The Nutcracker. RB. 2009.

Watch The Nutcracker Here:

http://youtu.be/iJD-3cidVQs

This all-time ballet favourite, in which young Clara is swept into a fantasy adventure when one of her Christmas presents comes to life,
is at its most enchanting in Peter Wright's glorious production as fresh as ever in its 25th year.
Tchaikovsky's ravishing score, period designs by Julia Trevelyan Oman (including an ingenious magical Christmas tree),
an exquisite Sugar Plum Fairy (Miyako Yoshida) and chivalrous Prince (Steven McRae), the mysterious Drosselmeyer (Gary Avis)
and vibrant dancing by The Royal Ballet make for a captivating performance.

The Sugar Plum Fairy – Miyako Yoshida
Nephew / Nutcracker – Ricardo Cervera / Steven McRae
The Prince – Steven McRae
Drosselmeyer – Gary Avis

The Royal Ballet
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Koen Kessels, conductor

Peter Wright, choreographer and director
(after Lev Ivanov)

Recorded live at the Royal Opera House, November and December 2009.

The Nutcracker. RB. 2001.

Watch The Nutcracker Here:

http://youtu.be/ji9SWgnsizo

Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker ballet has had many facelifts over the years.
Peter Wright's Royal Ballet production is among the most imaginative,
bringing together the narrative and fantasy aspects with relish.
The first half of Act 1 is made busy but low-key,
moving up a gear with the majestic Christmas tree "Transformation Scene",
and ending with a gorgeous "Waltz of the Snowflakes".
Act 2 decks out the lengthy sequence of character dances with vivid stage sets,
culminating in a moving reconciliation between the magician Drosselmeyer and his nephew.
Anthony Dowell brings authority, Ivan Putrov enthusiasm to their respective roles;
Alina Cojocaru is sympathetic as Clara,
and Miyako Yoshida steals the show as the Sugar-Plum Fairy.
The Royal Opera House Orchestra take time to adjust to Evgeny Svetlanov's spacious tempos,
but the showpieces have real emotional force.
A Nutcracker for today, and a Christmas treat for all ages.

The Nutcracker. NYCB. 1993.

Watch The Nutcracker Here:

http://youtu.be/-BGlGVzBKNM

The Nutcracker. ABT. 1977.

Watch The Nutcracker Here:

http://youtu.be/F78klqqJ5xk

Nutcracker: The Story of Clara. Australian Ballet. 1994.

Watch The Story of Clara Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG3_pSIqL2g

Nutcracker – The Story of Clara takes audiences
deeper into Clara’s story and celebrates the strong
ties between Russian and Australian ballet. This
Nutcracker is set on a sweltering Melbourne
Christmas Eve in the late 1950s. Clara is a frail former
ballerina, reliving her rich and eventful life in one night
of feverish dreams. Clara’s journey echoes that of
many Ballets Russes dancers who toured Australia in
the late 1930s, enamouring audiences and helping
establish the art form in this country. Many of these
dancers would stay here for the rest of their lives.
Graeme Murphy illustrates this passage of time by
showing Clara at three stages in her life.

Based on the music of Tchaikovsky, but very Australianised
version. It will not be like any production of  "THe Nutcracker"
you may have seen before.

The Australian Ballet Company mounted this loose adaptation of
Pyotr Illych Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker in 1994.
In lieu of the traditional narrative associated with that ballet,
 this version relays the historical tale of a Russian ballerina
named Clara (played by three performers - Vicki Attard,
Margaret Scott and Siobhan Elsmann) who journeys to Australia
in the 1940s. Additional dancers in the company include
Steven Heathcote and David McAllister. Graeme Murphy choreographs;
the Orchestra Victoria (originally called The State Orchestra of Victoria)