I have been attending Boston Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker for as long as I can remember. As a little girl, the elegant dancers floating effortlessly to the famed scores of Tchaikovsky evoked beauty, grace and life. Oh how I wished that one day I would grow up to be a ballerina dancing on Boston’s famed ballet stage. Sadly, my dream never came to pass. However, the love that I held for ballet as a little girl clasping my mother’s hand as we entered the Wang Theatre, is the same affinity that echos to my soul today and draws me to the stage time and again.
This season, Boston Ballet introduced a new production of The Nutcracker and I had the pleasure of attending a recent performance. As the house lights dimmed and the stage lights rose to illuminate the stunning sight before me, I gasped at the beauty created by set and costume designer Robert Perdziola.
Complete with new sets, costumes and choreography, the new production dates back to the early 1800s and is reminiscent of the Jane Austen days. The previous production, which Boston Ballet featured for 17 years, was set in 1835 and included the visual elements that I grew up watching, loving and remembering so well. Although the new rendition is spectacular in its own right, the ballet from my youth will always hold a special place in my heart.
As a style writer, clothing is often a topic of conversation. The Nutcracker’s impressive collection of 182 costumes encompass more than 2,000 yards of net and tulle and more than 200,000 jewels. Act 1 opens with a plethora of brown, cream and gray skirts and silhouettes, while Act 2 erupts with vibrant tutus and opulent bodices. The dazzling Sugar Plum and Dew Drop costumes hold more than 3,600 jewels — these are truly dramatic works of art.
Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker is a magical experience and a must-see for audiences of all ages. You don’t have to love ballet to fall in love with the music and momentum. The Nutcracker runs until December 30 at the Boston Opera House. For tickets, visit www.bostonballet.org.
My attendance was courtesy of Boston Ballet.
