Wrocław Opera: The Beauty in the Christmas Spirit of "The Nutcracker. A Christmas Tale" by Pyotr Tchaikovsky | 20.12.19

The street buzz of Christmas preparations by the well-dressed residents of the town, where the action of 'The Nutcracker. A Christmas Tale' by Pyotr Tchaikovsky – Ballet by Youri Vamos based on E.T.A. Hoffmann and Ch. Dickens, captivates from the first notes coming from the orchestra. The strength of this performance is full of good taste and the imagination of the choreographer, the set designer (Youri Vámos, Karol Dutczak) and the costume designer (Tijana Jovanovic), as well as the very skillful weaving of the story of the Scrooge family into the classic threads of the ballet libretto along with the famous dance scenes: the 'Snowflakes', character dances, and also the show-stopping pas de deux.

The repair and maintenance of a bicycle, a girl’s dream of a Christmas gift from a shop window, the daily worries and troubles of adults, their joys and priorities, and the strength of children’s imagination and their innocence emanated from every movement, gesture, from the excellent preparation of the soloists and the ballet ensemble, giving us a sense of participating in a beautiful Christmas fairy tale that moves, touches, and gives a lot to think about the meaning and significance not only of the Christmas days but also of the values recognized in life.

What can be said, if not that we are immensely grateful for the dance we received as a gift: both the classic showcasing what is impossible becoming possible and for the Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian dances – for the liveliness and precise capturing of the essence and character of each of them – and for every other performance on that day on this stage.
Beauty is enclosed in a person and sometimes thanks to a touch of ice from a icicle, each character speaks and says nothing, yet says so much in a language that is so beautiful for the eye and soul.
May there always be well-executed music, which like a sparkling snowflake, stops for a moment on the dancing figure, adding shine and additional expression in this moving and inspiring ballet that gives faith in dreams and imagination.
Looking at the stage on this day, one could not help but feel the impression that beauty is a woman in a crown. For the upcoming new year, I wish everyone to be kings and queens of their own lives, to delight themselves and others.
Happy New Year!

On stage, we could admire:
Scrooge
Filip Veverka*
Clara
Sherly Beillard
The Nutcracker/Grandfather
Andrzej Malinowski
Bob Crachit
Won June Choi
Mrs. Crachit/Queen of Snowflakes
Olga Markari
Spanish Dance
Pablo Martinez Mendez

Beatriz Gijon Francis

Karolina Jankowska

Anna Mendakiewicz

Lucie Le May
Russian Dance
Stefano Pietragalla
Chinese Dance
Noriko Nakabayashi
Harlequins and Jackie
Shiori Taguchi

Ludovico Tambara

Sergi Martinez Castello

Gabriele Lucci

Jaume Deulofeu Segui
Oriental Dance
Andrea Aguado Campo

Daniel Agudo Gallardo
Crystal Waltz Solo (of flowers)
Magdalena Kurilec-Malinowska

Hannah Cho
Won June Choi
Charalampos Skoupas

The orchestra played under the baton of Tomasz Tokarczyk, and the performance was enriched by the Children’s Choir of the Wrocław Opera and children from the Ballet School at the Capitol Foundation, who stole my heart.

Iwona Karpińska
Wrocław

photo: Ewa Krasucka