Product Details

• Actors: Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Simon Jeffes, The Royal Ballet
• Format: Classical, Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (PCM Stereo)
• Subtitles: German, Spanish, French
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Arthaus Musik
• DVD Release Date: January 29, 2008
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000Y351ZC
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,774 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • #10 in Music > Classical > Ballets & Dances > Historical Periods > Modern & 20th Century

Editorial Reviews

The Times

The most cheerful and amusing new ballet at Covent Garden for well over a decade.

Product Description

The Penguin Cafe Orchestra Directed by Andrew Harries Under its leader and composer Simon Jeffes, this ensemble has been making its own idiosyncratic brand of music since the mid-1970s, drawing on classical and avant-garde sources, as well as pop, folk and ethnic forms, with instruments ranging from the piano, cello, violin and drums, to the ukelele, electric guitar and penny whistle. A studio recording of performances by the PCO is punctuated with interviews in which they discuss their original and eclectic style. This programme celebrates the music of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra which, in the words of Simon Jeffes caters for an audience "capable of enjoying Wilson Pickett, Beethoven, the Rolling Stones, choral music from West Africa, Bach, Stravinksy, Irish bagpipe music and even Abba on the odd occasion".

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, melodic, enjoyable ballet, April 6, 2008

By 

noleander - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Penguin Cafe Orchestra [DVD Video] (DVD)

I've been a fan of this ballet for years, ever since seeing it on A&E channel about 15 years ago. For a long time, it has been available only on VHS or LaserDisc. Finally, it is availble on DVD. The video quality is not perfect, because it is just a copy of the 1988 tape, but it is good enough ... just dont expect HD quality.

The music is tuneful, fun, foot-tapping. The ballet is not too long (44 minutes?). The costumes are fantastic. The dancing is great, the environmental message is understated.

Simply stated, this is one of the best dance pieces ever created, and it deserves wider attention.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime & Meaningful Experience, May 30, 2010

By 

Robert Elden - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Penguin Cafe Orchestra [DVD Video] (DVD)

Let me start out by saying that I think the title of the DVD should more strongly emphasize the Royal Ballet performance of "Still Life at the Penguin Cafe," which is what my review is about. I believe that any ecologically concerned person should have this DVD Video in their collection. It not only carries a very meaningful message, it does so in the most sublime and artistic manner. The music is quite catchy and the dancing is of the highest caliber, as you would expect from the Royal Ballet. I had the wonderful experience of seeing a live performance of this magical ballet when it first premiered at the Metropolitan Opera House many years ago (the early '90s)and I was so impressed that I immediately purchased a LaserDisc (the only quality video format available at that time) of the same performance that is now on this DVD. You can imagine my delight when I happened on this DVD while browsing on the net. Highly recommended, primarily and especially for the ballet.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great to have it on DVD, March 20, 2008

By 

Tony Mortlock (S.E. Asia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Penguin Cafe Orchestra [DVD Video] (DVD)

I reviewed this a few years ago under the VHS section even though my copy was on lazer disc. The content of this DVD is easily worth 5 stars, unfortunately the video quality is not as great as I had hoped it would be on a DVD release - But I would never want to be without this magnificent work in my collection.