Minkus: La Bayadere (Altynai Asylmuratova/ Anthony Dowell/ Darcey Bussell/ David Drew/ Irek Mukhamedov/ John Lanchbery/ Natalia Makarova/ Tetsuya Kumakawa/ The Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House) (Arthaus Dvd: 107257)

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La Bayadere was originally choreographed in 1877 by the great master of Russian classical ballet, Marius Petipa and later adapted by the Kirov Ballet. The Kirov version has been re-created by Natalia Makarova and legendary choreography is now available on DVD. The ballet was first seen outside of Russia in London in 1961 when excerpts of the work were performed as The Kingdom of the Shades. It was during this Kirov Ballet tour that Nureyev defected to the West. Two years later he staged The Kingdom of the Shades for the Royal Ballet. The full-length ballet regained popularity with Nathalia Makarova's (herself a former Kirov Dancer) sumptuous restaging of the work for the American Ballet Theatre in 1980 and subsequently for The Royal Ballet in 1989. With its two starring ballerina roles, this classic is a perennial favourite of the ballet repertory. This DVD captures the Royal Ballet's famous 1989 'all-stars' performance of La Bayadere with the divine Altynai Asylmuratova as Nikiya the much beloved Darcey Bussell, as Gamzatti in one of her first important roles at the Royal Ballet.