From 4 to 6, as well as on January 9, 2019, at the numerous requests of viewers, the traditional New Year's performance «The Nutcracker» will be repeated in «Astana Ballet». The ballet-tale in the expressive and bright edition of Vasily Vainonen, which premiered in December 2017, has already become an integral part of the repertoire of the theater and is very popular among guests and residents of the capital, gathering full houses.
In total, the ballet «The Nutcracker» by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, which took place on the stage of the capital Ballet Theater from December 22 to 31, was attended by over 150 students of the National Academy of Choreography, teachers and 40 theater artists.
«The Nutcracker» is an unusually touching New Year's fairy tale for children and adults, which has become an indispensable decoration of the pre-New Year bustle of the city. This is a story about how true love, friendship and loyalty help to overcome many trials, fight the Mouse King’s army and defeat him. The story of Masha and the Nutcracker teaches children and reminds adults that only bravely rushing into battle can win the battle, and the great power of love can defea any evil spell.
The festive scenery, requisites and props created specially for the theater by one of the employees, the head of the decoration workshop of «Astana Ballet», Zhandos Omarov, who gave the festive and magical atmosphere to «The Nutcracker». When developing scenography, he adhered to the concept of the Mariinsky Theater.
The ballet «Nutcracker» was premiered in 1934 on the stage of the previous Leningrad Theater named after Kirov, known today as the Mariinsky Theater, by Russian choreographer Vasily Vainonen. In 1938, the production was transferred to the stage of the Bolshoi Theater, and later other theaters, not only in the USSR, but also abroad. This performance is considered to be one of the most popular in the world, having survived a record number of productions.
The fascinating performance in three acts was moved to the stage of the «Astana Ballet» a year ago, thanks to the National Artist of the Russian Federation, the rector of the Kazakh Academy of Choreography Altynai Asylmuratova. The ballet libretto was written after the tale of Hoffmann, «The Nutcracker and the Mouse King».
The theater director Valeriy Kuzembayev noted that residents and guests of the capital city, as well as art lovers and connoisseurs, have the opportunity to choose performances of different nature and editions, which was not possible before. If «Astana Ballet» presents «The Nutcracker» in the magical and romantic version of Vasily Vainonen, the «Astana Opera» theater have staged it by the outstanding contemporary choreographer Yuri Grigorovich. It is noteworthy that the tickets for the performances in the both metropolitan theaters are bought up in advance.
«Such public interest imposes on us creative responsibility. With all our team, we are trying to create a real bright holiday for our viewers», - said Valeriy Kuzembayev.
Despite the fact that the performance exists for many years, according to the assistant director Elena Sherstneva, it still remains young, beautiful and amazing.
«Taking part in this performance is a pleasure. In «The Nutcracker» (edited by Vasily Vainonen) there are a lot of children involved. It is a fabulous, childish, kind and gorgeous. For the students of the Academy, this performance is an amazing school, knowledge of the profession, which later will be a very valuable and rewarding experience», - she shared her thoughts.
In the performance, students of the Academy of Choreography perform children's scenes of the first act, dance of snowflakes, dances of dolls from the divertissement, and graduates of the Academy having a try at the leading roles of Masha and the Prince, along with future colleagues from the theater.
According to the teachers-pedagogues, young and adult artists work long and hard every day. As the head of the vocational education school of the Kazakh National Academy of Choreography, Svetlana Kukshinova, noted, that this is a great stage experience that will enable future ballet dancers to get to a higher level of professionalism, to feel the spirit of backstage, real «taste» of preparation for the performance.
«Children go to daily rehearsals with delight and glowing eyes. They are in high spirits, ready even to skip a winter holidays with their parents at home. There is a joyful mood, the expectation of a wonderful, fantastic new year and performance predominates in our academy. As if the Academy lives in this festive and exciting atmosphere», - she said.
Deputy Director Mussabekov Dyussembay noted that «Astana Ballet» is becoming a full-cycle theater, taking into attention that the little-known backstage work is done not by invited, but by Kazakhstan masters. In total, according to his data, for the play «The Nutcracker» more than 200 costumes and requisites were made and constructed, which emphasize the beauty and magic of the holiday.
«Our masters have done a titanic work. We hope that the singular set of design has turned out to be warm, cozy, homely and leaves a unforgettable impression on children and adults», - concluded Mussabekov Dyussembay.