The Kirov's Gargoyle Nutcracker
The Nutcracker
The Kirov Ballet
Opera House, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Washington, DC
Tuesday, December 23, 2003
by
George Jackson
copyright
© 2003 by George Jackson
The
Kirov's Nutcracker is rebel, and for Russia that is novel (Fedor
Lopukhov's version having been forgotten) even though it isn't for us.
It starts, however, with Tchaikovsky's familiar music which was as finely
etched as frostflowers on the windowpane and as clear as sleighbells drawing
near. The entire score sounded glorious under Mikhail Argrest's baton
in the crisp yet never harsh acoustics of the re-engineered KC Opera House.
When the curtain rose to show painter Mihail Chemiakin's sets and costumes,
and reveal his concept, there was much food for thought. Kirill Simonov's
choreography seldom strayed far from Chemiakin's idea that Nutcracker
is really a danse macabre.
read
review
What's On This Week
Dec.
29 - Jan 4
Swan Lake
Kirov Ballet
Opera House
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Dec. 23, 25, 26 at 7:30 pm; Dec. 27, 27at 1:30 and 7 p.m.
202-467-4600 or 800-444-1324
Jan.
2 - Jan. 4
The Taming of the Shrew
Ballet Austin
Children 9 and older
Terrace Theater
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2
1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 3-4
|
|
|