Queensland Ballet - The Nutcracker

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Fri 13 Dec 2024 - Sat 21 Dec 2024

The Queensland Ballet’s twelfth season of this perennial classic is not merely a ballet; it has become for many people part of the fabric of Christmas itself.

Let us begin with the setting, which could not be more perfect for this beloved winter tale. Outside is stormy weather, but step inside the Lyric Theatre, and one is instantly enveloped in the cool, frosty embrace of Tchaikovsky’s enchanted world. Here, snowflakes swirl, toys come to life, and the impossible happens - just as it should at Christmas.

This production of The Nutcracker is a triumph on all levels—one that radiates the sort of joy that is infectious, if not downright euphoric. It is at once soothing and exhilarating, delicate and daring, and it takes you on a journey through both time and space. A world where dream and reality intertwine, where Clara’s Christmas Eve becomes a whirlwind adventure. Of course, we know the story well: the young girl and her beloved Nutcracker, the battle with the rats, the magical voyage to the Land of Snow, and the sumptuous delights of the Kingdom of Sweets. But in this incarnation, every moment feels as fresh and dazzling as a first snowfall.

Under the deft choreography of Ben Stevenson OBE, the Queensland Ballet brings elegance and clarity to this tale that feels as though it has been honed over a decade of exquisite refinement.

This is, of course, thanks to a stellar cast. Clara, so often the heart of The Nutcracker, is brought to life by Kaho Kato with a youthful grace and exuberance that recalls the very essence of Christmas magic. Her Nutcracker Prince (Patricio Revé) is a vision of both strength and tenderness—embodying not just the role of protector but that of a true partner in this fantastical journey. And then there are the exquisite soloists, each of whom performs with a dazzling combination of technical mastery and emotional depth that elevates the ballet to something transcendent.

The excellence of the dancers is matched by the visual feast provided by the set and costumes.

. Under the baton of Principal Conductor Nigel Gaynor, with guest conductor Dane Lam, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra brings Tchaikovsky’s immortal score to life in a way that touches the very soul. From the shimmering Snowflakes to the fiery Russian Trepak, the music is as much a part of the story as the dancing itself, sweeping the audience along on a wave of sound that fills the theatre to the rafters. And the Birralee Voices, their voices lilting and pure, elevate the ethereal beauty of the score to even greater heights.

As I watched the dancers move across the stage—whether it was the children frolicking in the snow or the regal Snow Queen gliding in a pas de deux with her Prince—I was reminded of something we often forget: that, yes, the world may be full of uncertainties, but in these fleeting moments of pure beauty, we are reminded that there is goodness and wonder still to be found in the world.

In a year that has felt, for many, confronting and overwhelming, there is something indescribably heart-warming about watching a performance like this. The Queensland Ballet, through their prodigious skill, generosity of spirit, and joy in their craft, offers us a gift—a simple yet profound reminder of the power of art to lift us, to make us believe again in the magic of the world. It is a gift we all too rarely receive, and it is one that will linger long after the final curtain falls.

In sum, this is not merely a ballet; it is a timeless celebration of all the things we cherish most about the season—love, family, and the pure, untainted joy that only art, in its most transcendent form, can provide.
Bravo to all involved.

Photography David Kelly

CREATIVES
Choreographer Ben Stevenson OBE
Composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Conductor Nigel Gaynor
Costume Designer Desmond Heeley
Associate Costume Designer Noelene Hill
Set Designer Thomas Boyd
Lighting Designer David Walters
Revival Lighting Designer Cameron Goerg
Music performed by Queensland Symphony Orchestra

Cast

Sugar Plum Fairy
Neneka Yoshida
Prince
Patricio Revé
Snow Queen
Chiara Gonzalez
Snow Prince
Kohei Iwamoto
Clara
Kaho Kato
Dr Drosselmeyer
Vito Bernasconi
Nutcracker
Edison Manuel
Rat King
Rian Thompson
Fritz
Luke DiMattina
Mrs Stahlbaum
Georgia Swan
Mr Stahlbaum
Alexander Idaszak
Grandmother
Laura Tosar
Grandfather
Rian Thompson

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