La Fille Mal Gardée: Royal Ballet [DVD]

A classic of The Royal Ballet, La Fille mal gardée was an immediate hit with the British public. Choreographed by Frederick Ashton in 1960, it is a highly lyrical and technically demanding take on the simple tale of ‘love prevailing’ which underpins this charming story. It was created by French ballet master Jean Dauberval and was first danced in 1789. This 2015 revival is a ‘company triumph’ (Independent), with principals Natalia Osipova and Steven McRae creating terrific onstage chemistry and delivering outstanding solo performances – Osipova as a ‘perky and gamine Lise’ with ‘pin-drop precise’ phrasing (Guardian), and McRae an instantly likeable, playful Colas whose physical articulation is ‘particularly Ashtonian’ in quality (Daily Telegraph). They are joined by Philip Mosley as Widow Simone, who brings ‘music-hall gusto’ (Independent) to the famous clog dance of Act I. Filmed in High Definition and recorded in true Surround Sound. Press Reviews "... no other work of art bestows quite the same rush of sheer happiness. Steven McRae is a likable Colas, Natalia Osipova a perky and gamine Lise." (The Guardian ) "[Osipova] defies gravity more completely and more serenely than any other ballerina I have ever seen. Technically, she is often astounding. For McRae's Colas, though occasionally a touch flashy, is wonderful. Like Osipova, he is a particularly virtuosic “aerial” dancer – his astonishing box-splits in the bottle dance a case in point. But there is a particularly Ashtonian quality about his physical articulation here (especially his sublime footwork), as well as a playfulness that is just right. [Paul Kay] once again pulls off the fiendishly difficult trick of being at once musical, maladroit, athletic, hilarious and (crucially) lovable – his double, tremulous ascent of the stairs at the climax is close to poetry – in a reading of the part that is an unalloyed pleasure throughout and now looks very close to definitive. " (The Daily Telegraph ) Cast Natalia Osipova (Lise) Steven McRae (Colas) Philip Mosley (Widow Simone) Paul Kay (Alain) Christopher Saunders (Thomas) Michael Stojko (Cockerel) Francesca Hayward; Meaghan Grace Hinkis; Gemma Pitchley-Gale; Leticia Stock (Hens) Gary Avis (Village Notary) Orchestra of the Royal Opera House; Barry Wordsworth Designer: Osbert Lancaster Choreographer: Frederick Ashton Catalogue Number: OA1196D Date of Performance: 2015 Running Time: 110 minutes Sound: LPCM & DTS 5.1 Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Anamorphic Label: Opus Arte