If you don’t want to miss a Christmas classic, but don’t want to shell out the money in this crap economy, no worries. San Francisco Ballet‘s Nutcracker is going to be on PBS this Wednesday.
I viewed an advance copy and it’s really one of the better Nutz I’ve seen. San Francisco Ballet is one of the best ballet companies in the country, in the world really, and they’ve done a lovely production. Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic gold medalist in figure skating and Dancing With the Stars champion last season, introduces. She’s from the Bay area and talks about how this company, which her mother would take her to see as a child, really made her fall in love with the beauty of movement and the thrill of performing. This production is set in San Fran, during the 1915 World’s Fair, so it’s a bit updated in terms of the costuming and sets (both of which are gorgeous), and Yamaguchi gives a nice little half-time historical talk.
And the dancers are spectacular. Davit Karapetyan is probably the hunkiest Nutcracker / Cavalier I think I’ve ever seen (remember how I was going on about him when I saw the company here in September!), and Maria Kochetkova is radiant as the grown-up Clara. Yuan Yuan Tan is a lovely Snow Queen. And of course the music — Tchaikovsky is the greatest composer ever. Okay arguably…
So, PBS Wednesday, the 17th at 8pm in NY. Go here for local listings.
I definitely can’t wait to see this! This was filmed for PBS over several performances–apparently, Maria Kochetkova fell during the first filming, according to someone in the audience.
oh and I completely agree with you-the costumes are gorgeous. When you’re doing a new production, THAT’S the way to do it! (Ahem, Mr. McKenzie–Sleeping Beauty costumes, anyone?)
I’m not too excited about the choreography though–I do miss the old production’s choreography…although the Russian Trepaks was untouched for the new production since they were such an audience favorite.
Did you notice the nun pushing the baby carriage in the beginning? So random!! And doesn’t make ANY sense…how did that happen??
Hi Jennifer! Yeah, I do remember that nun — it was kind of oddly funny! I’ve seen so many versions I get all the choreography mixed up. I definitely liked this better than Balanchine’s version. And Russian Trepak is always my favorite!
Oh and hehehe, poor Kevin McKenzie; he really got it for those Beauty costumes 🙂
sometimes I hate living in the sticks… I won’t get to see it 🙁 Either that or PBS’s programing for my area is wrong…
“the sticks” — you crack me up, Katrina! That does suck though.
🙂 Glad I could help. Granted it’s not completely in the sticks, but I’m 80 miles from the nearest Olive Garden, a 45 minute drive from the nearest Costco…and am sitting in winter storm warning with a high of 4 degrees today *head shake*
Tonya I did get to see it… just the channels they had listed where wrong and/or wrong time… It was good.. I personally like The land of the sweets better… didn’t particularly like Mother Ginger in this production and I especially didn’t like the last Pas de deux. Him I liked, her I didn’t…
Oh cool — I’m glad you got to see it! Yeah, I wasn’t in love with Mother Ginger either. It wasn’t as magical as other versions I’ve seen, but then I’ve seen them all live, so I was thinking maybe it just wasn’t as magical because it was on tape. I loved Davit too! Now you can imagine him in person 🙂
His head shot is looks so different then he did last night. I liked him much better him on screen then his head shot 🙂
I was watching the extras on the DVD, the person with the baby carriage wasn't a nun, it was a nurse. It's just that back then, the costumes looked to similar. But when the costume designer said nurse, I was like “duh!” lol. I thought the whole thing was really well put together, and I was impressed with Davit performance.
I was watching the extras on the DVD, the person with the baby carriage wasn't a nun, it was a nurse. It's just that back then, the costumes looked to similar. But when the costume designer said nurse, I was like “duh!” lol. I thought the whole thing was really well put together, and I was impressed with Davit performance.