DVD0611. MARGOT FONTEYN & MICHAEL SOMES, w.Lanchbery Cond. Royal Opera House Orch.: Sleeping Beauty – Extracts – 20 Dec., 1959; w.Irving Cond. London Phil.: Swan Lake – Extracts – 9 June, 1954; w.Rignold Cond. Royal Phil.: The Nutcracker – Act II – 21 Dec., 1958 (all Tchaikovsky). (Germany) ICA ICAD 5050. 5060244550506

CRITIC REVIEW:

"Tchaikovsky’s three ballet masterpieces are all rare studio performances from the 1950s, featuring the legendary Margot Fonteyn.

Innately musical and technically perfect, Fonteyn was also a brilliant actress and is seen here at the height of her career with the celebrated Michael Somes, her dynamic partner during this creative period.

Fonteyn and Somes were the perfect match in terms of physique, presence, style and technique. The selections from these three classic ballets demonstrate just how successful their partnership was. Fonteyn made her mark dancing Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, a role in which she and the Sadler’s Wells Ballet made their American debut in 1949, ten years before this BBC studio production.

All three performances are released here for the first time on DVD with the extracts from Swan Lake representing one of the earliest appearances of Fonteyn on film."