Dresden: The Nutcracker

The beloved story of little Marie, whose gift nutcracker transforms itself into a prince during the night, unfolds in a novel way: instead of having the children’s roles of the first act danced by adults, as is often the case, this production entrusts the roles to actual children and youths from Dresden’s famous Palucca School of Dance. Thus little Marie is first performed by young Lydia Jahn before being replaced by professional soloist Anna Merkulova in Marie’s dream sequence. 

Impressive in the lead roles are, besides Anna Merkulova, István Simon as her Prince, as well as Yumiko Takeshima and Jiri Bubenicek as the Sugar Fairy and her husband. “A firework of top performances from the dancers,” (Morgenpost), the evening zips by in a sugar-rush of exuberant mice and angels, fairies and princes, and all with the immortal music of Peter Tchaikovsky performed by the Staatskapelle Dresden under Vello Pähn, who “lets the music’s colors glow with impetuousness and beauty” (Sächsische Zeitung).

Zitate: 
“It is sweetly designed, well danced and performed with dazzling beauty” / “Es ist herzig gemacht, gut getanzt und leuchtend schön musiziert” 
Sächsische Zeitung

“... a great deal of dancing with lightheartedness and joy” / “... wird mit Unbeschwertheit und Freude auch viel getanzt” 
Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten

“With Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet ‘The Nutcracker’ The Semperoper is making its audience a beguilingly beautiful christmas git. Thunderous applaus after the premiere.... A firework of top performances from the dancers...” / “Mit Tschaikowskys ballettklassiker ‘Der Nussknacker’ macht die Semperoper ihrem Publikum ein berückend schönes Weihnachtsgeschenk. Tosender Beifall nach der Premiere ... Ein Feuerwerk tänzerischer Spitzendarbietungen...” 
Morgenpost

“The premiere audience was beside itself with joy... The company dances with passion, verve and eleganz – tip-top dancing through and through” / “Das Premierenpublikum war aus dem Häuschen... Die Compagnie tanzt mit Leidenschaft, Verve und Eleganz – eben Spitzentanz durch und durch” 
Sächsische Zeitung