The Nutcracker presented by Guangzhou Ballet

Guangzhou Opera House, Opera Hall, Guangzhou, China

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Monday 23 December 2019

7:30 PM

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Important Info

Type: Ballet

City: Guangzhou, China

Starts at: 19:30

Acts: 2

Intervals: 1

Duration:

Ticket delivery: E-Tickets

E-tickets: Print at home or at the box office of the event if so specified. You will find more information in your booking confirmation email.

Can I choose my seats?

You can only select the category, and not the exact seats.
If you order 2 or 3 tickets: your seats will be next to each other.
If you order 4 or more tickets: your seats will be next to each other, or, if this is not possible, we will provide a combination of groups of seats (at least in pairs, for example 2+2 or 2+3).

Overview

The Nutcracker is a Classical Ballet written by the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in the 19th century. The story of the Nutcracker is loosely based on the E.T.A. Hoffmannfantasy story the Nutcracker and the Mouse King. The Nutcracker is a Classical Ballet written by the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in the 19th century. The story of the Nutcracker is loosely based on the E.T.A. Hoffmann fantasy story the Nutcracker and the Mouse King. This work, along with Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, which are known as "the three brightest diamonds in ballet crown” has become a worldwide sensation. The Nutcracker takes the dream of the little girl Clara as the main line of the story. Because of all the complete and tortuous plots, vivid and loving characters, abundant and peculiar fantasy, skilled and various expressions, the Nutcracker opens the door to fairy tales with its supernatural romantic elements and rich fantasies. These unique features make the Nutcracker a remarkable work that responds to the call of humanity and meets the people’s expectations about what fantasy should be.

This year, Guangzhou Ballet of China has invited Mr. Liu Bingxian, famous choreographer of South Korea, to remake this classic masterpiece with his international perspective.

On the evening of December 23rd, new version of the Nutcracker will debut in Guangzhou Grand Theatre. On the basis of respecting the original work, the new Nutcracker will subvert the traditional visual cognition of ballet. All the new changes such as the use of contemporary landmark-Guangzhou tower for stage setting, the use of Modern Ballet elements to break the boundary of Classical Ballet will appear in the new work. These changes have given the new Nutcracker a distinct modern aesthetic consciousness and a new artistic form, creating a closer and more mysterious fantasy world than fairy tales for all the audience.

History

Premiere of this production: 06 December 1892, Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg

The Nutcracker (Russian: Shchelkunchik, Balet-feyeriya About this soundlisten is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Op. 71). The libretto is adapted from E. T. A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King".

Although the original production was not a success, the 20-minute suite that Tchaikovsky extracted from the ballet was. However, the complete Nutcracker has enjoyed enormous popularity since the late 1960s and is now performed by countless ballet companies, primarily during the Christmas season, especially in North America. Major American ballet companies generate around 40% of their annual ticket revenues from performances of The Nutcracker. The ballet's score has been used in several film adaptations of Hoffmann's story.

Tchaikovsky's score has become one of his most famous compositions. Among other things, the score is noted for its use of the celesta, an instrument that the composer had already employed in his much lesser known symphonic ballad The Voyevoda.

Synopsis

ActⅠ SCENEⅠ| A snowy Christmas Eve
In the 21st century, there is one evening in Central Business District of Guangzhou where the Guangzhou tower stands beside the Pearl River. With lights flickering, guests are hurrying to a Christmas party held in the home of Mr. Silberhaus. Everyone is all dressed up and carrying exquisitely-wrapped gifts. Drosselmeyer, the Godfather to Silberhaus’s daughter Clara, is also on his way. At tonight's party, he will perform his elaborate doll magic trick for everyone.

ActⅠ SCENEⅡ | Silberhaus’ Living Room
The living room is full of gifts prepared for the guests. In the middle of the room stands a sparkling crystal Christmas tree, which attracts everyone's attention. Surrounded by the thrilled Children, the Godfather, Drosselmeyer, takes out all kinds of lovely dolls and make them perform for the children under his magic trick. In the end, Drosselmeyer takes out a Nutcracker with a strange face and huge teeth. None of the children are attracted to the Nutcracker. However, kindhearted Clara comes over and asks Drosselmeyer to give her the doll. Drosselmeyer agrees with a good grace. Affectionately hugging the doll that was rejected by everyone else, Clara begins to dance with the doll... As the Christmas clock strikes the midnight, the guests bid farewell to the host. Clara goes off to her bedroom. She falls asleep with the Nutcracker holding in her arms.

Act Ⅰ SCENE Ⅲ | Clara’s Bedroom
Clara is awakened by a strange noise outside the door. The room seems to have changed. All the objects lose their original appearance. A large group of mice are destroying the crystal tree and the wall of gifts around it. At that moment, a sound of a trumpet sounds forth in the distance, then all the dolls in Clara's room are alive. The Nutcracker leads the other dolls to fight against the mice army. With the help of Clara, the Nutcracker vanquishes the dreaded rat in the nick of time. Then, godfather Drosselmeyer appears. Using his magic power, Drosselmeyer turns the Nutcracker into a handsome Prince and gives Clara his wand. Afterwards, an intriguing journey begins.

ActⅠ SCENE Ⅳ | the Land of Snowflakes
It is a world of crystal clear. The Snow Queen dances with the snow fairies to welcome Clara and the Prince. As they finish their dance, they escort Clara to a sleigh. After expressing their sincere thanks to the Snow Queen, they journey onto the further lands.

ActⅡ SCENEⅠ| A Wonderful Journey
All of a sudden, a burst of chilly wind is blowing over. It turns out that the mice are fighting back. This time, they send bats to catch Clara and the Prince. But they all end up dead with Prince’s sword.

ActⅡ SCENEⅡ | Land of Sweets
Under the direction of godfather Drosselmeyer, Clara and the Prince finally come to a luxurious palace, the Land of Sweets, which is made of all kinds of desserts. In this sweet and dreamy world, chocolate, jellybeans, cream and other elves, as well as Spanish dolls, Russian dolls, Arab dolls, Chinese dolls, and so on, present a performance one after another…Inspired by the Waltz of flowers, Clara gives a splendid performance with the Prince, immersing themselves in the atmosphere of feast and joy.

Act Ⅱ SCENE Ⅲ | Clara’s Bedroom
As the sun rises, Clara awakens and finds herself still holding her beloved Nutcracker. It turns out that this fantastic doll journey is just her dream...

Act I
Herr Stahlbaum
His wife
His children, including:
Clara, his daughter, sometimes known as Marie or Masha
Fritz, his son
Louise, his daughter
Children Guests
Parents dressed as incroyables
Herr Drosselmeyer
His nephew (in some versions) who resembles the Nutcracker Prince and is played by the same dancer
Dolls (spring-activated, sometimes all three dancers instead):
Harlequin and Columbine, appearing out of a cabbage (1st gift)
Vivandière and a Soldier (2nd gift)
Nutcracker (3rd gift, at first a normal-sized toy, then full-sized and "speaking", then a Prince)
Owl (on clock, changing into Drosselmeyer)
Mice
Sentinel (speaking role)
The Bunny
Soldiers (of the Nutcracker)
Mouse King
Snowflakes (sometimes Snow Crystals, sometimes accompanying a Snow Queen and King)

Act II
Angels
Sugar Plum Fairy
Clara
Nutcracker Prince
12 Pages
Eminent members of the court
Spanish dancers (Chocolate)
Arabian dancers (Coffee)
Chinese dancers (Tea)
Russian dancers (Candy Canes)
Danish shepherdesses / French mirliton players (Marzipan)
Mother Ginger
Polichinelles (Mother Ginger's Children)
Dewdrop
Flowers
Sugar Plum Fairy's Cavalier

Venue Info

Guangzhou Opera House - Guangzhou
No.1 Zhujiang West Road, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District

Guangzhou Opera House is a Chinese opera house in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, People's Republic of China. Designed by Zaha Hadid, it opened on the 9th of May in 2010.

In April 2002 an international architectural competition attracted Coop Himmelb(l)au, Rem Koolhaas and Zaha Hadid – each producing detailed designs. In November 2002, Zaha Hadid's "double pebble" was announced the winner and the groundbreaking ceremony was held early in 2005.

The theatre has become the biggest performing centre in southern China and is one of the three biggest theatres in the nation alongside Beijing's National Centre for the Performing Arts and Shanghai's Shanghai Grand Theatre. May 2010 saw American filmmaker Shahar Stroh direct the premiere production of the opera house: Puccini's opera Turandot which had in previous years been a controversial opera in China.

The structure was designed by Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. It is conceived as two rocks washed away by the Pearl River. Its freestanding concrete auditorium set within an exposed granite and glass-clad steel frame took over five years to build, and was praised upon opening by architectural critic Jonathan Glancey in The Guardian, who called it "at once highly theatrical and insistently subtle."

Important Info

Type: Ballet

City: Guangzhou, China

Starts at: 19:30

Acts: 2

Intervals: 1

Duration:

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