The Little Humpbacked Horse was completely new to me, and it is a ballet worth watching and listening to. Its story is simply told and very engaging from storytelling and emotional standpoints, and the music by Shchedrin is just beautiful. This performance from 1962 is a treasure, the animation is rather primitive and lacking in refinement but it is not enough to spoil anything. Especially when the dancing, choreography and seeing some of the best ballet dancers of the time(maybe even all time) are as incredible as they are. The costumes and sets have a simple charm to them, particularly in the underwater scene, which suited the story really well. The performance is well-filmed, and the technical values of the DVD are more than acceptable, there's been better but also worse. Shchedrin's music is performed by the orchestra with ravishing tone, good textural balances and musicianship, good sense of drama within the music and lightness of style when needed. The conducting not just accommodates the dancers but keeps the pace and drama moving. The choreography flows so smoothly with so much grace and elegance, not easy at all but it doesn't seem that way when you see how well it's danced. The dancing matches it, with an excellent Corps De Ballets and secondary roles, especially for the King and Stable Master. Maya Plisetskaya is just wonderful, her style is very fluid, her movements are poised and beautifully balanced while showing strength also, she is expressive and nuanced and her musicality is great. Vladimir Vasilev is youthful and ardent, showing a very clean technique and involved acting. Natalya Toborko's lifts and fast jumps and turns here are a source of wonder, and her performance is enchanting and makes the underwater scene as memorable as it is. Alla Scherbinina is a joy as well in the title role, heartfelt acting and elegant dancing. Overall, a little treasure as a ballet and production, worth the watch in particular for seeing Plisetskaya at her peak. 10/10 Bethany Cox
