"Pas de Deux" from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker (Rudolf Nureyev and Merle Park)

"Pas de Deux" from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker
Rudolf Nureyev as The Prince
Merle Park as Clara
Orchestra of the Royal Opera, Covent Garden
John Lanchbery
From a 1968 BBC broadcast

[@pilateswiz]

I dance with national ballet 20 years ago when Rudy was still with us. His lines were so beautiful. It was perfection, and such a pleasure to be with him.

[@rmp7400]

Did you ever meet Merle Park, too? She is very daring in this pas de deux.. Is it true that ultimately, she had an accident while dancing ...that somewhat shortened her brilliant career?😢❤

[@user-kj7hc8ub4s]

Непревзойденная постановка Рудольфа Нуреева!

[@salomonbenavides529]

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[@salomonbenavides529]

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[@salomonbenavides529]

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[@rmp7400]

So much is amazing about the way THESE TWO execute this pas de deux! BUT PLEASE!!! Has anyone watching this video ever seen any male dancer hold the final position like Nureyev does here: her full body weight so high aloft upon his one leg - so cleanly and for so LONG a time? Yikes!!! Almost as breathtaking as that amazing twist in the air she does after he throws her high above his head. (Honestly - how did they even REHEARSE that?) Phenomenal... daring ...memorable... Beautiful!🌹🎆

[@arch1arch213]

pas utile la dernière pose.

[@rmp7400]

​​@@arch1arch213 BEAUTY is not about MERE "functionality," dear soul.... ♥️

[@maryrosenblatt6741]

@@rmp7400 Beauty follows function and enhances it.

[@rmp7400]

​@@maryrosenblatt6741 Oh dear! Not always!😅

[@CristinaF210]

@@rmp7400 omg right?? this was one of the most beautiful things i have ever seen, its incredible

[@calpozo]

I had the privilege of watching the two of them from the wings of the Met. As I see this clip now I can't help but compare their performance of Swan Lake's Pas de Deux with that of so many others--something I could not have done back then, when in my early twenties. What I see is that while many of today's premier male and female dancers have physical proficiencies not seen in dancers of Nureyev's and Fontayne's time, it is the connection the two maintained with each other on stage--a respectful intimacy--that needed none of the acrobatics we often see in dance today. They danced. My thanks to whoever posted this clip. It's brought me back to a very happy time.

[@malcolmwhitehead7225]

Its not Margot. Its Merle Park! MW

[@cattycorner8]

Cal Pozo "They danced" amen bro, amen

[@TheMaisie80]

Two perfectly matched wonderful performers ❤️

[@americandreamer6092]

@@malcolmwhitehead7225 Yeah, and it’s The Nutcracker not Swan Lake. Poor thing.

[@malcolmwhitehead7225]

Wgi said it wasnt, Dreamer? M..W Whatever, its lovely musicn fine dancng. n Rudi is perfecction in every way. MW

[@catmom1322]

This may be the most beautiful pas de deux I've ever seen. Breathtaking!

[@letitsnow8518]

Not really!

[@buttonsjunior1131]

💀 @@letitsnow8518

[@angelsandocean2853]

absolutely.. I had rainy cold night here .. had nothing else to do. I watched so many on KZbin from different era, different theaters. And this is THE BEST performance!!! So emotional, makes you feel wonderfully alive ❤as well

[@angelsandocean2853]

​@@letitsnow8518which one made bigger impression on you? Thank you

[@carlabasto9574]

@@angelsandocean2853 How about this one with Megan Fairchild & Joaquín De Luz? PS: The precision, the timing and the snaps positioning are Spectacular! Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker―Sugar Plum Fairy & Cavalier (Megan Fairchild & Joaquín De Luz - New York City Ballet) kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKTPl4Jna6yWkK8 .

[@pedinurse1]

omg his technique is sublime, omg this choreo is amazingly dangerous

[@tatianatsvetkova3226]

Почти 70 лет Адажио из Щелкунчика П. И. Чайковского моя сама ая любимая музыка, независимо, кто танцует, слушаешь ли в театре, на пластинке или как сейчас - в планшете. Поистине гениален наш великий Пётр Ильич!

[@amalteaballerina]

Extraordinary Rudolf Nureyev!!! I'm ballerina and always have admired, the talentous, brilliant, energetic, personality and of course Artist Rudolph Nureyev. Before married I had a great poster into my bedroom of him at an incredible jump! He really seemed to fly .I love forever Rudolph Nureyev. 🌹❤️

[@user-kj8zm3qw9f]

Вот какое золото оставил Нуреев! На кого скажите после такого посмотреть? Бессмертный Рудик! Брависсимо!!!

[@Anna-uh4ri]

Нам теперь Цискаридзе предлагают и не только он сам. Меня упрекают за то, что я восхищаюсь Нуреевым и не воспринимаю Цискаридзе. Вроде как вообще ничего не понимаю

[@jayneforryan4830]

What a beautiful pes de deux. The line of beauty is perfect. I cannot help watching rudi and merle over and over again.

[@cherylbush9780]

First time ever seen 'mirror reflection' partnership, between two remarkable dancers.

[@cecile862]

Moved to tears. Only on repeat viewings have I become conscious that the music is magnificent; so mesmerised by the beauty, grace and strength of the dancers. Thank you for sharing this- we are enriched

[@jayneforryan4830]

I watch this every day. The music and nureyev and park are stunning.get goose bumps every time. Fabulous.

[@susanpanaro7820]

I saw Patricia McBride's final performance in NYC and the stage was covered with roses.

[@ivanlussich8146]

Tchaikovsky's music, Nureyev and Park on the stage -what a marvelous combination! Saludos from Uruguay

[@karenjones9961]

IMO Dame Merle Park was the supreme academic classicist of the Royal Ballet in her heyday - bar none!

[@waltergee1769]

Brava Merle! Seeing her dance was one of my fondest ballet memories. A truly great talent!

[@sarahgiadelcampo7712]

Wow! That final lift was amazing to see and very much a surprise! I've never seen this interpretation before. Lovely. :-)

[@rmp7400]

And who but Nureyev could have done it - holding (for over 7 seconds) during that final lift, the two of them on his one leg - so decisively, so poetically!🎆

[@user-of6ht4jd1s]

Грациозность,чувственность, эротизм_,Выходит Гений Р.Нуреев и больше никого не видишьПрекрасная партнёрша у него_Кейн!

[@user-of6ht4jd1s]

Ошиблась,Парк!

[@user-oh6tt9mm5z]

Великолепный Рудольф Нуреев , великолепная Мерл Парк !!! БРАВО !!!!!!👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏❤❤❤❤❤

[@mariachile2368]

No puedo dejar de llorar al ver esta maravilla ! Cómo envidio a los q estuvieron ahí, q privilegio. 🥹❤🥹❤

[@user-kj8zm3qw9f]

Идеально! Не насмотреться! Божественно красивы! Слиты с божественной музыкой! Гармония до слез!

[@danaodriscoll9261]

Wow that was beautiful. They were like one person. I have only just started to watch Ballet 🩰 such a beautiful dance ❤

[@denevaflath1397]

Watching this never gets old.

[@carolmarr6607]

What poise grace and strength this dance piece requires. Here it was carried out beautifully. The timing was excellent. What most don't see is all the hard work and practice that has gone on behind the scenes.

[@user-mw8um6mc3v]

She is simply beyond words!! We all know how surreal and sublime the peice of music is!

[@letitsnow8518]

She is terrible, always late and wobbly Y

[@pamclarke6785]

Merle Park was Rhodesian. Many dancers in the Royal Ballet came from Rhodesia. One of the many good things about that country.

[@ornellasattalini7728]

Casa si può dire di Nureyev. .. fantastico irripetibile!

[@jaketubedeja]

Beautiful! Wonderful to see such a classic recording from 1968.

[@suklaray7800]

Magnificent!

[@fnikitathomas]

I really love this performance, it seems dangerous and beautiful all at once. Thanks so much.

[@JeremyNasmith]

Right!?!? Excitement in every moment because it could go wrong at a y moment, yet they don't let it!!! This is Ballet at it's best if you're in the house watching, you're on the edge of your seat, and if they make it you can't help but shout Bravo!! Please compare this Nutcracker pas to any other you might find: I guarantee that sense of dangerous excitement sill be lacking.

[@salomonbenavides529]

4:35 4:35

[@eleot508]

So beautiful! So talanted! Nuryeev has his special something what makes wanting look at him more and more.

[@AmalteaF.-vx3bp]

Rudolf Nureyev was unique. He has been the best!!! Marvelous, extraordinary!!! I love him forever.

[@voro5527]

I had the joy of watching Nurejev in Macerata at the end of his career. No one ever held the stage like him.

[@sherryalingod1168]

Breathtaking performance !❤

[@user-of6ht4jd1s]

Непревзойдённое па_де-деГения Рудольфа Нуреева и Мерле Парк из превосходного балета его же постановки!!!!Дух захватывает!!!!!

[@user-of6ht4jd1s]

Там,где Рудольф Нуреев,дух захватывет!все меркнут!Совершенство смотреть бесконечно!Его постановка Щелкунчика непревзойденна!Гений,так много сделавший для развития балета и поднявший на высоту мужской танец!!!!!!Он должен бы жить!Его искусство на века с нами!!!!

[@user-qs5sr8dy9x]

Он бесподобен!

[@lenavats21]

Он жив и будет вечно жить в своих постановках ♥️

[@user-ko5hb5rv5h]

Его искусство на века, непревзойденный, гений , красава он будет вечно в наших сердцах.!Браво Рудольфу !!!❤❤❤

[@vivianpercy7580]

I LOVE this choreography! It is THRILLING! It gave me CHILLS!!!

[@anne-mariehayem6283]

Que dire d'autre que : FABULEUX..... On reste accroché à ces quelques instants de Merveilles !!!!

[@giuliorenzobighin8165]

Una vicinanza concorde che tuttavia non rende difficili i passi calcolati del balletto.Un simbionte e gradevolissimo accordo.Bighin GIULIO RENZO

[@anneelbet6881]

Superbe chorégraphie, merveilleusement interprétée ! Merci mille fois !

[@Mr3456324]

The greatest Rudolf Nureyev

[@voraciousreader3341]

It’s lovely to see so many comments from Russians who love Nureyev so much! I have no idea if he even thought about how the _people_ in his country would feel about him after his defection-I’m pretty sure he was only thinking of the politicians and secret police-but I’m glad that they revere him for what he did and how he always represented Russia, no matter where he went or what he did. Even Merle Park’s headdress speaks Russian! Beautiful dancing here, just a beauty and symmetry filled with feeling, so much more beautiful and artistic than physical pyrotechnics!

[@giovannaromanelli5202]

Magici interpreti, eleganti, raffinati, pieni di armoniosa bellezza, una vera gioia per la mente e per il cuore. Rudy, I love you forever!!!❤️❤️❤️

[@excelenteresultadopositivo9036]

Una couple admirable. Fantasticos milimetro a milímetro, segundo a segundo. Fantásticos !!!😊😮

[@takenoprisoners837]

That was absolutely breathtaking. I really loved the choreography, and those lifts where out of this world☆

[@susannevollmer2347]

The lifts are rather dangereous for the ballerina.

[@francoisedesalmand517]

Noureev and Cathy

[@domenicosabia]

Il Pas de deux più strabiliante mai visto.

[@wallshootout5616]

Amazing. His lines are so beautiful. Unbelieveable. And the costumes are worldclass.

[@angelh8262]

The most beautiful performance mesmerising and ‘other worldly’ it’s just extraordinary, thank you so much for the opportunity to witness it’s a rare treasure indeed.

[@bastiennehemon3654]

Parfait, !,

[@alidabaxter5849]

I was taken to the Royal Opera House to see Nureyev dance in The Nutcracker one Christmas when I was young - unforgettable. Much later I saw him dance with Merle Park and everyone was simply holding their breath because it was so wonderful. I was taken backstage to meet Merle Park and she said Margot Fonteyn had been in the wings watching, and that she herself could hardly believe she was dancing with him as Margot had.

[@gabryc.3004]

Più che li osservo e più mi dico NESSUNO RAGGIUNGERÀ questa perfezione ed eleganza...... Come ho già detto qui sotto.... 2 ANNI FA Comunque ringrazio tanto per aver ri-inserito questo post

[@user-en7mr3qd6e]

Непревзойденный Нуреев! Сейчас нет таких Гигантов танца!!!!

[@melvyndickson3074]

Simply breathtaking. Such grace, such beauty, such extreme athleticism. Wonderful we have this record of these amazing dancers.

[@l.e.6263]

Rudolph will always be a legend - timeless & perfection in every deliberate move. He always stole the show & presented the ballerina in the best way, yet one still watches him. Miss when ballet had lavish costumes & backgrounds. Now it’s all just lighting & simple costumes.

[@monichat]

I watched mostly the ballerina

[@ancientmariner7372]

Nureyev’s choreography is always breathtaking. It’s fresh and full of whimsy and joy.

[@sophia3579]

Just wonderful!!!

[@pulsebright]

What an exquisite interpretation.

[@ZenGrammy]

I love this orchestration of Tchaikovsky's music.

[@hansdekorver7365]

Written for orchestra , and arranged for the piano by Pletnev.

[@arianbyw3819]

Merle park is just sublime in this

[@vilmadb]

Bravo! Bravisssimo!!! One more time!!!!

[@user-kj7hc8ub4s]

Божественно!Пластика,артистизм,чувственность ...Прекрасная партнерша у Гениального Р Нуреева.

[@meycoe]

Rudolf out of breath???? never seen that before! fabulous, went right into my favorites

[@user-ue6kg7gj1i]

Нет слов, чтобы описать внутренние ощущения - и гениальная музыка Чайковского, и генильный Нуреев со своей партнёршей... До слез !

[@Anna-uh4ri]

Спасибо Вам за такие слова!

[@elenastamm2422]

Очень нравится! Как хорошо, что есть эти съёмки?

[@user-qv7qs7wt8u]

Раньше почти перед каждым Новым годом ходила на,,, Щелкунчика,,, и уходила с ощущением счастья оттого, что я русская

[@kasha1932]

This rendition looked just beautiful to me . I enjoyed this very much. Thank you.

[@emilieraphael4431]

The music, the dsncing...the incredible beauty. Perhaps there is hope for the human race, after all.

[@Teresa-ih4sn]

Beautiful, just beautiful!!!

[@rosamurillobond1349]

La perfección en todo su esplendor! Que tiempos aquellos!!!!

[@carlarodrigues4412]

Que lindo!! Que sincronidade entre eles! Que leveza!! Grandes bailarinos. 👏💯♥️

[@DarkVampress]

Still gets to me every time I watch it.

[@margaretsantos6718]

Could not BE more beautiful!!!!!!

[@tashtastictash]

I watch this over and over I love everything about it from the beautiful corps de ballet, the costumes, the lovely music-centered dancing. I do not care for the acrobatics of modern ballet. I can’t get enough of this style!❤

[@cattycorner8]

choreography! Love this so much!

[@cbass2755]

My God….I’m crying! I’m sitting here crying! They’re so beautiful….so beautiful….

[@monichat]

There are 2 PAS DE DEUX in the ballet The Nutcracker. The one we are admiring here is called the GRAND PAS DE DEUX

[@sevcik2]

Magnificent!!! Bravo!

[@genevievebauer323]

Mon Dieu ! Qu'ils sont beaux !

[@yolypa17]

No me cansaría de verlo bailar a Rudof. Único en su grandeza .

[@josiealamusic]

I first saw this video 11 years ago and it sparked an interest in ballet that still lives in my heart today. I'm a musician, not a dancer, but I've had the privilege of playing in the orchestra for the nutcracker and it was one of the most musically satiating experiences of my life. I'm so happy to have found this video again! I thought it was taken down for the longest time. Seeing it again, I can't believe it's from 1968! The passion, the drama, this might be the most incredible pas de deux choreography ever. I just love it so much!

[@kaythomas8521]

Unparalleled perfection. And the music.... so gorgeous

[@Kimberlytheresam]

This music is beautiful

[@dinorahgimenez1290]

Hermosísimo...perfectos

[@louisethompson6548]

Stunning, it was amazingly beautiful and this piece of music is one of my favourites. I would love to go to the ballet and watch this ❤

[@patrickdean4853]

The dancing here never equaled the beauty of the musical score. Don’t know that it ever could

[@user-kj7hc8ub4s]

Прекрасно!.,!

[@yolypa17]

Cuánta belleza, cuánta perfección en la danza. Bellísimo.

[@sheiladesoysa7112]

Beautiful performance to that soaring piece of music. Thank you.

[@mariagloriabianchi5206]

HO CONOSCIUTO NURYEV...HO BACIATO LE SUE MANI .....CON FRACCI.....SCALA E FIRENZE......NATURALE ..PERFETTO ...I SALTI PIU ALTI E PERFETTO.....UNICO X ME

[@user-of6ht4jd1s]

Красив невероятно,каждое движение,жест_ божественный РНуреев!

[@richardherne9203]

M.laur Lefevre/ moscou, leningrad, 9mars,fête desFEMMES.en Ussr en 1972,?@#$^^*(₩)

[@user-fd1vq3rz4g]

!!!!!!!!+++ ОГРОМНОЕ СПАСИБО ЗА ВИДЕО !!!

[@lochXnessie]

Thank you so much for posting this. I saw this interpretation of The Nutcracker with Rudolf Nureyev in NY many years ago, but didn't appreciate it as much as I do now (too young I think). This pdd I watch at least once a day now! So beautiful....

[@Bobabol]

she's amazing!

[@clamdip2]

To me this is a marvelous blend of superb artistry and some of most powerful music is ballet.

[@dali98world]

OMG that was beautiful *IMPAKTADA*

[@user-ri6sx4vf5b]

Замечательно!

[@edmitchell9405]

Nobody can top these performances of Nureyev, he was just out of this world.

[@mabelgallardo4390]

Siempre me ha gustado el ballet y si volviera a nacer cambiaría mi profesión de arquitecta por esta manifestación de arte que me lleva a la gloria. Mis lágrimas lo confirman.

[@arycortez5457]

Nesses tempos de tristeza e ansiedade de hoje!! Assistindo essas danças mágicas é muito caro e amoroso para nossa Alma!ac

[@marieippolito1620]

Beyond spectacular! OMG.... I have never seen anything so breathtakingl beautiful. Superb is an understatement.

[@nenapap1086]

Bozanstveno , nikada nedostignuto. 😍

[@silvertrees6326]

Elegance at its very best. Thank you.

[@marialuisa4227]

Merle dances floats like a feather her movements are so sutil so delicate, so feminine. I love them both

[@barbaratesche6719]

Der blanke Wahnsinn. Einfach nur schön. Ich liebe den Tanz mit Nurejew und ich liebe 🤟 💘 den wunderbaren Tschaikowsky.

[@vickierodriguez4280]

​ What I love about this piece and it's so typical of Nureyev, is that he believed the male's part was just as important and intricate as the female's part in any ballet. You can see that in this PDD as well as his Swan Lake. These ballets were known as the "Ballerina's" ballet and he changed that way of thinking with his choreography. Unique and in my opinion, brilliant. The chemistry between them is undeniable. Thanks so much for posting this!

[@ellest1485]

Nureyev just simplified Petipa's choreography for himself. He danced a lot and his body could not cope with his schedule. What else to expect from a very gifted dancer with very limited ballet education.

[@knothead35]

I can appreciate parts of his choreography and really enjoyed it. But many parts are just odd. Like her little kicks toward the end..out of place, imo. I love all the jumps. Very gymnastic. I may actually prefer this choreography over Petipa's, but some parts are just awkward to me and I find this with all of his choreography that I've seen

[@nadiaghalem1780]

Quel cadeau, de bon matin. Merci!