UnItel and Classica present Pyotr IlyIch NutcrackerThe tchaIkovsky Anna Merkulova István Simon Oleg Klymyuk Claudio Cangialosi Vello Pähn Semperoper Dresden Pyotr IlyIch eter tchaikovsky’s “nutcracker” is certainly one of – if The tchaIkovsky not the – most popular “family” ballets in the world. Pthis production from the Semperoper combines the Nutcracker work’s fairy-tale aspects with a visual opulence that would have done justice to the Czar’s court. Conductor Vello Pähn Based on the celebrated original ballet libretto by Marius Petipa, Orchestra Staatskapelle Dresden choreographers Aaron S. Watkin and Jason Beechey have joined Ballet Semperoper Ballett forces to create a new interpretation that presents a modern yet Choreography Aaron S. Watkin traditional choreography oriented on a classical ballet vocabulary. Jason Beechey the sets are inspired by Dresden’s famous Zwinger and the “Striezelmarkt”, one of Germany’s oldest documented Christmas Marie (adult) Anna Merkulova markets. the exceptionally spirited dancing, charming sets and nutcracker/Prince István Simon extravagantly beautiful and elegant costumes by Roberta Guidi di Drosselmeier Oleg Klymyuk Bagno make the production a joy to behold. Mouse King Claudio Cangialosi Sugar Plum Fairy Yumiko Takeshima the beloved story of little Marie, whose gift nutcracker transforms Her Consort Jiří Bubeníček itself into a prince during the night, unfolds in a novel way: instead Snow Queen Julia Weiss of having the children’s roles of the first act danced by adults, as is Marie (child) Lydia Jahn often the case, this production entrusts the roles to actual children Fritz Michel Philipp Weber and youths from Dresden’s famous Palucca School of Dance. thus luise Isabella Taufkirch little Marie is first performed by young lydia Jahn before being replaced by professional soloist Anna Merkulova in Marie’s dream Video Director Joachim Jäckel sequence. length 95' Impressive in the lead roles are, besides Anna Merkulova, István Simon as her Prince, as well as Yumiko takeshima and Jiří Bubeníček Shot in HDTV 1080 as the Sugar Plum Fairy and her consort. “A firework of top Cat. no. A05018825 performances from the dancers,” (Morgenpost), the evening zips by in a sugar-rush of exuberant mice and angels, fairies and princes, A production of and all with the immortal music of Peter tchaikovsky performed by SalveTV for MDR FERNSEHEN the Staatskapelle Dresden under Vello Pähn, who “lets the music’s in cooperation with Arte and UNITEL colors glow with impetuousness and beauty” (Sächsische Zeitung). Design: luebbeke.com WORLD SALES: C Major Entertainment +49-(0)3030306464 All rights reserved · credits not contractual · Different territories [email protected] www.unitelclassica.com Photos: © Costin Radu.