As someone who has seen countless Nutcrackers over the years, I must say that Boston Ballet’s production left me utterly spellbound. With its enchanting 1820’s Germany setting and a cast that seemed to be bursting with talent, this version of The Nutcracker truly stood out from the rest.
Throughout my lifetime, I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing numerous interpretations of “The Nutcracker.” As a child, it was an annual tradition for me to be part of these performances. However, over the years, many of these productions have melded into a single memory thread with scattered highlights (such as the Washington Ballet’s charming cherry blossoms substituting for snow). Yet, the enchanting rendition by Boston Ballet that I attended on November 29th stood out brilliantly from start to finish.
Under the direction of the Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen, Boston Ballet delivered a captivating performance that left audiences spellbound at every turn. The storyline, set in 1820’s Germany, was richly detailed and beautifully staged. On its opening night at downtown Boston’s Citizens Opera House, this holiday tradition proved to be a delight. Every dancer performed exceptionally well, and amidst the abundance of talent, there were several standout performances that truly shone.
The ballet centers around young Clara Silberhaus’ nutcracker gift from her mysterious uncle, Her Drosselmeier, given during her family Christmas party. Drosselmeier is a magical figure who sets events in motion as she dreams of battles and being escorted by a prince—evolved from the nutcracker—to an exotic kingdom full of sweets and foreign dances. Daniel Rubin brought the iconic figure of Drosselmeier to life in a way I can’t remember in other productions, which made his performance my favorite in the evening.
A significant aspect of this performance is attributed to Nissinen’s choice to incorporate Drosselmeier’s dancing extensively within the play. This is not a common practice in many Nutcracker productions, where Drosselmeier is often limited to a supporting role as a character dancer rather than a principal performer. However, in this case, it significantly enhances the production, particularly with Daniel Rubin delivering an ethereal grace and emotive performance that left me spellbound.
The polar opposite was the battling mice during Clara’s nightmare after the party. They were outrageously hilarious. I’ve never seen a Nutcracker that features grown mice that really do look like enlarged rodents, but then who individually display comedic personalities. It’s a testament to Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker that had me saying that Drosselmeier was my favorite, but for my 16-year-old daughter, it was the mice, which also got lots of laughs from the audience.
Among all the captivating duets performed that night, none surpassed the grace and harmony displayed by Ji Young Chae and Jeffrey Cirio as they danced the pas de deux of the Snow Queen and King. Their performance was nothing short of remarkable, perfectly timed with falling snowflakes that seemed to enhance the melodious tunes played during the act. Witnessing them dance together is always a delight, but this time, their performance reached new heights as they danced to my favorite ballet selection, serving as an enchanting finale to the first act.
In the absence of an enchanting Clara, the Nutcracker would lose its charm, and Sophia Jones demonstrated she was more than capable. With her graceful steps adorned in her shimmering Freeds, she and her prince (a charming Patrick Yocum) embarked on a journey to the Kingdom of the Sweets in Act II. Here they were treated to performances by Spanish, Arabian, Chinese, French, and Russian “sweets,” with Chisako Oga as the Dewdrop standing out particularly, leaving me spellbound during certain moments.
Distinguished acts included Kyra Muttilainen’s performance in Spanish Chocolate, Lasha Khozashvili showcasing his impressive partner abilities in Arabian Coffee (particularly a lift where he gracefully elevated Chyrstyn Fentray overhead that left the audience breathless), and Sun Woo Lee’s dance moves in Russian Troika. Naturally, no Nutcracker would be full without a graceful Sugar Plum Fairy, which was beautifully portrayed by Seo Hye Han.
As a gaming enthusiast immersed in the world of ballet, I can’t help but be captivated by Nissinen’s Nutcracker. The first act presents an enchanting twist – a dancing bear! It’s a unique touch that never fails to win over the crowd. On opening night, Henry Griffin brought an exceptional blend of talent and joy to this role, leaving us all spellbound.
Experience the enchantment of Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker until December 29th. If you’re looking for a ballet production to catch in New England, this is the one not to miss! The performance takes place at the elegant Art Deco-style Citizens Opera House in downtown Boston, a venue that appears tailor-made for this magical production, with its intricate garland and gold motifs woven into the architecture. Many shows are already sold out, so be sure to secure your tickets promptly by following this link for more details.
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2024-12-02 00:14