Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre 7 December 2022 - The Nutcracker | GoComGo.com

The Nutcracker

Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, Main Stage, Vilnius, Lithuania
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Wednesday 7 December 2022
6:30 PM

E-tickets: Print at home or at the box office of the event if so specified. You will find more information in your booking confirmation email.

You can only select the category, and not the exact seats.
If you order 2 or 3 tickets: your seats will be next to each other.
If you order 4 or more tickets: your seats will be next to each other, or, if this is not possible, we will provide a combination of groups of seats (at least in pairs, for example 2+2 or 2+3).

Important Info
Type: Ballet
City: Vilnius, Lithuania
Starts at: 18:30
Acts: 2
Duration: 2h 30min

E-tickets: Print at home or at the box office of the event if so specified. You will find more information in your booking confirmation email.

You can only select the category, and not the exact seats.
If you order 2 or 3 tickets: your seats will be next to each other.
If you order 4 or more tickets: your seats will be next to each other, or, if this is not possible, we will provide a combination of groups of seats (at least in pairs, for example 2+2 or 2+3).

Overview

A ballet full of mystery and miracles, poetry and beauty, and wonderful dreams that come true on Christmas Eve by the green fir tree…

“While creating duets, Krzysztof Pastor is merciless – dancers must overcome all difficulties. The partner must be able to hold his better half, to turn her in the air and carry her from one end of the stage to another. Dancers must look aristocratic, but at the same time, they must also be very strong and possess exceptional stamina, in order to successfully finish the first part (Adagio) and immediately continue with the variation. It is a truly difficult challenge, which is offered to the dancers in almost every duet of from grand classical ballet repertoire. 
One of the performers was Olga Konošenko. She‘s exceptional!
The entire production can be described as spectacular: it creates a magical atmosphere, charms the audience with the beauty of elegant and playful costumes.” (Margarita Medina, “Dance” 2015 February, France)

History
Premiere of this production: 06 December 1892, Imperial Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg

The Nutcracker (Balet-feyeriya) is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Op. 71). The libretto is adapted from E. T. A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King".

Synopsis

Plot 

Below is a synopsis based on the original 1892 libretto by Marius Petipa. The story varies from production to production, though most follow the basic outline. The names of the characters also vary. In the original E. T. A. Hoffmann story, the young heroine is called Marie Stahlbaum and Clara (Klärchen) is her doll's name. In the adaptation by Dumas on which Petipa based his libretto, her name is Marie Silberhaus. In still other productions, such as Baryshnikov's, Clara is Clara Stahlbaum rather than Clara Silberhaus.

Act I

Scene 1: The Stahlbaum Home

It is Christmas Eve. Family and friends have gathered in the parlor to decorate the beautiful Christmas tree in preparation for the party. Once the tree is finished, the children are sent for. They stand in awe of the tree sparkling with candles and decorations.

The party begins. A march is played. Presents are given out to the children. Suddenly, as the owl-topped grandmother clock strikes eight, a mysterious figure enters the room. It is Drosselmeyer, a local councilman, magician, and Clara's godfather. He is also a talented toymaker who has brought with him gifts for the children, including four lifelike dolls who dance to the delight of all. He then has them put away for safekeeping.

Clara and Fritz are sad to see the dolls being taken away, but Drosselmeyer has yet another toy for them: a wooden nutcracker carved in the shape of a little man. The other children ignore it, but Clara immediately takes a liking to it. Fritz, however, breaks it, and Clara is heartbroken.

During the night, after everyone else has gone to bed, Clara returns to the parlor to check on her beloved nutcracker. As she reaches the little bed, the clock strikes midnight and she looks up to see Drosselmeyer perched atop it. Suddenly, mice begin to fill the room and the Christmas tree begins to grow to dizzying heights. The nutcracker also grows to life size. Clara finds herself in the midst of a battle between an army of gingerbread soldiers and the mice, led by their king. They begin to eat the soldiers.

The nutcracker appears to lead the soldiers, who are joined by tin soldiers, and by dolls who serve as doctors to carry away the wounded. As the Mouse King advances on the still-wounded nutcracker, Clara throws her slipper at him, distracting him long enough for the nutcracker to stab him.

Scene 2: A Pine Forest

The mice retreat and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome Prince. He leads Clara through the moonlit night to a pine forest in which the snowflakes dance around them, beckoning them on to his kingdom as the first act ends.

Act II

Scene 1: The Land of Sweets

Clara and the Prince travel to the beautiful Land of Sweets, ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Prince's place until his return. He recounts for her how he had been saved from the Mouse King by Clara and transformed back into himself. In honor of the young heroine, a celebration of sweets from around the world is produced: chocolate from Spain, coffee from Arabia, tea from China, and candy canes from Russia all dance for their amusement; Danish shepherdesses perform on their flutes; Mother Ginger has her children, the Polichinelles, emerge from under her enormous hoop skirt to dance; a string of beautiful flowers perform a waltz. To conclude the night, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier perform a dance.

A final waltz is performed by all the sweets, after which the Sugar Plum Fairy ushers Clara and the Prince down from their throne. He bows to her, she kisses Clara goodbye, and leads them to a reindeer drawn sleigh. It takes off as they wave goodbye to all the subjects who wave back.

In the original libretto, the ballet's apotheosis "represents a large beehive with flying bees, closely guarding their riches". Just like Swan Lake, there have been various alternative endings created in productions subsequent to the original.

Venue Info

Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre - Vilnius
Location   A. Vienuolio st. 1

Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre (LNOBT) is an opera house and ballet theatre in Vilnius. It is the largest theatre of the country, committed to organising the creation and production of scenic works for musical theatre and assuring their public performance on the highest artistic level.

LNOBT aims to nurture, initiate and cultivate traditions of national musical theatre, develop traditions of contemporary musical theatre and present them to the wide community, seek the artistic embodiment of values treasured in the world's musical culture. Also, to capacitate young talented and recognised artists and performers, both from Lithuania and abroad, to participate in the theatre's activities. The theatre shapes the image of country's artistic culture by presenting the accomplishments of national musical culture abroad, as well as cultivating, instigating and satisfying the need for professional scenic art in the wide society.

Lithuanian national opera and ballet theatre is currently led by general manager Jonas Sakalauskas, artistic director of opera Sesto Quatrini and artistic director of ballet Martynas Rimeikis. The chief conductor of LNOBT’s symphony orchestra is Ričardas Šumila.

Recent decades brought a particular boost in the Company’s activity and new developments in the repertoire. At the present, the LNOBT is a modern, forward-thinking institution that strives to present its audiences with best versions of both opera and ballet productions. The repertoire of the theatre consists of classical and modern pieces produced by some of today’s best directors. Latest highlights include “Madama Butterfly” (dir. Anthony Minghella), “Turandot” (dir. Robert Wilson), “The Bluebeard’s Castle” (dir. Csaba Káel), “Ernani” (dir. Jean-Claude Berutti), “Idomeneo” (dir. Graham Vick), “Don Carlo” (dir. Gunter Kramer), “La boheme” (dir. Cristina Muti), “Piaf” (chor. Mauro Bigonzetti), “Le Corsaire” (chor. Manuel Legris), “Der Prozess” (chor. Martynas Rimeikis), etc. The LNOBT collaborates in co-productions with some of the world’s leading theatres, such as the Metropolitan Opera New York, San Francisco a, Teatro Real in Madrid, Houston Grand Opera, English National Opera, Israeli Opera and other prominent institutions.

The LNOBT has also set up a tradition of Summer Season performances in the courtyard of Trakai Castle. Ever since the Company first welcomed its audiences in Trakai in 2001, these open-air events proved immensely popular with local viewers and visitors alike.

The Lithuanian Opera and Ballet Theatre often provides a venue for official state events, various festivals and festivities, celebrations and concerts. It is the biggest theatre and one of the most important cultural centres in Lithuania.

Important Info
Type: Ballet
City: Vilnius, Lithuania
Starts at: 18:30
Acts: 2
Duration: 2h 30min
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