| “The Novaya Opera put together its New Year programme quite creatively. Instead of the traditional ballet The Nutcracker, they have staged an opera to the well-known music by Tchaikovsky. <…> the trick is mostly in the sets and costumes by Pavel Kaplevich who has made a fantastic runway walk inspired by Hoffmann’s fairy tales. As a tribute to the ballet origin of the score, the production includes choreographic divertissements staged by Alla Sigalova. So unless the audience is very conservative and opinionated, its experience will be emotional and vivid”. Teatral, December 2015 “The orchestra traditionally works its magic, the stage is traditionally transformed into an old little snow-covered town, ladies and gentlemen demurely walk past lit-up windows, groups of children run led by Drosselmeyer, the mysterious maker of tricky toys…Unexpectedly, he starts singing and the children follow him, performing a funny “choirlet” to the well-known music of the “March of Toy Soldiers”. The stage turns into Councillor Stahlbaum’s well-lit hall. “It is not a toy for everybody,” Drosselmeyer sings to the amusingly limping theme of the fantastic mazurka, presenting the Nutcracker toy to the children. They are disgusted by its huge jaws, and only Masha feels sorry for the wooden toothy toy. She admits to it using her tender soprano”. Trud Newspaper, December 26, 2014 “The true gems of the show are touching children choirs with all the lace, ruches and informal festive words which, who knows, may become a staple of the children’s New Year’s performances. ” Colta, December 26, 2014 “Judging by the vocal and stage presence, the main character is Drosselmeyer. The role is slightly demonized and there is no image of a kind godfather. From the beginning he is a bit weird and formidable, but good wizard. This part has special “fairy” movements and two arias (the one in the beginning of act 2 is large-scale). Andrey Breus is a wonderful Drosselmeyer and his vocal and stage performance is definitely one of the show’s successes”. Golos Publiki, December 28, 2014 “The sets are good, the show is quick and dynamic, and so children won’t be bored”. Komsomolskaya Pravda, December 28, 2014 “The performance is very beautiful. It has fancy costumes with ruches, bonnets and high wigs, as well as a Christmas tree made of red baubles, robot mice with red shiny eye sockets ominously nodding their heads, the snowwhite house of the Stahlbaums with grand staircases and an indispensable clock face in Act I. The central piece of Act II is a gigantesque armchair to make the dolls look small. The atmosphere is truly festive and magic as is due on Christmas”. Nezavisimaya Gazeta
December 29, 2014
| Supermodel Natalia Vodianova is the face of the New Year premiere The Nutcracker. Opera. Designer Pavel Kaplevich got to know Natalia this year through mutual friends in Paris… Learn more… |
