The Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker – 5 reasons to go

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Today my daughter and I went to see The Nutcracker. It’s a must do for many families over the holiday season. I haven’t been in a while. It’s ALL NEW this year, and I have to say, if you can, you should go!

Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker is based on the libretto by Alexandre Dumas père titled The Tale of the Nutcracker, which is adapted from E. T. A. Hoffmann’s story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. It is the story of Clara, who receives a Nutcracker as a gift at her family’s Christmas Eve party. Later that night, (in a dream?) her Nutcracker magically transforms into a handsome prince, who leads her through an enchanted forest and on to the Nutcracker Prince’s Kingdom. From start to finish I loved it. I got goosebumps when the lights went down and my hands hurt from clapping so hard at the end.

Here are my top 5 reasons I think you should go:

1. The dancing.
The cast is top notch, I mean it’s the Boston Ballet after all. And the supporting dancers are adorable. My very favorite part is the Waltz of the Flowers. I love that there are many dancers. Dew drop, lead flowers, and flowers. It epitomizes everything about ballet for me.

2. The sets.
Robert Perdziola has redesigned all the sets. It references the “Jane Austen period”. It all feels very magical and special. After Clara falls asleep and her Christmas tree transforms into a giant tree my mouth dropped open. It was beautiful.

3. The costumes.
The newly designed costumes, also by Perdziola, are just so lovely. The principal ballerinas sparkle – there are over 3,600 jewels on the Dew Drop costume! The corps looked wispy and delicate and stunning as they danced.

Photo Credit: Gene Schiavone

4. The music.
You can’t really have a ballet without gorgeous music. The orchestra was fantastic. I took my daughter down to the pit at intermission and she had LOTS of question about how “the music came from HERE” ;-)

5. The kids.
The kids are in it and are adorable. The kids are watching it and loving it. And you never know maybe you have a future star on your hands. Inspire them with the magic of The Nutcracker.

All performances of The Nutcracker will take place at The Boston Opera House, November 23 – December 30, 2012. For more information, please visit: http://www.bostonballet.org/nutcracker2012.

Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker 2012 from Boston Ballet on Vimeo.

I’m just going to go ahead and say it… I know you’re waiting. This is not your grandmother’s Nutcracker.

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I was given tickets by The Boston Ballet to attend a performance.  All commentary and opinions are, of course, my own.