Stravinsky, Igor

Fantasia (Special 60th Anniversary Edition)

Groundbreaking on several counts, not the least of which was an innovative use of animation and stereophonic sound, this ambitious Disney feature has lost nothing to time since its release in 1940. Classical music was interpreted by Disney animators, resulting in surreal fantasy and playful escapism. Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra provided the music for eight segments by the composers Tchaikovsky, Moussorgsky, Stravinsky, Beethoven, Ponchielli, Bach, Dukas, and Schubert. Not all the sequences were created equally, but a few are simply glorious, such as "Night on Bald Mountain," "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," and "The Nutcracker Suite." The animation ranges from subtly delicate to fiercely bold. The screen bursts with color and action as creatures transmute and convention is thrust aside. The painstaking detail and saturated hues are unique to this film, unmatched even by more advanced technology. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Stravinsky: Once at a Border / Tony Palmer

This biographical film about the most important and influential composer of the 20th century includes documents, photographs and film never seen publicly before. Stravinsky s three surviving children talk about their father and there are contributions from the late Madame Vera Stravinsky, his musical associate Robert Craft, Marie Rambert, Balanchine, Jean Cocteau, Diaghilev's secretary, Kyra Nijinsky, Nadia Boulanger and many friends and colleagues. Included in the film are important performances: Les Noces, heard here for the first time in its original scoring, and Petroushka, specially recreated for the film by the Bolshoi in its 1911 choreography. Finally, there is priceless film of Stravinsky himself in this unique portrait.

A wholly wonderful film... much of this portrait is like a miraculous image, filled with the sense of Stravinsky as man and musician, above all as Russian and believer.
-Paul Griffiths, The Times

All the virtues of the film seemed to stem from Stravinsky himself and no higher tribute could be paid to the technical virtuosity of Palmer's film, which achieved miracles of compression, lucidity and respect. - The Financial Times

An extraordinary portrait; this superb British documentary provided an excellent, thorough overview of Stravinsky and his music.
-The New York Times

Keeping Score: Revolutions in Music - Stravinsky's Rite of Spring

Stravinsky - The Firebird & Les Noces / Royal Ballet

The Royal Ballet's glorious Stravinsky Double Bill unleashes the spectacular production of "The Firebird" with the stark beauty of "Les Noces," magically choreographed by the legendary Nijinska. The all-star cast includes Zenaida Yanowsky and David Pickering as the Bride and Bridegroom in "Les Noces," Leanne Benjamin as The Firebird, Jonathan Cope as Ivan Tsarevich, Genesia Rosato as The Beautiful Tsarevna and as The Immortal Kostchei, David Drew, who recalls in an absorbing interview his role in Nijinska's original production of "Les Noces." As an added bonus, this unmissable DVD also includes exclusive behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage of the two ballets.

Stravinsky - Oedipus Rex

Stravinsky - The Rake's Progress / Lott, Goeke, Ramey, Elias, van Allan, Haitink, Glyndebourne Opera

Igor Stravinsky - The Soldier's Tale

Hans van Manen: Nederlands Dans Theater, HET Nationale Ballet [DVD Video]

Igor Stravinsky - Le Rossignol (The Nightingale)/ Dessay, McLaughlin, Urmana, Grivnov, Schagidullin, Naouri, Mikhailov, Conlon

Choreography By Balanchine / Tzigane, Andante from Divertimento No 15, The Four Temperaments, Selections from Jewels, Stravinsky Violin Concerto