When you go watch a performance of The Nutcracker, you observe the intricate stage sets, the beautiful and elaborate costumes, the recognizable music score and the warm sense of holiday cheer.
Above all, the nutcracker doll itself is the most important component of this truly beautiful performance. According to German folklore, the nutcrackers were given as mementos to bring good luck to families. The folklore also said they would watch over the family to keep danger and evil spirits out of the home. Thus, the nutcracker became a symbol of strength.
In fact, the ballet was where the nutcracker doll gained its popularity every Christmas season and demand for high-quality German nutcrackers is incredibly high!
The Nutcracker was composed by Pyotr Tchaikovsky and it was first performed in December of 1892. The ballet is a loose adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffman's The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. The story is about a young girl named Marie, who becomes friends with a nutcracker doll that magically comes to life on Christmas Eve and battles against the wicked mouse king.
However, you may not know that Hoffmann's original story of The Nutcracker was not well received by contemporaries due to its troubled and dark nature. Eventually, the story was adapted by Alexandre Dumas, which was turned to Tchaikovsky's ballet that everyone knows. Dumas's adaptation was lighter and less scary in nature. In addition, the main character's name was switched to Clara.
The first act of The Nutcracker performance takes place at a Christmas party. That explains why the ballet is often presented right around the Christmas holidays.
The ballet is well-known among young and old alike and can be found around the world, including the New York City Ballet, the Houston Ballet, the Los Angeles Ballet and the Royal Ballet.
Rightfully so, the Houston Ballet's Nutcracker performance receives well over 70,000 patrons every year!
According to the Houston Ballet website, this year's performance was dedicated to Patsy Chapman's hard work and service to the Nutcracker Market and the Houston Ballet.
"The Nutcracker has been a long-standing tradition for Houston Ballet, with Stanton Welch introducing his decadent version in 2016," Kristy Bradshaw, Houston Ballet board president, said.
For the past few years (most recently in December of 2022), I had the great opportunity to watch this special performance with my family during the Christmas holidays. Every performance I have seen of The Nutcracker is different, in terms of improving the amazing stage sets and the elaborate costumes.
I went to see The Nutcracker on Dec. 21, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. at the Brown Theater at Wortham Theater Center in Houston. Overall, the performance lasted approximately two hours long, including a 25-minute intermission.
On that particular night, Allison Miller - the Houston Ballet Guild first soloist - starred as Clara Stahlbaum, while Charles-Louis Yoshiyama - the Anita B. Stude principal dancer - starred as Drosselmeyer, a magician who impresses the attendees of the Stahlbaum Christmas party.
Jessica Collado, the Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts principal dancer, starred as the sugar plum fairy. Aaron Daniel Sharratt, one of the soloist dancers, starred as the nutcracker prince.
The night outside the Stahlbaum house on a German Christmas Eve, Blows and blusters, and cracks its cheeks. Yet, inside, warm within her room, Sweet Clara glows with make-believe.
~ Extract from the synopsis of Act I
Before the performance, I had the chance to take a look at the souvenir shop before entering the theater. Obviously, I wanted a nutcracker doll, since I enjoy collecting these special toys every Christmas holiday. Also, I bought an ornament featuring my favorite character of the ballet, Clara.
From where I was sitting, I had a decent view of the entire stage and a little bit of the Houston Ballet Orchestra. That actually helped me enjoy the fun and excitement of The Nutcracker and pay attention to the big and small details. When I attended previous performances of the ballet, I had to use a pair of binoculars for a closer look at the dancers and the orchestra.
According to The Nutcracker program book, Miller announced her retirement following 16 phenomenal years of performing with the Houston Ballet. Artistic director Stanton Welch said that Miller was a "very musical dancer, very bubbly, [and] effervescent."
The book also provides the seven hidden gems that were featured in the performance to "keep your eyes peeled for even more." For example, Clara's intricate dollhouse (and a replica of the set of Act II), a grandfather clock that transforms several times throughout the night's enchanting activities and the enchanted dolls of Drosselmeyer's puppet show are some of the hidden gems listed in the program book.
My favorite part of The Nutcracker performance was the iconic music score by Tchaikovsky. The music is obviously an essential component that adds character and emphasis to the ballet, since it contains no dialogue, or talking parts. That helped me feel connected to the story and watch the characters come into play.
Overall, I really enjoyed watching this special performance and gives me a warm Christmas welcome. Plus, this has become a tradition in my family to go to the Wortham Theater Center to watch The Nutcracker every year.
I hope to continue watching this ballet for years to come!
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