Tchaikovskys waltz of the flowers is still looping through my mind, even as the curtain closed for the last time on san francisco ballets nutcracker last weekend. The major problem is the lackluster, cluttered waltz of the flowers, which the choreographer really should reconsider for 2014. It tells the story of a little girl who goes to the land of sweets on christmas eve. The audience loved it, and the san francisco ballet has performed the nutcracker every christmas eve and throughout the winter season since then. But san francisco ballet artistic director and principal choreographer helgi tomassons nutcracker. So many just include waltz, reed flutes, and sugar plum. Brightening up sf ballets nutcracker flower costumes datebook. Uniquely, this production sets the fantastic events of the ballet at the time of the panama pacific international exposition in 1915. Fun fact although the nutcracker made its debut in 1892 in st. Petersburg, russia, the first production in the united states choreographed by william christensen was performed by san francisco ballet in 1944. It was later also arranged as the grand finale of the suite derived from the ballet. Personnel details and dvd available from waltz of the flowers from tchaikovskys the nutcracker.
Also, this local dance school has presented the favorite holiday ballet for over 30 years. A perennial holiday favorite, tchaikovskys the nutcracker has remained one of the most popular ballets more than a century after its debut in 1892. Celina cummings as the rose from waltz of the flowers in willam christensens nutcracker, which had its u. Nutcracker, an album by san francisco ballet orchestra on spotify we and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Sf ballets 2018 nutcracker underway with good cheer. The tale of clara or marie depending on the version and the toy she receives from her uncle on christmas eve. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Design ideas for the san francisco ballets production of nutcracker. San francisco, war memorial opera house 15 matinee december 2018 whether you bemoan its arrival or delight in the overtures first staccato notes, nutcracker is an inevitable part of the yearly ballet calendar. Ivan vsevolozhsky and marius petipa adapted hoffmanns story for the ballet. The paraphrase on tchaikovskys flower waltz is a successful piano arrangement from one of the movements from the nutcracker by the pianist and composer percy grainger. The story was based on a childrens fairy tale by e. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile. The pianist and conductor mikhail pletnev adapted some of the music into a virtuosic concert suite for piano solo.
San francisco ballet, the oldest professional ballet company in the united states, was the first company to stage a complete version of the nutcracker in 1944, choreographed by willam christensen. Instead of whipping out a small nutcracker that drosselmeyer later makes big, the nutcracker should be at least as dramatic in its appearance as drosselmeyer himself, so that the child from pacific heights in the third row, dressed in velvet togs from a sacramento street boutique, isnt tempted to think, big dealive got a better nutcracker at home. Amateur footage of nutcracker presented by san francisco. Dancers perform the waltz of the flowers in san francisco ballets production of nutcracker. Dancers perform the waltz of the flowers in san francisco ballets. Nutcracker san francisco ballet by matthew diamond. Listen to waltz of the flowers from san francisco ballet orchestras tchaikovsky. He made a selection of eight of the pieces in the ballet and called it, the nutcracker suite, op. Before the first performance in russia, tchaikovsky did something unique and unusual. Every year around this time, godfather drosselmeyer arrives with his bag of gifts. Sf ballets nutcracker glitters with timeless charm.
San francisco ballet celebrates 75th anniversary of. A young girls enchanted present leads her on a wonderful christmas adventure in this beautiful classical ballet, danced to tchaikovskys. The san francisco ballet has the best version of the nutcracker, i mean it was the company that made the ballet a holiday tradition. The result is a funfilled original musical production brimming with wit, artistry and ingenuity. So, grab the crew and get ready for a holiday feast for the eyes and ears. The last of his three ballets, it was first performed in december 1892. The lilting waltz of the flowers originally appeared in act ii of tchaikovskys famous ballet the nutcracker, when clara and the prince arrive at the kingdom of sweets, ruled by the sugar plum fairy. In wednesdays opening of san francisco ballets 74th year of nutcracker the 14th production of artistic director helgi tomassons 2004 version dashing aaron robison danced the. With the annual opening of the san francisco ballets nutcracker on thursday evening at the war memorial opera house, we are witnessing the yearly reawakening of americas single enduring. Sf ballets nutcracker works its infectious magic once. Tchaikovsky piotr ilich waltz of the flowers from the nutcracker pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky 25 april7 may 1840 25 october6 november 1893, often anglicized as peter ilyich tchaikovsky, is a russian composer of the lateromantic period, some of whose works are among the most popular music in the classical repertoire. San francisco ballet waltzes into 2018 the classical girl. Many dance companies, including the new york city ballet and san francisco ballet, have made this show a staple of their repertoire each year, bringing the story of clara, the nutcracker, and the.
The san francisco ballet presents its annual staging of the classic russian christmas ballet when nutcracker marks its 75th year as part of the companys standard repertoire through dec. Listen to sf ballet orchestra play tchaikovskys nutcracker and join us starting december 12 to experience all the magic in. Nutcracker for free, and see the artwork, lyrics and similar artists. I like to attend the production a second time, later in the run, which. Now in its 12th year of revivals, the san francisco ballets nutcracker looks as fresh and crisp as those white tulle outfits sported by myriad little girls at the opening performance of. From the lovely waltz of the flowers to the crystalline beauty of the stunning snowflake waltz, each scene is more breathtaking than the last.
Aloft on the great tchaikovsky score, a marvel of melodic bounty and. I do not need to repeat it here, except that i agree, it is not strictly a traditional one, but who cares if the. Waltz of the flowers simple english wikipedia, the free. The new york city ballet premiered george balanchines staging of the work, which includes tchaikovskys complete, original ballet libretto. For the ballet, tchaikovsky would again join forces with marius petipa, with whom he.
It is a staple of ballet companies around the world. From colorful costumes and lavish sets youll find this production both heartwarming and fun. Btw this is north atlanta dance theatre not atlanta ballet. Dancealong nutcracker a holiday tradition unique to san. Waltz of the flowers san francisco ballet orchestra. Partygoers waltz, rats swordfight, a snow queen whirls as buckets of snow fall, cancan dancers. The excerpts in this footage are from the third version staged by the company, choreographed by willams brother, lew christensen, in 1967 the second version ran from 19541966. After mounting the first fulllength nutcracker in the united states 75 years ago in 1944, thensan francisco ballet director willam christensen wondered what he had wrought. San francisco ballet nutcracker san francisco dancetabs. Little known facts about the nutcracker suite and tchaikovsky. The scenic design by michael yeargan, setting the tale at the time of the 1915 san francisco world fair, is sensational. Waltz with the flowers to this familyfriendly local version of the nutcracker. The nutcracker is an 1892 twoact ballet originally choreographed by marius petipa and lev.
The san francisco ballet mounted this elaborate 2008 production of pyotr illych tchaikovskys 1892 nutcracker, with choreography by helgi tomasson the said companys resident artistic director and scenic design by michael yeargan. The nutcracker ballet was composed by tchaikovsky in dance of the sugar plum fairy became part of the nutcracker suite, a selection of pieces from the ballet, that was. And this is not even to mention the fabulous dancing by one of the premier ballet companies in the country, the san francisco ballet. This is the version of the nutcracker you want to buy. Brightening up sf ballets nutcracker flower costumes. The waltz is also the last number in his nutcracker suite. This visually stunning, allnew production of nutcracker, choreographed by helgi tomasson artistic director of the san francisco ballet is a graceful and timeless adventure on a grand scale. From the lovely waltz of the flowers to the crystalline beauty of the stunning snowflake waltz. Tchaikovsky told his fellow musicians he was working on a fantastic ballet called the nutcracker. Nutcracker has quite a history in san francisco for it was here in 1944 that the san francisco ballet, itself only 11 years old, produced the first performance in america of tchaikovskys famous ballet. Nutcracker waltz of the flowers san francisco ballet.
Concert suite from the nutcracker, for solo piano edit. The waltz of the flowers 1892 is a piece of orchestral music from the second act of the nutcracker, a ballet composed by tchaikovsky. San francisco ballet applies their impressive technical chops to the classic scene of christmas festivity in a recently revamped production set against the painted ladies of san francisco and the inner glass sanctum of the conservatory of flowers. Noting the profusion of productions around the country, he later said, it sometimes. Hoffmanns 1816 fairy tale the nutcracker and the mouse king. Its awfully fun to write a march for tin soldiers, a waltz of the flowers, etc. San francisco ballets nutcracker goes deep the san.
The waltz of the flowers is a song written in 1892 by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky for the second act of the wonderful christmas show, the. Waltz of the flowers from tchaikovskys the nutcracker youtube. Provided to youtube by entertainment one distribution us waltz of the flowers san francisco ballet san francisco ballet. It wasnt until 1944 that the united states premier of the nutcracker was performed by the san francisco ballet company. Each year, the san francisco lesbiangay freedom band blends tchaikovskys classic the nutcracker ballet with an entertaining theme. I can remember in my crib growing up with the sound of the waltz of the flowers and the french horn, she. The paraphrase on tchaikovsky s flower waltz is a successful piano arrangement from one of the movements from the nutcracker by the pianist and composer percy grainger. San francisco ballet marks historic 75th anniversary of. The nutcracker tells a story about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on christmas eve and wages a battle against the evil mouse king. Clara and her nutcracker friends stop by the worlds. From the lovely waltz of the flowers to the crystalline beauty of the stunning.