must go on  a wonderful (and occasionally terrifying) journey of discovery has a universal  and timeless appeal.Bart's production for the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin builds on  Petipa's original choreography and develops the context of the child Marie's  (Nadja Saidakova) anxiety into a strong narrative. The godfather Drosselmeyer  (Oliver Matz) is initially a sinister figure, forcing her to confront past  events (the familiar mouse-soldier battle music is used instead as a prologue in  which Marie's mother is abducted by Russian revolutionaries) before leading her  into the glittering land of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Here, all expectations are  exceeded. The familiarity of Tchaikovsky's intricately woven themes works in  total harmony with sumptuous production values. The dancing is sublime. As the  Prince, Vladimir Malakhov evokes the spirit of a young Nureyev. His pas de deux  with the Sugar Plum Fairy should challenge even the most cynical tear ducts. Sit  back, share thefrissonof anticipation as Daniel Barenboim enters the  conductor's box, and let the whole experience engulf you.There are no DVD extras. In addition to the 16:9 picture format, which enhances  the authentic theatrical atmosphere, the Dolby Digital 5.1 sound helps make thisNutcrackeran aural feast. Under Barenboim's masterful control, the  orchestra draws you into the heart of the music. Booklet notes provide  historical background as well as performer biographies, but a more complete cast  list would have been useful.--Piers Ford, Amazon.co.uk