Ballet Review
The
Nutcracker - Grigorovich
With very traditional costumes and scenery throughout most of the performance, the Chisinau National Ballet production of Grigorovich's Nutcracker hardly aims to break artistic boundaries. The distinction between reality and dream is, however, enchanting. A beautiful air of magic is sustained, with gauze draped in front of the dancers as we enter and leave the world of Marie's (Clara's) dream. The dream is all the more removed from the real world, for the mannered conformity of the guests at the house. The set dances of the dolls were undoubtedly the highlight of the performance. Together with Marie and the Nutcracker Prince, they took on the entire second act, with the narrative element of the Sugar Plum fairy notable in its absence. The major problem with this production was, however, the musical direction. While there was some superb playing and moments of musical magic, weak strings and an over-bearing horn section smothered the dream sequence on more than one occasion. It seems a shame too, in a ballet featuring one of the best-loved melodies written for tuned percussion, to cheat the audience with a synthesizer! Despite
these drawbacks, the Chisinau National Ballet production captivated
many in the audience and will ensure that the Nutcracker remains a
firm favourite. |