New Things # 3

Week 3: 12th January 2009 - 18th January 2009

Date:- January 17th 2009
New Thing:- go to a ballet.

Last night, after spending the day knitting and eating crumpets, GKL and I dressed ourselves up to the nines (she was in a magenta ballgown and I was in a deep purple velvet lace up dress) and we went to a ballet. This ballet:

Raymond Gubbay presents The Nutcracker. Performed by The Russian State Ballet of Siberia and The Russian State Ballet Orchestra. Artistic Director Sergei Bobrov, Music Director & Chief Conductor Anatoly Tchepurnoi. In a magical new production, this most famous of fantasy ballets opens as night falls on a traditional fireside scene on Christmas Eve. On the stroke of midnight we are transported to an enchanted world where toy dolls come to life as an army of soldiers does battle with a gang of mice and a Nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince. This lavish new production will entrance adults and children alike and is a family outing not to be missed. Formed in 1981, the Russian State Ballet of Siberia has quickly established itself as one of Russia's leading ballet companies and has built an international reputation for delivering performances of outstanding quality and unusual depth. The soloists and corps de ballet are superb, and never fail to delight audiences with their breathtaking physical ability and dazzling costumes.

I've never seen a ballet before, but I knew (sort of) the story of The Nutcracker, and I know Tchaikovsky's music.

The dancing was impressive, not that I'd have known if they'd cocked up a million times. The performers were great, but I couldn't really get into it (aside from a small part with five gorgeous belly dancers; drool). It had the same effect on me as Fantasia. It was very pretty, but a little creepy.

My lasting memory of the night? Wondering how much further up his butt crack the Prince's tights were gonna go.