Courtesy of the Grand Theatre in Warsaw
Wayne Eagling and Toer van Schayk present a spectacular new staging of this holiday tradition, with a set inspired by the historic facades of Warsaw
Boris Asafiev, a Russian researcher and composer thus described "The Nutcracker":
It is a rare artistic phenomenon - a symphony of childhood, or rather, of a transitory period when the secret desires of youth are already stirring within, but childish habits haven't yet been abandoned.
Not many people are aware that the world-famous tale of "The Nutcracker" and "The Mouse King" were written in the years 1803-06, when E. T. A. Hoffmann worked as a clerk in Warsaw. It is believed that Hoffman, a native of Prussia, wrote the story for the children of Julius Eduard Hitzig, who lived in Warsaw. His tale became immensely popular in the 19th century in the whole of Europe, and it was subsequently immortalized by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1892, when he composed his famous ballet. Much as in the rest of Europe and America, the ballet has been vastly popular for years, especially around Christmastime. Warsaw's Grand Theatre stages audience a new and spectacular staging of "The Nutcracker" this theatre season.
In search for the best choreography of "The Nutcracker" for the Polish National Ballet, Teatr Wielki selected a production by Wayne Eagling from Great Britain and Toer van Schayk from Holland. It was previously prepared for the Het Nationale Ballet in Amsterdam, and it is also performed to great success by the Finnish National Ballet in Helsinki and by the English National Ballet lead by Wayne Eagling.
The Warsaw staging, however, differs from previous ones, as Toer van Schayk, who is also the set designer for this production, has decided to include in his designs for our stage the old architectonic motifs of Warsaw from the times when E. T. A. Hoffmann lived here. The orchestra is conducted by Tadeusz Kozłowski, the Musical Director of the National Opera.
Date: 25th of November (premiere), 26th and 27th of November. The show takes the stage again on the 28th of December.
Venue & Organiser: Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera
This event is part of the Attention Culture! Cultural Programme of the 2011 Polish EU Presidency.
Source: Grand Theatre National Opera in Warsaw