The Nutcracker Suite is easily one of the most recognizable ballets performed today, and it’s hard to imagine Christmastime without its triumphant melodies. If you’ve never seen the elegant ballet that accompanies Tchaikovsky’s music, you have a chance to enjoy it all at the Saenger Theatre this month. Mark your calendar for The Nutcracker Suite!
When and Where
Ballet Pensacola will perform The Nutcracker at the Saenger Theatre on Saturday, December 21. The ballet begins at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $33, and you can order yours via Ticketmaster. The Saenger is located at 118 Palafox Place, Pensacola, Florida 32502.
The Nutcracker Suite
Inspired by a story by E.T.A. Hoffman, The Nutcracker Suite follows the adventures of a girl whose Christmas gift comes to life. The story begins within a cozy home during a Christmas Eve celebration. The mysterious Drosselmeyer presents everyone with gifts, including an ornate nutcracker for Clara. When the clock strikes midnight, the nutcracker comes to life and transports Clara to a vivid dreamland. The stage also transforms before your very eyes as the Christmas tree grows to giant proportions.
After a thrilling battle between gingerbread soldiers and menacing mice, the nutcracker leads Clara through the Land of Sweets where she meets dancing delicacies from around the world. Various dance and musical motifs reflect styles from faraway places like Spain, Russia, China, and beyond. Fluttering snowflakes, flowers, and the many children of Mother Ginger each demonstrate their own dances for their young guest, and the tableau culminates in a waltz and a stunning performance by the Sugar Plum Fairy.
Defying Expectations
While The Nutcracker is now one of Tchaikovsky’s most well-known works, it did not receive a particularly warm welcome at its debut. The ballet’s first performance in Saint Petersburg in 1892 left critics with mixed impressions, although the performer who portrayed the Sugar Plumb Fairy was enthusiastically praised for her agility and skill. When the ballet came to New York in the 1950s, American audiences fell in love with the music and dance, and The Nutcracker soon became a treasured Christmastime tradition.
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While You’re Out
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