Christmas is about the traditions and who you choose to enjoy these traditions with. It’s about the little moments that build up to the big night, and as each time goes by, the Christmas mood grows. One of the undoubted traditions is to attend the ‘Nutcracker’ ballet on the National Theatre’s historic Old Stage on Kongens Nytorv.
You may have seen it a few times and thought why bother again? But each time is a different experience, for that is the magic of ‘The Nutcracker’: from its stunning choreography by George Balanchine to sublime music composed by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, it creates Christmas cheer among all who see it.
The holiday would not be the same without this ballet, funnily enough, created by Tchaivosky as a back-up plan. While writing the opera ‘Lolanta’, the management was off Mariinsky Theater suggested that he write a ballet as they were afraid that the opera he wrote would not sell enough tickets. Sometimes the best things in life come from unexpected circumstances!
A ballet for all ages: to see and perform
Last Friday was the premiere of the show and the venue was packed with people of all ages as this is a show one can enjoy with the whole family.
In the first of the two acts, so much happens that it is impossible to know where to lead. It is conceivable that one could focus on the children’s misfortunes one year, and then the adults the next, and get the experience of watching two different ballets.
But apart from the children performing – it’s hard to imagine that there is a ballet that offers as many roles for young artists as this one – the undisputed star in the first act is the majestic Christmas tree, which was first ingeniously spied through. a keyhole of the kids and then made to look ten times bigger and further away thanks to scenery designed to deceive our perspective.
Rolls the night away
The second act is clearly my favorite. The scene transforms into an enchanted wonderland of colors. Sitting on their thrones overlooking a permafrost in front of a huge candy jar, the central character Marie and her prince are entertained by a host of different actions, apparently from all corners of the world.
There are Spanish, Arabic (an excellent performance by Eleonora Morris), Chinese and Russian dances – but each with the same tasteโฆ of Christmas, of course.
My absolute highlight was ‘Waltz of the Flowers’ – nothing can beat this exquisite music or choreography. But also worth highlighting is the performance of the versatile Holly Dorger as the dewdrop. She shines in her role as the flying fairy. She was recently seen in the Frank Sinatra-inspired ‘Come Fly Away’ in a sexy femme fatale role, so her transformation into an angelic dewdrop for the night is all the more revealing.
Whether it’s already a tradition, or one you want to add to your list, we really recommend that you make ‘The Nutcracker’ one of your Christmas moments this year.
Source: The Nordic Page