Eleanor tornblom is artistic director and judy rae tubbs is choreographer of the production. Our starstudded nutcracker cast will dance this cherished holiday classic with spectacular bravura. Dec 26, 2019 though not a stepbystep reconstruction, their production transmits the originals unmistakable flair, as they explain in the program notes. The amount of work pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky was juggling while he simultaneously labored to complete his last ballet, the nutcracker, and subsequently the compilation which was to become popularly known as the nutcracker suite would amaze us today as much as it overwhelmed the composer himself. Then the nutcracker summons his old guard, and fights the king of the mice. Nutcracker notes is a biannual newsletter published by the whitebark pine ecosystem foundation. Houses are decked with holiday decorations and lit up with festive twinkling lights. The nutcracker prince tells of claire, the young girl of an upperclass rural german speaking home in which country the story takes place is never made clear. In contrast, the waltz of the flowers is the final dance of the ballet where all the sugar plum fairys sweets celebrate clara and the prince. Nothing belongs to me, all images and song belong to the rightful owner. Guest conductor mark wigglesworth returns to conduct the utah symphony through the act 2 of the nutcracker. We know tchaikovskys work in utah as the familyfriendly ballet, performed annually by the ballet. In her christmas eve dreams, her nutcrackerprince comes alive and defeats the mouse king and his minions in the land of snow. Set in nagasaki japan at the turn of the 20th century, an american naval officer marries a geisha.
The nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince, and he offers clara a journey to his kingdom. Tchaikovsky wrote the music for the nutcracker ballet casse noisette in 1891 and arranged eight numbers from it to form a concert suite. Uncle drosselmeyer tells clara the story of his nephew hans. As angels and delightful music hover over their heads, the bed turns into a magical sleigh, floating higher and higher. The nutcracker tells a story about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on christmas eve and wages a battle against the evil mouse king. Program notes by patricia matospuente, md puccinis madame butterfly does not have an obvious connection to children but a child abandoned by his father is at the heart of this dramatic opera. Hoffmann, and an interpretation of hoffmans story written by alexandre dumas. The nutcracker is transformed into a human prince who looks strikingly similar to drosselmeyers nephew. The nutcracker suite palatine concert band program notes. Petersburg on december 18, 1892 and now more than a century later remains a holiday favorite. An ancient spell is broken and before our eyes, the nutcracker becomes a handsome prince, who looks just like young nathaniel. The choreographer george balanchine once said that dancing was music.
The original story is a rich and subtly humorous story for children while offering irony and literary allusions that only adults would understand. I will be conducting the fantastic musicians of pacific symphony as well as the talented dancers from festival ballet theatre for this unique production. The trumpet solo that opens pictures at an exhibition is one of the most recognizable melodies in all classical music. The nutcracker is the story of clara, a little girl who is given a wooden nutcracker as a christmas gift by the mysterious dr. The second film adaptation was a 1993 film of the new york city ballet version, titled george balanchines the nutcracker, with david zinman conducting. George balanchines the nutcracker program notes in 1816, e. Nov 21, 2019 the nutcracker originally premiered in st. This was tchaikovskys last ballet, from which he compiled a. Print instantly, or sync to our free pc, web and mobile apps.
Nutcracker notes whitebark pine ecosystem foundation. Tchaikovsky nutcracker suite program notes lansdowne so. When midnight comes, clara finds herself trapped in the middle of a battle between the mice and her toys being lead by the confused nutcracker. When the lights are out and guests gone, she steals from bed at midnight to have another look and a wonderful thing happens. Very loosely based on the nutcracker and the mouse king. Hoffmans fairy tale, the nutcracker and the mouseking.
At this moment, the ball is interrupted by the arrival of cinderella in her coach, and the prince immediately falls in love with her. Hoffmann and also influenced by its ballet adaptation the nutcracker. Ten pieces the nutcracker waltz of the flowers and. The nutcracker, released from an enchanted spell, turns into a handsome prince.
The nutcracker is able to overcome the stunned mouse king and claims victory. The film was based on the story the nutcracker and the mouse king by e. Program notes for upcoming concerts will be posted here a minimum of one week prior to the concert. The film was directed by paul schibli and based on the story the nutcracker and the mouse king by e. Pictures at an exhibition program notes jacksonville.
The jesters choreography was his favorite, and he reimagined it in his own version as the candy cane. As the program notes indicate, minutes and hours clash in the air. Prince nikolaus esterhazy ii haydns last patron invited him to compose a mass in honor of his wifes nameday in september. The nutcracker prince is a 1990 canadian animated fantasy film produced by lacewood productions and released by warner bros. Though not a stepbystep reconstruction, their production transmits the originals unmistakable flair, as they explain in the program notes. Scene 3, the battle during the night, a sleepy clara tiptoes back down the staircase in search of her beloved nutcracker. Crack open the festive season with our fun nutcracker amigurumi. George balanchines the nutcracker program notes pa ballet. Tonights program is a blend of old and new, sacred and secular, classical and popular christmas favorites. A joyful sound program notes holyoke civic symphony.
Hoffmann as well as influenced by its ballet adaptation the. Choose from the nutcracker sheet music for such popular songs as dance of the sugar plum fairy, waltz of the flowers, and march from the nutcracker. He is one of the few villains who has two forms of his animated version be it the past and present forms. Tchaikovsky to compose a doublebill program featuring both an opera and a ballet.
Nutcracker 25 years ago ballet minnesota performed its first production of. Prince siegfried and odette are eternally united, and the maidens bow in homage to their love. The nutcracker is an 1892 twoact ballet originally choreographed by marius petipa and lev. The mouse king formerly known as the mouse prince is the main antagonist of the 1990 canadian animated holiday film the nutcracker prince, which is animated by lacewood productions. Aug 29, 2018 clara falls onto what had been the toy nutcrackers bed, overwhelmed by the moment.
The nutcracker prince is a 1990 animated romantic fantasy film made by lacewood productions and released by warner bros. Spyashaya krasavitsa is a ballet in a prologue and three acts, first performed in 1890. Dec 04, 2017 listen the nutcracker 2017 1hour 57min 59sec. We will hear carols from the middle ages and modern times, and we will sample the sweets of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite over the course of the whole program instead of consuming the entire candy box at once. For many, peter tchaikovskys the nutcracker is a holiday tradition that sets the tone for the season. Cw 14, is a fairy ballet in 2 acts and 3 scenes, written and orchestrated by tchaikovsky between february 1891 and april 1892. Then one christmas day she comes into the possession of a nutcracker, a toy no one else wanted so marie takes it upon herself to look after this nutcracker. Program note adapted from heritage encyclopedia of band music. Finally, the sugar plum fairy herself dances with the nutcracker prince. From the first sounds of the symphony tuning up to the dancers grand finale, toledo ballets nutcracker is an experience you wont soon forget. Marie receives a wonderful array of toys and presents, including a nutcracker.
Dec 16, 2012 the nutcracker in its many manifestations is like an attic toy box into which generations of children have tossed the playthings theyve grown too old for. Beethovens mass in c program notes jacksonville symphony. Pictures at an exhibition program notes jacksonville symphony. The nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince, who takes marie to his. Pacifi c symphony 11 dear friends, i am thrilled to have all of you with us today for our performance of one of the most iconic works ever written, tchaikovskys the nutcracker. The nutcracker ballet was written during the classical period of ballet, a time when many famous ballets were being written and performed.
As such, it probably needs no introduction but its going. Cinderella forgives her stepmother and stepsisters for their previous cruelty to her. We found a lot of similaritiesand a few key differences. Amid the dolls and stuffed animals and fairy tales and toy soldiers are folded longings, nightmares, prepubescent thoughts of sex, and fear of growing up. The russian dance with its vision of candy canes is a fast and swirling trepak.
The russian, arabian and chinese dances are all from act ii when clara and the nutcrackerprince enjoy a spectacle devised especially for her. The performance features the laurel ballet on saturday december 10 at 2 p. After all, by the 1950s, the young city ballet had already made a name for itself with abstract, neoclassical works, and not only was the nutcracker as old world as you could get, but audiences had never really warmed to it. Visions of sugar plum fairies quite literally danced in my head and into my heart last night at the ballet theatre of marylands first performance of. Each instrument helps add to the story of the nutcracker, representing diff erent characters from the ballet. The nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince, who takes marie to his magic kingdom. And when the music starts, you can close your eyes and allow visions of sugarplums and snowflakes, flowers and a fairyland to enter your imagination. As the bewitched forest vanishes, the swan maidens are finally freed.
Nutcracker study guide, 2012 salt creek ballet page 6 the nutcracker the chance to run him through with his sword. Nutcracker suite arr curnow wind repertory project. Program notes by phillip huscher piotr tchaikovsky born may 7, 1840, votkinsk, russia. The nutcracker is often performed during the christmas season due to its content, and many families make it an annual tradition to attend a performance. The score was completed in 1889, and is the second of his three ballets. Jan 02, 2015 during the battle between the mice and the soldiers, these hands are ripped off literally and become playswords in the hands of queen mouserinks the mouse queen and the nutcracker prince. During the battle between the mice and the soldiers, these hands are ripped off literally and become playswords in the hands of queen mouserinks the mouse queen and the nutcracker prince. Eleanor tornblom is artistic director and judy rae tubbs is choreographer of the. Macaulay culkin appeared as the nutcrackerprince, and kevin kline served as the offscreen narrator. Its a snowy christmas eve at the stahlbaum home, and dr. Program notes tchaikovsky wrote the music for the nutcracker ballet casse noisette in 1891 and arranged eight numbers from it to form a concert suite. Just as it appears that the nutcracker is about to be overwhelmed, clara throws her slipper at the king of the mice, and kills him.
Swan lake is, without question, one of the great romantic ballets in the ballet repertoire. Without the composers marvelous music, the ballet surely would not. It includes articles on the latest research results on the ecology and management of whitebark pine ecosystems along with articles of past and future wpef news and events. Tchaikovsky wrote the music for the nutcracker ballet in 1891. From the very opening notes played by pacific symphony, our imaginations will take us to a fantastical world filled with dolls, mice and sugar plum fairies.
As the evening grows late, the guests depart and the stahlbaum family retires for a long winter nights rest. Festival ballet theatres the nutcracker program notes by irvine. It was a great success with the public, although the ballet itself, an adaptation from e. Jan 25, 2017 the westmoreland symphony orchestra presents three performances of the holiday classic the nutcracker. As punishment for his good deed, the mouse queen managed to transform hans into a nutcracker prince of the dolls before her death. The nutcracker is universally popular, and probably the bestknown of all music. This version included a nefarious godfather, horrific battle scenes between toy soldiers and rats, and indifferent, neglectful parents. Orphaned marie leads a very poor life, in all her life no one wanted her.
For san joses dancers, who do double and triple duty in nutcracker, nahats longish but fastpaced viennese watz, full of whirling. Lansdowne symphony orchestratchaikovsky nutcracker suite program notes. Wso presents the nutcracker westmoreland symphony orchestra. Written for the russian imperial ballet, it was first performed in 1892. Today the story of the young clara, her love for her ugly nutcracker, the growing christmas tree, the battle between the toys and mice, claras role in the release of the enchanted prince from his spell, and the journey through the snow to the kingdom of sweets where the sugar plum fairy reigns as queen, has become famous through live. Beethovens only previous foray in sacred music had been the oratorio christ on the mount of olives 18034. History of the nutcracker pacific northwest ballet. Ill also be teaching you about quarter notes to prepare us for a fun rhythm activity tomorrow. Today were going to begin our study of the the nutcracker suite by learning the story and listening to the russian dance. Patricia barker played clara in the fantasy sequences, and vanessa sharp played her in the christmas party scene. The last of his three ballets, it was first performed in december 1892. The westmoreland symphony orchestra presents three performances of the holiday classic the nutcracker. Nutcracker suite arr lavender wind repertory project.
After he places the golden crown on claras head, they follow a brilliant christmas star to a faraway land. This weekend, the utah symphony is doing things just a little differently. The prince enters and greets the assembly of guests, then gallantly invites each of the stepsisters in turn to dance with him. The nutcracker is based on the book the nutcracker and the mouse king, by e. I will be conducting the fantastic musicians of pacifi c symphony as well as the talented dancers from festival ballet theater for this unique production. Celebrate this holiday season with 20% savings when you purchase 10 or more tickets to the nutcracker and christmas at the peristyle. As she falls asleep, a magical journey into an amazing land follows. The music was composed by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky his opus 66. Pointe took a look at both the berlin and new york productions to see how balanchines childhood nutcracker might have influenced his own. Large print program notes are available through the generosity of the delmar. September music of john williams september 15 bienvenue stephane september 2122 mahlers resurrection september 2728 october rachmaninoffs third piano concerto october 45 music without boundaries october 6. The arabian dance also representing coffee to go with the other sweets. When george balanchine chose the nutcracker as new york city ballets first fulllength ballet, it was a decision that surprised many. Hoffman, is given a nutcracker doll with the appearance of a prince, by her godfather and a magician, drosselmeyer, at a christmas party.
That night, she experiences the nutcrackers battle with an army of mice and his transformation into a handsome prince. Tchaikovskys nutcracker, the story of a young girls journey to a magical land on christmas eve, is perhaps not only the composers most famous work but also one of the most famous ballets of all time. The mouse king traps the nutcracker in the corner, but the nutcracker cant overcome the mouse kings strength. Beethoven composed this, his first mass, during the summer of 1807. Program notes the nutcracker at our theater is for children young and old. On the copy of the manuscript of the plan is petipas note. In the story of the nutcracker, a young girl named clara is given a nutcracker soldier as a christmas present at her familys holiday party. The nutcracker features many percussion instruments throughout the diff erent dances. A heartbroken clara looks on as drosselmeyer repairs the nutcracker. The story was based on a childrens fairy tale by e. Clara makes a desperate move to save her nutcracker from defeat and throws her slipper at the mouse king, hitting him directly on the head. For example, an instrument called a ratchet makes the nutcrackers sound, while the tambourine helps make the dancing dolls come to life. The sugar plum fairy rewards their valor with a series of dances in the land of sweets, including the danse chinoise, danse arabe, and the dance of the mirlitons a kazoo. According to german folklore, nutcrackers are keepsakes that bring good luck to your family while protecting your home.