Romeo and Juliet DVD (The Royal Ballet) 2013

Given its premiere by The Royal Ballet in 1965 with Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn dancing the title roles, Kenneth MacMillan's first full-evening ballet has become a signature work for the Company, enjoying great popularity around the world. From the outset, the production teems with life and colour as the townspeople, market traders and servants of the rival Montagues and Capulets go about their daily business in vibrant crowd scenes. But Romeo and Juliet take centre stage for those great pas de deux: the meeting in the ballroom, the balcony scene, the morning after the wedding and the final devastating tomb scene. Although The Royal Ballet has performed Romeo and Juliet over 400 times, each performance and pairing is subtly different, and Lauren Cuthbertson and Federico Bonelli are utterly captivating in the title roles. This performance was broadcast live from Covent Garden to cinemas worldwide.

Music: Sergey Prokofiev

Romeo: Federico Bonelli
Juliet: Lauren Cuthbertson
Mercutio: Alexander Campbell
Tybalt: Bennet Gartside
Benvolio: Dawid Trzensimiech
Paris: Vale Rihristov
Lord Capulet: Christopher Saunders
Lady Capulet: Christina Arestis
Escalus Prince of Verona: Gary Avis

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Conductor: Barry Wordsworth
Choreography: Kenneth MacMillan

Recorded live at the Royal Opera House, March 2012
Plus:  Documentary: Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet / Sword Fighting: Sharp Points and Pirouettes / Cast Gallery

Picture: 16:9
Sound: 2.0 LPCM / 5.1 (5.0) DTS

Duration: 158 mins
Region code: 0 (worldwide)
Format: NTSC