A Midsummer night's dream (2007)

"A Midsummers Night Dream, is known for its elegant overture (1826). It is less well known for its incidental music, written in 1843 to accompany a German adaptation of Shakespeares play. Mendelssohn never composed a full-length ballet. However, in 1961, George Balanchine, a ballet-dancer from Georgia realized a full-length production. He added music from other Mendelssohnian works: Athalie, Fair Melusina, Returning home from Abroad, First Walpurgis Night and his Sinfonia for Strings. Balanchine was one of the 20th century's foremost choreographers who was successful in making a transition between classical and modern ballet. Here, the genre is classical and, unusually for ballet, includes the two vocal numbers. This fine production, staged by Patricia Neary and Sara Leland, has visual identity carefully wedded to movement, to provide an apt and complete interpretation of the story. Balantines choreography is impressive and probably has not been bettered." (Raymond J. Walker; volg link voor complete tekst)