As Christmas fast approaches it was appropriate that three performances of the Ballet ‘The Nutcracker’ were scheduled as a preliminary celebration of the season. The Opera House was full to overflowing on the last night, Sunday 18th November, the large orchestra warming up as the audience settled. As the space available for them is extremely limited, there was an overflow into the two ground level boxes, and from where I was sitting I had a fantastic view of the two percussion players. The Orchestra Conductor, Mr Magnus Loddgard, from Norway bought his experience and expertise to bear on the excellent performance of Tchaikovsky’s music by the orchestra members, accompanied, where required, by the beautiful tones of the female choir, standing like angels in the two upper boxes.
‘The Nutcracker’ is a ballet for adults and children and there were many children in the audience who stared in awe as the magical tale unfolded. The opening scene of Christmas Eve at the home of Mr and Mrs Stahlbaum with their children Clara and Fritz drew us straight into the excitement of this celebration in Europe, their friends arriving to enjoy the party, the children playing and fighting, the giving of gifts and the house filled with merriment. One of the guests, Mr Drosselmeyer, Clara’s godfather, presents her with a beautiful Nutcracker soldier. After everyone has left and the family gone to bed Clara slips back to the scene of the party. Under the Christmas tree she picks up her Nutcracker and plays with it before falling asleep.
The second half is the most animated and colourful, and the music the most famous and popular, of the Ballet. Clara dreamed of the house being invaded by an army of giant rats, her Nutcracker soldier comes to the rescue, leading his army of toy soldiers into battle against the evil Rat King. A story that wouldn’t be out of place in today’s sci-fi films. The rats are defeated and the spell broken. The Nutcracker turns into a handsome prince who leads her through a winter wonderland. They enter the Kingdom of Sweets where the Sugarplum Fairy, her Cavalier and Court present them with special treats from all over the world.
The final scene is where Clara awakens from her wonderful dream on Christmas morning and gives her Nutcracker a loving hug.
The dancers were trained by Norwegian choreographer, Johanne Jakhelln Constant. They performed with energy and joy which is an essential element of this wonderful children’s story. Of special mention were Ms Dinh Thi Diem Trang who danced the role of Clara, Mr Ho Phi Diep who danced the role of the Nutcracker, Ms Doan Vu Minh Tu who danced the dual roles of the Sugarplum Fairy and the Snow Queen and the particularly talented Ms Tran Hoang Yet who danced three roles, that of Dewdrop, the Admiral Doll and the Snow Queen.
One nit-pick I had was the backdrop used in the second half, such a dreary, lifeless blob of a thing which did not set off the wonderful performances enacted in its forefront.
The HCMC Opera House has a continual program of classical events from Symphony concerts, Opera, and both Classical and Contemporary Ballet through to Pop Classics. Contact them for more information.