The Nutcracker - Queensland Ballet
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Fri 02 Dec 2022 - Fri 23 Dec 2022
It is that time of year when life becomes hectic and festive celebrations can seem more onerous than relaxing. Not so for the lucky ones who have booked tickets to Queensland Ballet's annual Christmas production of
The Nutcracker.
It is unbelievably soothing to enter the air-conditioned comfort of QPAC (no matter what the weather is forking out to us at the moment) and be immersed in the enchanted winter wonderland that our talented creatives have envisioned.
This tenth annual Christmas production of
The Nutcracker is a Christmas treat as familiar as excited children opening presents, as comforting as gingerbread, as sweet as sugar plums and replete with enchanting vignettes and spectacular ballet.
Sweet and charming though it may be, this ballet is no frou frou production. Finely honed over ten years and with the Queensland Ballet growing in maturity and strength, this 2022 production is at the apex of its family oriented classical ballets.
Like other years the costuming is beautiful and set designs spectacular. Under the baton of Nigel Gaynor and with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the music of Tchaikovsky soared to the rafters and the ethereal chant of the Birralee Voices completed the sensation of being surrounded by lofty music.
This production is adapted by renowned choreographer Ben Stevenson from the original 19th century Russian classic and has all the magic and charm of a Nordic fable that speaks to adults and children alike.
For those unfamiliar with the plot, Act 1 portrays the squabbles of young Clara (the main protagonist) and her naughty brother Fritz at their family's Christmas Eve celebrations and toy giving. The festive mood is chaotic and becomes even more complicated when the mysterious Dr Drosselmeyer weaves magic tricks into the festivities and gives Clara a special wooden Nutcracker doll.
When the clock strikes 12, the nutcracker doll turns into the lifesize Nutcracker Prince, who wards off the evil rats and their rat king after which Clara is transported to the magical Land of Snow where she watches the romantic dances of the Snow Prince, Snow Queen and the Snowflakes. In Act 2, they journey across a Lemonade Sea to the Kingdom of Sweets for a midnight rendezvous of delectable delights and enchanting entertainment of exotic dances performed in Clara's honour.
What made the 2022
Nutcracker soar above this enchanting fable was the calibre of dance, which we have now come to expect from the Queensland Ballet and resonates through the entire performance.
The stage was set when out came happily dancing children and character dancers walking through the snow on their way to the festivities. This was built upon by increasingly sophisticated levels of dance until it reached a crescendo in Act 2 where virtuosic dances from our principal and senior soloists were on display.
However throughout, whether it be a child skipping around, a costumed rat, snow themed ballerinas, or romantic pas de deux the excellence comes from the ability of all dancers on the stage to engage the audience. We were drawn in by their focus, their joy and their ability to work well as a team.
I couldn't help but reflect tonight that, although this has been a difficult year for most people globally, here were dancers who appeared to be happy in their own skins and doing what they love. They lifted our spirits and that is a priceless gift.
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
#classical_music
#christmas
#dancing
#near_brisbane
#theatre
#december
!date 02/12/2022 -- 23/12/2022
%wnbrisbane
191569 - 2023-06-16 03:36:07