For many of you The Nutcracker may be a holiday tradition, but for me, this was my first time seeing this amazing ballet. I attended the Saturday matinee at the Keller Auditorium with great excitement, I had grown up listening to the classical music of Tchaikovsky playing in the background while hanging decorations, but I had yet to experience the phenomenon of The Nutcracker.
Nothing is more exhilarating than sitting in your seat in a stunning auditorium listening to the hum of the crowd, the orchestra warming up below, anticipation is in the air of the adventure we are going to be taken on. Then it happens, doors are being shut, curtains are being closed, lights are dimmed and the crowd quickly quiets, as we are transformed back to Germany 150 years ago on Christmas Eve. The stage is set for the magic to begin.
I am awe struck by the grandeur of the set, the costumes, and the music and of course the dancers. The set is decorated beautifully in the holiday tradition, which includes a sparkling Christmas tree, period specific furniture, and an ornate owl grandfather clock that, when it strikes the hour, the eyes light up and wings flap.
The ballet that was performed by the dancers is truly spectacular. From the life-sized yellow toy soldier, danced by Ethan Schweitzer-Gaslin, that absolutely captivated me, to the group dance that included 20+ dancers that dance with such grace and wonderment as to tell a story without words.
Drama really ensues as the giant mice take to the stage, escorted by their fierce king to do battle with the Nutcracker and his soldiers. After a tough battle, won by the Nutcracker, we are transported to the Land of Snow where the snowflakes dance, which brings a collective ahhh from all of the little girls in the audience.
Not to be outdone, the second act of The Nutcracker is even more stunning. It opens to child dancers dressed up in the most ornate gold angel costumes, they move as if they are gliding across the floor. We are entertained with dance after dance, after even more incredible dance. We meet all sorts of different characters, from Coffee and Tea, to the Marzipan Shepherdesses and of course the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, performed magnificently by Haiyan Wu and Yang Zou. Each one of these dancers is absolutely amazing in each of their own way and when it was all over, I was definitely teary eyed.
I was truly blown away by how magnificent The Nutcracker was, there was more than once that I had goose bumps up and down my arms. The Orchestra was phenomenal, the costumes exquisite, the sets majestic, and every one of the dancers ranging from the children from The School of Oregon Ballet Theater to the Professionals were unequivocally inspiring. There were so many spectacular performers and performances, it is all around an enchanting ballet and a must see for the holiday season.
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is now playing at the Keller Auditorium with shows running until December 23rd. For more information regarding The Nutcracker, please visit http://www.pcpa.com/keller.
