Sylvia

The longstanding and enormously successful director of the Hamburg Ballet, Neumeier, John, created his famous adaptation of Sylvia at the invitation of the Paris Ballet. Arthaus presents a recording of this choreography from the Opéra de Paris with a line-up of soloist that includes some of the world's best dancers, indeed stars on the international dance scene. Sylvia has a long history connected to the Opéra de Paris and has transcended the metamorphoses of dance throughout the twentieth century to be revived again and again right up to Neumeier, John's refreshingly contemporary version. As a choreographer infused as much with the culture of the repertoire as with a spirit of creativity, he seemed preordained to offer a new version of this classic". Supported by the cautiously simple but very effective stage and costume design by the Greek painter Yannis Kokkos, emphasising the dancing rather than dominating it, Neumeier, John has created a ballet that is as timeless as the mythological fable it portrays and at the same time very close to audiences today.