The Nutcracker Ballet at the Fox Theater

[MSFixR]

I have seen Tchaikovsky’s ballet in person, on TV and on video many times and have listened to the music repeatedly – it is the only music from a ballet that I consider to be able to stand alone without the ballet. Last night, however, I took the opportunity to attend the Joffrey Ballet’s presentation at the Fox Theater in St. Louis. Before I tell you about the performance, which was the opening night of a six performance run, I want to tell you about the theater.

The Fox Theater was built by theater owner and film producer William Fox in 1928-29 on the design by architect C. Howard Crane who built 250 theaters during the early part of the 20th century. Crane’s design for the St. Louis theater as well as its sister theater in Detroit, Michigan, was called Siamese Byzantine. It is opulent and ostentatious and would have seemed to be a palace to the average patron in the early part of the 20th century which, of course, was the intent.

Orchestra, Mezzanine and Balcony Seating

The Grand Foyer

Various Architectural Elements

Originally built as a vaudeville theater, it was converted to motion picture exhibition when this art form waned and thrived in the theater district along Grand Boulevard, just north of the Saint Louis University campus, until the rise of the suburbs following World War II. After many years of struggling under Authur Enterprises ownership, the theater, the last of five in the theater district, closed in 1979.

Beginning in 1981, Leon and Mary Strauss, along with Fox Associates, bought the theater and at a cost of two million dollars, completely restored it to it original grandeur.

I have fond memories of sneaking down to the Fox with my buddies to watch horror movies and hear Stan Kann play the mighty Wurlizter Organ which, in total darkness, would rise majestically from the orchestra pit.

The Nutcracker ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is the story of a young girl, Clara, and her Nutcracker/Prince. It begins at the Christmas Eve party in her parent’s home when her godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, gives her a nutcracker doll. Most of the ballet is in the form of a subsequent dream sequence in which the nutcracker is transformed into a prince who battles the evil mouse king and travels with Clara to a world of dancing snow flakes, fairies and others. In the version staged by the Joffrey (the Balanchine version), Clara and Drosselmeyer sit as spectators to the corps de ballet and pas de deux numbers as opposed to the American Ballet/Mikhail Baryshnikov version in which Clara and the prince dance.

I had not seen the Joffrey in person before but I was a bit apprehensive for two reasons; I knew from previous experience, that the acoustics in the Fox Theater were not the best for classical music and the orchestras hired for this type of performance are composed of free-lancers whose performance skills would be less than those I was used to at the symphony. Luckily I was not disappointed on either account. The orchestra was composed of about half symphony subs quite a few of whom I know and they were not over-miked so while the music was not up to the level of say the Kirov ballet orchestra, it was more than adequate. I was not disappointed in the dancing either. The Joffrey is an excellent company with so many exceptional dancers that many roles will be performed by different dancers on subsequent nights. In addition to the regular company, twelve dance students from the local area also took the part of children in the ballet. Accompanying the orchestra was a children’s choir who serenaded the audience as they entered the Theater’s foyer prior to the ballet. Overall it was a quite enjoyable experience.

If you would like recommendations for viewing or listening to this work: Nutcracker DVD and Nutcracker CD.

[Moshe..]

I'm glad you enjoyed the ballet! It's not quite my thing - a bit kitsch & camp even for me. BUt you're right it has some very special tchaikovsky moments, if you're into "the russian weeping machine" (as he is commonly known, maybe just in my family anyway), and I do love la danse arabe! And of course the sugar plum fairy is a sexy girl, which is exactly why baryshnikov couldn't deal with her, the narcissist - god such a narcissist

e listened to the music repeatedly – it is the only music from a ballet that I consider to be able to stand alone without the ballet.

Tchaikovsky does best with swan lake. LIsten to the outer movements of the second act, with the tragic love theme, the presentiment of the finale, when odette and prince shall throw themselves through the ice ( the finale is good too). Also the waltz of the first act, you hear in it contained all the decadence of the russian aristocracy, i.e. the sound of their ballrooms. But the best is from the second act again, straight after the danse des petits cygnes (i don't care for the little swans!) -- the love theme (andante non troppo)! One of those occasional moments of tchaikovsky where the marzipan turns into something truly sublime.

[MSFixR]

Maybe it was the ancient video I have of Swan Lake, but the dancing was great, the costuming was sublime, but the music just wasn't all that exciting for me.
I'm not into the melancholy Tchaikovsky; my favorite piece from the Nutcracker is called "In the Christmas Tree" which occurs right after the mouse king fight and the scenery change from the family parlor to the ice king/queen realm.
Baryshnikov sure could leap when he was in his prime.

[Moshe..]

The full ballet has so much mediocre filler composition, I can see how that would put you off. BUt you should try listening to tchaikovsky's own selection from the ballet. Am sure you'll love it, since i remember you said you like mahler-bruckner-wagner somewhere, and this suite is tchai the ultra romantic.

Karajan (although i don't know if he's your taste - I only like him for certain composers!) did the most legendary recordings of it. I can't find his 1959 which is what i have. But 1965 with vienna should surely be a good thing, and you get sleeping beauty too. http://www.amazon.com/Tchaikovsky-Ba...6983675&sr=8-6 $11 shipping included. Everything is so much cheaper in america it's ridiculous!

[MSFixR]

Thanks for the tip. This might make a good stocking stuffer.