The Ballet Concert – Into the Fantasy of Nutcracker I

Venue
Concert Hall, National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying)
Time
2023/12/23 (Sat) 19:30, 2023/12/24 (Sun) 14:30

Adapted from TCHAIKOVSKY’s classic ballet The Nutcracker, renowned dancer YEH Ming-hwa, conductor CHANG Yin-fang, and Nan Yi Ensemble Studio collaborate to present a contemporary rendition of the Nutcracker story for this generation. YEH, a masterful interpreter of the encounters between people and time-space through physicality and the senses, employs contemporary narrative techniques to guide the audience through reality and the story of The Nutcracker: Christmas celebrations, meeting the Nutcracker Prince, battling the Mouse King, and the vibrant Snowflake Kingdom. The fantastical scenes mirror the harshness and beauty of reality. This magical journey will transport adults back to their childhood and ignite boundless imagination in children. The performance showcases a chamber orchestra of 16 musicians who join Taiwan’s elite dancers for a captivating feast of music and ballet.

The protagonist, a quiet yet keenly perceptive girl, consistently feels out of place among her peers at school. One day, while flipping through a pop-up book, she embarks on a dream-like adventure, encountering the Nutcracker and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Throughout this enchanting journey, the trio confront their fears and embrace hope together.

“The complexities and beauty of reality are mirrored in the dream world. Some aspects appear more beautiful, while others take on a darker tone; everything transforms into characters and plotlines within the story. Growing up is akin to The Nutcracker, imbued with “courage” and “fantasy,” with people and events along the way adding diverse hues to the journey. Through the companionship of fairy tales, the magic seeps into reality, supporting us step by step as we continue to grow and learn. In wondrous winter, we all embody the spirit of the girl who meets the Nutcracker, allowing the story to infuse us with limitless courage.”——YEH Ming-hwa

In 1891, TCHAIKOVSKY composed the music for the ballet “The Nutcracker” based on HOFFMANN’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. The ballet choreographed by PETIPA evolved into the widely known modern version, exuding warmth and childlike wonder. The story of The Nutcracker unfolds during the hope-filled Christmas season when the protagonist, Clara, receives a Nutcracker as a gift. Once everyone has fallen asleep, the Nutcracker transforms into a prince, and he embarks on a fantastical journey with Clara. Together, they battle the Mouse Army, defeat the Mouse King, and explore the enchanting realms of the Snow and Sugar Plum Kingdoms. Amid the feasts and celebrations, Clara gradually awakens to find it was all a dream. For over two centuries, the story of The Nutcracker has captivated people with its sincerity and mystical allure, serving as a key that unlocks the boundless world of imagination.

She serves as both the principal of the art school and the conductor of the school’s orchestra, diligently leading rehearsals of Christmas pieces with the musicians. In the bustling environment of class preparations, teachers and students are busy at work. Among them is a girl, known for her clumsy nature… In ballet class, she’s gently looked after by a considerate little boy who always seems to be watching over her. Her clumsiness continues in fencing class, where she accidentally bumps into the instructor, and she seems overwhelmed by the unbridled colors of art class. The day culminates in a music lesson, where she remains silent. Unable to withstand the snickering of her peers, she flees from the classroom.

The principal reveals a magnificent pop-up book, none other than the girl’s favortie story, “The Nutcracker.” As soon as they flip through its pages, they are whisked away into a dreamland, where the teachers and students morph into characters straight out of the story.

In the story’s pivotal moment, where the Nutcracker faces off against the Mouse King, the girl summons her courage and plunges into the heat of the battle. Alongside her, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the little boy anxiously wanting to provide aid.

It’s a scene where righteousness seems to conquer villainy. Together, the girl, the Nutcracker, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and the little boy traverse a white landscape, journeying towards the enchanting Snowflake Kingdom.

On their journey, the Mouse King and Mouse Queen captures the little boy who has strayed from the group. The girl, drawing on her courage, manages to defeat them both, overcoming her own fears in the process.

After these difficult trials, the girl arrives at the Snowflake Kingdom, where she is greeted by a beautiful Christmas concert.

The climax of the concert features a magnificent dance with snowflakes swirling around, creating a serene, silver-white wonderland. Is this all just the girl’s imagination, or actually happening in “The Nutcracker”?

Act I

1. Overture
2. Scene 1 – The Christmas Tree
3. Scene 2 – March
4. Scene 4 – Dance Scene & Arrival Of Drosselmeyer
5. Scene 5 – Scene & Grandfather’s Dance
6. Scene 6 – The Magic Spell Begins
7. Scene 7 – The Battle Between The Nutcracker & The Mouse King
8. Scene 8 – Scene In The Pine Forest(Journey Through The Snow)
9. Scene 9 – Waltz of The Snowflakes

Act II

10. Scene 11 – Clara & The Prince
11. Scene 12 – Divertissement, Chocolate – Spanish Dance
12. Scene 12 – Divertissement, Coffee – Arabian Dance
13. Scene 12 – Divertissement, Tea – Chinese Dance
14. Scene 12 – Divertissement, Trepak
15. Scene 14 – Pas de Deux – Dance of The Prince & the Sugar-Plum Fairy
16. Scene 14 – Variation I- Tarantella
17. Scene 14 – Variation II – Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy
18. Scene 15 – Final Waltz & Apotheosis

Production Consultant CHOU Shu-yi
Choreographer & Playwright YEH Ming-hwa
Artistic Consultant & Costume Consultant LIN Ching-ju
Conductor CHANG Yin-fang
Stage Designer CHOU Chih-wei
Lighting Designer KUO Chien-hao
Costume Supervisor* YEN Liang-su
Costumes*
YANG Kai-lin、TSENG Yu-hsuan (Mouse King、Mouse Queen)
Wang You-zheng、NG Hoi-yan、Liu Bi-sheng (Nutcracker Prince、Sugar Plum Fairy、Little Girl、Little Boy)
WANG Jo-hua、CHANG Chi-wen、LIN Po-tai (Snowflake、Nutcracker、Mouse、Dance Teacher、Art Teacher、Music Teacher)
WU Chi-jui、CHEN Yu-jen、HSIEH Lian-yu
Ensemble Nan Yi Ensemble Studio
Rehearsal Assistant WONG King-hei

Dancer
Dance Teacher、Sugar Plum Fairy KUO Jung-an
Fencing Teacher、Nutcracker、Nutcracker Prince SHIUE Ren-kai
Art Teacher、Mouse King、Snowflake TANG Wan-yu
Music Teacher、Mouse Queen、Snowflake SU Tzu-ting
Little Girl CHENG Tzu-tung
Little Boy CHIU Po-sheng
Girl、Snowflake、Mouse LAI Ming-yueh、LIN Yi-chi、LIN Yu-jhih、TSAI Yi-tsen、HO Yu-chieh、WANG Yun-ching

Musicians
Violin I CHEN Ming-han
Violin II SUN Meng-ching
Viola LIN Huan-ling
Cello HUANG Ping-chieh
Double Bass PAN Yung-pei
Oboe CHUNG Hsiao-hsuan
Flute HUNG Tsui-yi
Clarinet WANG Kuan-chieh
Clarinet / Bass Clarinet LUO Zhi-yuan
Bassoon OU Yi-hsin
Horn WEN Yu-ying
Trumpet LIU Yu-chun
Trombone KAO Tsung-wen
Harp KUANG Yi-wen
Percussion YEH Chia-an
Percussion WU Kuo-hsuan
Celesta TSAUR Ming-tsang

*Costumes are co-produced through the Project of Ballet Costume Design and Produce, by the collaboration between National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying) and Dept. of Theatrical Design & Technology, TNUA.