Ballet Philippines gifts audiences with ‘The Nutcracker’
Ballet Philippines (BP) closes 2022 with a full-length ballet of “The Nutcracker.” A time-honored, twoact ballet that brought to life beloved characters like Marie, The Mouse King and the Nutcracker Prince, this holiday performance relives the magic and mystery of Christmas Eve.
“The Nutcracker” will be extra special as it will be performed to live music from the Manila Symphony Orchestra. Playing compositions of Pyotr Tchaikovsky, audiences can expect complete enchantment as music and dance transport senses to the Land of The Sugar Plum Fairy. BP artistic director Mikhail “Misha” Martynyuk said, “The uniqueness of our performance is its high level of musicality. Every scene is built precisely to the rhythm of the composer’s work.” This symbiosis of ballet and orchestra, experienced only in BP’s “The Nutcracker,” makes the show extraordinary.
Nutcracker has been synonymous with Christmas all around the world since it was first staged in December 1892. With libretto by Marius Petipa, the 130-year-old ballet brings beloved Christmas characters to life through music, rhythm and the magic of dance.
Choreographed by Martynyuk, this full length performance of “The Nutcracker” brings the complete Christmas experience to audiences. And while most dance companies traditionally celebrate the season with their own version of “The Nutcracker,” BP’s offering is distinguished by the distinct brand of magic it brings through dance.
“We are creating a fresh version while still respecting the classical version of the play. The performance will not only uphold the motives of E.T.A Hoffman’s ‘Nutcracker and The Mouse King,’ it equally showcases the brilliant libretto of Marius Petipa,” Martynuk said.
BP’s “The Nutcracker” runs on Dec. 7 to Dec. 8 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Main Theater.