From December 4, 2017 the popular ballet The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky in the choreography of Derek Deane is back on the repertoire. The conductor is Dian Tchobanov, the set and costume designer is Roberta Guidi di Bagno, light designer is Jordan Tuinman, ballet masters are Iraida Lukašova, Suzana Bačić, Irena Pasarić, Mihaela Devald, Milka Hribar Bartolović and Leonard Jakovina.

 

The choirmaster is Luka Vukšić. The jewellery and head ornaments were created by Neven Mihić. The pupils of the School for Classical Ballet in Zagreb were coached by Nataša Sedmakov, while the magic tricks were trained by Luka Vidović.The following re-runs are scheduled for December 6, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 27, 28, 29 and 31,  2017 and January 2, 4 and 5, 2018.

 

 

In the 120 years since its premiere, the popularity of The Nutcracker has been growing constantly with audiences worldwide. Today, it is the most frequently performed ballet in the world, and there is most likely not a single generation that has not grown up with it. The beautiful music by Tchaikovsky was completely harnessed by the great choreographer Marius Petipa, who, as a great expert on ballet, gave Tchaikovsky directions to create a musical score, and his contribution in the creation of The Nutcracker has proved indelible. The story about a girl named Clara, who finds an unusual present under the Christmas tree, a wooden nutcracker with which she goes on magical adventures in a fantasy world, was taken from E. T. A. Hoffman’s tale adapted by Alexandre Dumas, the father. The person whom Clara has to thank for all of her adventures is her Uncle Drosselmeyer, a man of magical powers who entertains children with all sorts of tricks and wonders.

 

 

Over the years, the Zagreb Ballet has presented several excellent stagings of The Nutcracker, the last one in 2011, choreographed by Derek Deane. He created this magical ballet story in an attempt to take the audience into a dream world and portray a world different from ours, thus following Tchaikovsky’s attempt to depict this fantastic, magical, mythical and legendary work. The fairy tale effect was created by the excellent performances of Zagreb Ballet soloists and the whole ensemble, supported by the ballet school students.

 

 

Information take from:  Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb / www.hnk.hr