It’s Christmas Eve. Pure, white snow covers the ground. Children play and dream about the wonderful presents awaiting them. After the gifts are unwrapped, party guests entertain the children with a fairy tale: Intrigued?
This is just a taste of the dazzling holiday staple The Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet in which fantasy and finesse meet. Dreams, masks, mice, a princess, a prince, and, of course, the nutcracker.
Enjoy a performance of the Christmas classic by Moscow Classical Ballet at McCallum Theatre on Dec. 13.
According to press quotes, an Orange County reviewer wrote, “To call this Nutcracker old-fashioned is to compliment it. It doesn’t look for Freudian messages or secret meanings. … Instead it presents the ballet as a beautiful and traditional Christmas present, filled with charming dancers, spare but bright costumes, and wonderful music.”
Since 1986, Moscow Classical Ballet has collected 15 gold medals from international competitions and three prizes at the Paris Academy of Dance. The Russian government granted the company the title of Academic Theatre, a recognition held by few top Russian ballet companies.
Whether you have or have not seen The Nutcracker, this is one to experience with the entire family. Make it a holiday tradition.
Moscow Classical Ballet’s presentation of the Nutcracker
Dec. 13, 2011 at 7 p.m.
McCallum Theatre
73000 Fred Waring Drive
Palm Desert
1-760-340-2787
www.mccallumtheatre.com