Critics panned the libretto for being lopsided and straying too far from the E. Hoffmann tale that inspired it. History proved the detractors wrong. But why does The Nutcracker remain so beloved? They also, as it turns out, love seeing themselves on stage. Here is our guide to these presentations. Choreographed by Aaron S. Watkin and Jason Beechey, this production draws inspiration from the landmarks of Dresden, where this production was first performed. Lanterns glimmer and vendors sell festive toys, trinkets, and sweets to families.
At its premiere, The Nutcracker shared a bill with another Tchaikovsky work: the rarely performed one-act opera Iolanta , which romanticizes the life of Yolande, Duchess of Lorraine, a blind woman destined to live in an isolated garden paradise.
Staged by the Volksoper and Staatsballett of Vienna, this production is darker and deeper and therefore less appropriate for younger children. The Nutcracker score can stand alone, independent of dance, and this concert by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under the baton of Semyon Bychkov demonstrates that powerfully.
Battle of The Nutcracker by Ryan P. The Nutcracker , Semperoper Ballett in Dresden. Photography: Semperoper Ballett by Costin Radu. How to Subscribe. Be the First to Know. Sign up for the latest news and exclusive in-depth content.
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