Product Details

• Actors: Yekaterina Maksimova, Vladimir Vasilev, Vladimir Levashev, Sergei Radchenko
• Directors: Yelena Macheret
• Producers: Dennis Hedlund
• Format: Classical, Color, NTSC
• Language: Russian
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Kultur Video
• VHS Release Date: March 11, 1992
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301170113
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #258,075 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Famed Bolshoi duo Yekaterina Maximova and Vladimir Vasiliev star in this production of Tchaikovsky's beloved ballet, The Nutcracker. Maximova dances the role of Maria, the young girl whose mysterious uncle Drosselmeyer (Victor Levashov) gives her a wooden nutcracker (Vasiliev) for Christmas. When he comes to life, she rescues him from marauding mice and is taken to the Kingdom of Sweets for a series of entertaining divertissements from many nationalities.

This production dates from 1987 and the sets and costumes appear to have been in use since well before then. Audio and video quality are rather crude, especially compared to the stunning DVD productions by Patrice Bart and Maurice Bejart. Bart, however, takes liberties with the story line, and Bejart throws it out altogether. Sometimes, all you need is a traditional version of a family holiday favorite, and if you want traditional, it's hard to beat the Bolshoi. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Phenomenal Dancing Nutcracker, December 27, 2003

By 

rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (DVD)

The dancing here is superb with superstar efforts by the leads Maximova and Vasiliev. The other dancers, particularly those pairs in Act II are excellent as well, particularly the Russian Dance and the Chinese. The uncle/magician does an admirable role as well.

The music is exquisite, however the recording is not as sharp and clear as we have become accustomed to in our time. The stage and set design is superb with the wire acts and the lights and costumes. The marriage near the end is a great addition, and the characters at times appearing out of the floor is neat addition.

Filmed live years ago, this is worthy effort for its time and the technology available.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Possible!, December 30, 2005

By 

Guy Olin - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (DVD)

This is a superb live on-stage performance. The virtuoso dancers are highly inspired by the support of the audience and show their best. The dance technique is almost unbelievable and gives a taste of the outstanding Russian ballet school. The viewer can see here the full Nutcracker version - nothing is skipped. The orchestra is very good and also shown on the recording. The conductor comes on the stage at the end to accept congratulations. Most of the scenes are masterpieces. Compared to other Nutcracker versions, all dancers here are superb, not only the main characters. Every detail is worked out in the best possible way. If you are interested in ballet, you should own this one!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Technique, December 11, 2006

By 

Shelly Van Atta "salsera" (Binghamton, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (DVD)

This version of the Nutcracker satisfied every bit of my need to see superb, Russian, ballet technique in all its glory! True, it may lack in color and zest (ofcourse Americans can't imagine anything unless it's dripping in blinking lights and such), but the rather drab colors may have been an attempt to demonstrate contrast between what ought to be focused on and what NOT to focus on. Remember, this is the Bolshoi, not Las Vegas....this is world class Ballet at it's finest and Maximova and Vasiliev deliver 10-fold. I prefer the renditions where Masha is both child AND adult dancing in both acts as opposed to one version of her in Act I and then another version of her in Act II. I also loved how Masha and the Nutcracker danced the Grande Pas de Deux, instead of the Sugar Plum Fairy that you might see in a Balachine Production. Overall, if you're a dancer who can appreciate technique-then you'll love this, however, if you're a mom looking for another "Barbie Nutcracker", you'll hate this.