Birmingham Royal Ballet’s evergreen production of The Nutcracker has been part of the City’s Christmas tradition for over 26 years and currently running at Birmingham Hippodrome.
Young Clara is swept away into an enchanting winter wonderland of dancing snowflakes and a Sugar Plum Fairy. Her magical Christmas tree and her handsome prince with his army of toy soldiers are an unforgettable delight. In this most festive ballet, gigantic sets, lavish costumes, 60 dancers and a full orchestra combine to make the perfect Christmas treat for the entire family. Our own Lilith Hunt-Sheppard went along to catch this stunning performance for herself.
I have been a fan of the Ballet from an early age, this was however, the first time I had seen The Nutcracker performed, I will admit, I was mesmerised from start to finish.
As the curtain rises, you are transported to a beautiful festive, family celebration. The finishing touches are being added just before the guests arrive to a beautiful fanfare the room fills with dance and merriment. Before long, a magician comes to entertain the children and guests bestowing a gift to each child, it is here that the nutcracker first makes it appearance and as the party ends and everyone retires to bed, the real magic begins.
Not to give the rest away what follows is a visual and musical masterpiece. The set is incredible, taking you through each scene as though you are living every moment. Couple this with the costume design, it has to be, visually, one of the most stunning performances I have seen
Musically, It is only when you hear the score from Tchaikovsky that you realise how familiar the music is. The orchestra are flawless, lead by Music Director Koen Kessels from start to finish as is each dancer that takes to that stage. Whether the younger members of the ballet or the solos from the principles, each one performs beautifully.
This is my first time seeing the Birmingham Royal Ballet but I can say with certainty, it won’t be my last.
The Nutcracker runs till December 13th at Birmingham Hipppodrome.
To book tickets visit https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/the-nutcracker-2017/https://www.birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/the-nutcracker-2017/
