Der Nussknacker - International Festival Ballet
International Festival Ballet & Festival Orchestra
present
A Fairy tale of beauty, elegance, and grace
“The Nutcracker”
The best ballet fairy tale of all time
Music: P. I. Tchaikovsky
Choreography: L. Ivanov and M. Petipa
Editor A. Bogutsky
"The Nutcracker" just in time for Christmas
Enchanting Russian ballet art for young and old. A perfect masterpiece with live orchestra accompaniment
The ballet "The Nutcracker" is based on Alexandre Dumas' version of E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". Tchaikovsky's musical adaptation was premiered on December 18, 1892, in St. Petersburg under the choreography of Lev Ivanov and delighted children and adults alike.
Classical ballet art has often been highly praised by critics all over the world. But as the saying goes: "Better seen once than heard a hundred times." Experience the beautiful ballet "The Nutcracker" with the International Festival Ballet and Festival Orchestra.
The focus is on Marie. On Christmas Eve, she receives a nutcracker from her godfather Drosselmeyer. As she goes to sleep, she dreams of a battle between the toy soldiers led by the Nutcracker and the army of the Mouse King. With her help, the Nutcracker triumphs, who then transforms into a prince. The prince travels with Marie to the realm of sweets. They pass through the fir forest to the Sugar Castle, where the Sugar Plum Fairy, who resides there, hosts a celebration in honor of her guests. The grand stage design by the brilliant theater designer Vyacheslav Okunev, who has worked for the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg and La Scala in Milan, beautiful costumes, and the boundless elegance and carefree lightness of the International Festival Ballet ensemble create a dreamlike and fairytale version of a classic ballet that continues to captivate audiences over 100 years later.
The International Festival Ballet ensemble dances under the Artistic Direction of Alex Bogutsky
Since the summer of 2022, the St. Petersburg Festival Ballet has a new name.
Shocked and deeply affected by Russia's inhuman war on Ukraine, the renowned ballet ensemble changes its name and is now called
“International Festival Ballet”.
With this change, the artists express their clear stance. The Festival Ballet is an internationally thinking ballet that transcends all national borders, standing for global understanding and unity in the poetry of art, music, and dance. Since the start of the war, the artists have expressed their position against Russian aggression through multiple protest actions before each performance. As a result, they are now also threatened in Russia. Consequently, the ensemble, which includes a large number of Ukrainian artists, sees itself as a Ballet of Peace and unity among all people.
The "International Festival Ballet" is a high-caliber ensemble that convinces audiences worldwide with its strict classical elegance, a fresh touch of the 21st century, and impeccable dancing. The troupe consists of 42 dancers who are graduates of the best Russian ballet schools such as the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg, the National Choreographic Academy in Kiev, the Moscow Academy of Choreography, the Ufa Ballet School, and the Perm Ballet Academy. Additionally, the ensemble has collaborated with the best ballet theaters and has won numerous awards and accolades at international ballet festivals and competitions. Therefore, these 42 dancers of the "International Festival Ballet" constitute one of the most beautiful and powerful ballet companies and one of the most prestigious worldwide.
FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
Artistic Director & Conductor Normunds Vaicis
The Festival Orchestra was founded by talented musicians from Moldova, Ukraine, and Latvia. The artistic director and principal conductor is the renowned Maestro Normunds Vaicis. The orchestra's repertoire includes works by Ravel, Debussy, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, Massenet, Fauré, Albeniz, Gounod, and many others. The music for classical ballets such as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Don Quixote, and many others is at the core of the repertoire. The orchestra has collaborated with prestigious ballet ensembles from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. The Festival Orchestra successfully performs in France, the UK, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, and other European countries, establishing itself as one of the best ballet orchestras in Europe despite its relatively small size. In the near future, they will perform the classical ballet seasons for the renowned International Festival Ballet Company in Scandinavia, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Germany, and Austria.
Hallo, ich bin Maya.
