Rudolf Nureyev: The Nutcracker

Нуреев: Щелкунчик

Never before had Rudolf Nureyev’s world-famous choreography of the “Nutcracker” been performed by the Wiener Staatsballett. The present recording presents Nureyev’s final, 1985 Paris version of the original 1967 choreography for the Royal Swedish Ballet with two magnificent young soloists and the splendid Vienna corps de ballet. With its accent on the psychological contents of the work’s underlying tale, Nureyev’s choreography is truly revolutionary. Many formerly stereotyped characters are now transformed into flesh-and-blood figures who infuse the work with wit and lightness.

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Actors

Clara

Liudmila Konovalova

Drosselmeier / Prince

Vladimir Shishov

Crew

Choreographer & director

Rudolf Nureyev

Conductor

Paul Connelly

Set designer

Nicholas Georgiadis

Lighting Designer

Jacques Giovanangeli

About

The Wiener Staatsoper’s ballet ensemble – the Wiener Staatsballett – is one of the great companies in the world. Yet never before had Rudolf Nureyev’s world-famous choreography of the Nutcracker been performed in Vienna. The present production remedies this omission by presenting Nureyev’s final, 1985 Paris version of the original 1967 choreography for the Royal Swedish Ballet with two magnificent young soloists and the splendid Vienna corps de ballet.

Nureyev’s choreography of Tchaikovsky’s immortal fairy tale has long since carved a niche in the performance history of this work. Revolutionary is the accent on the psychological contents of the work’s underlying tale by E.T.A. Hoffmann. Freud hovers close by when young Clara projects her longings on her kind uncle, who is then transformed into a handsome prince in her dream.

Through Nureyev’s psychological approach, many stereotyped characters are transformed into flesh-and-blood figures, and many details infuse the choreography with a wit and lightness that particularly delight children. The definitive 1985 version for the Paris Opera presented here is staged by Nureyev’s pupil and protegé Manuel Legris of the Wiener Staatsballett. Legris spruces up the production with new costumes and roles for the youngest ballet pupils, and can count on the stupendous timing and perfection needed to master Nureyev’s complex choreography.

The production truly deserves applause for the exceptional artistry of its two “outstanding” (Der Standard) solo dancers, the young Russians Liudmila Konovalova and Vladimir Shisov, both first solo dancers of the Wiener Staatsballett. “An impressive overall achievement”, writes Die Presse, “great soloists, endearing pupils, fantasy-inspiring costumes, a harmonious and sure-footed ensemble and a proficient orchestra...”

REVIEWS

"An impressive overall achievement ... great soloists, endearing pupils, fantasy-inspiring costumes, a harmonious and sure-footed ensemble, and a proficient orchestra reaped thunderous, well-deserved applause...”.

🔖Die Presse

"elegant, romantic, delightful"
🔖 Die Presse

"outstanding soloists Liudmila Konovalova and Vladimir Shishov"

🔖 Der Standard

"fabulous ensemble"

🔖 Salzburger Nachrichten

Special project

Wiener Staatsoper

Asmik Grigoryan, Jonas Kaufmann, Anna Netrebko, Olga Peretyatko, Juan Diego Flórez, Elīna Garanča, Ildar Abdrazakov, and other stars of the world of opera in the new musical special project "Vienna Opera." →

The Nutcracker Marathon

This year’s Nutcrackers include: a tender, youthful production by students of the Vaganova Academy; a watercolor, cozy staging from the Dresden Opera; a grand, Hoffmann‑esque somber Viennese Nutcracker choreographed by Nureyev; an elegant, classical performance from the stage of the Berlin State Opera starring Vladimir Malakhov and Nadia Saidakova; a fairytale production by Matthew Bourne, an elegant tribute to 1930s musicals and early Hollywood; and the most beloved, long‑awaited New Year’s ballet version – staged by Yuri Grigorovich at the Bolshoi Theatre, among others. →