“The Nutcracker” at the Citizens Opera House is Christmas excellence
By Danielle Bartholet
If there was ever a theatre in Boston at which to see a Tchaikovsky ballet, it is the Citizens Bank Opera House.
Walking through the golden entry hall, staring at the ornate and intricate walls and ceiling while waiting to scan tickets, to emerging into the lobby and theatre itself with its plush red wallpaper and crafted white columns, one might think that in the theatre, they’ve stepped back in time.
The lobby’s grand staircase is fully decked out for Christmas, featuring multiple trees with coordinating decor, and thick green garlands along the walls below the balconies. The design is perfectly aligned to augment the show gracing the stage of the Opera House from Nov. 29 until Dec. 29.
The acclaimed Boston Ballet carries on their time-honored tradition of presenting “The Nutcracker,” under the artistic direction and choreography of Mikko Nissinen. Since 2012, the Boston Ballet has been putting on “The Nutcracker” annually for the Boston community, dedicating itself to the pursuit of artistic excellence through dance.
The Boston Ballet Orchestra, conducted by Mischa Santora, provides the classic score, most of which are recognizable Christmas time themes used in numerous holiday movies. The Nutcracker compositions sound like Christmas itself, an essence brought to its fullest life in the live musical performance of the orchestra as the dancers move and respond to it with flawless choreography.
The opening numbers featured the addition of the furry and adorable dancing Nutcracker bear, performed by Gearóid Solan, who leapt and across the stage during the party scene. The audience exclaimed and clapped in delight as the bear played and pretended to scare the children on stage, eliciting laughter and cheers once his solo had concluded. Thoughtful details and additions such as this make Boston Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” full of whimsy and lighthearted fun that is perfect for everyone to enjoy.
Another stunning effect was the falling snow effect near the end of the first act, as over 2,300 pounds of snow ended up falling to the stage as the Snow Queen (Chrystyn Fentroy) and snow dancers danced perfectly in time to the majestic Tchaikovsky composition. Such a touch brings about the wintery magical wonderland of the ballet that so many look forward to each year.
The first act ends with the Nutcracker prince and Clara ascending to the land of sweets on a balloon-like cloud that rises from the stage floor in a feat of mechanics and innovation that left the audience breathless as act one ended.
One of the most technically impressive and emotionally impactful pieces is the Grand Pas de Deux in the middle of the second act, a duet between the Sugar Plum Fairy (Chisako Oga) and The Nutcracker Prince (Daniel R. Durrett). The soaring and deeply emotional music worked in tandem with the two dancers as they spun and leapt into the air, showcasing detailed artistry and talent through their flawless synchronicity.
The cast of this year’s Nutcracker included Ballet students from Boston Ballet’s School, Graduate Programs, and from their Ballet II company, as well as from their official company. The dancer for the role of Clara at the performance on Dec. 4, Oceana Gonzales Rose, is part of Boston Ballet’s student academy, and showcased her technical mastery throughout the ballet. Her talent and skill is a testament to the state of the art instruction that Boston Ballet offers for aspiring dancers eager to take part in such a seminal work of artistry.
As a ballet that’s performed pretty similarly each year at the same time of year all around the world, one may wonder why the work has persevered so long and why it remains endlessly popular. The tradition itself singles the ballet out, as the practice of attending is often one that transcends the generations. The timeless and easy to follow plot also allows the Nutcracker to be one of the more accessible ballets, and every new production can add unique detail to make each year slightly different while the heart of the nostalgic tale remains the same.