Tuesday, February 4

Tag: Bruno Micchiardi

The Nutcracker – Festival Theatre
11Jan Avatar photoBy Kathleen MansfieldNo Comments
Scotland

The Nutcracker – Festival Theatre

Familiarity, surprise and a sumptuously sparkling set from Lez Brotherston: that’s Scottish Ballet’s The Nutcracker. It's a wonderful escape on a sub-zero evening. The orchestra is superb and Daniel Parkinson’s musicians deliver Tchaikovsky’s  score with aplomb and tenderness in turn. The corp de ballet and the principals effortlessly float and gracefully swirl as if the demanding choreography were simple. The layered, cosy set is like a warm hug. It draws you in and cradles you in its dreamworld. Within this cocoon, enjoy the antics of dizzy old Aunts, the swish of crinoline and the magic of Christmas presents, friends and family before transitioning to Clara’s dreamworld. Photo: Andy Ross Lighting by George Thomson adds greatly. Set, lighting and costumes support and showca...
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Swan Lake – Festival Theatre
5May By Louise BalaguerNo Comments
Scotland

Swan Lake – Festival Theatre

David Dawson, who has created this new interpretation for Scottish Ballet, sees Swan Lake as the dance equivalent of the Mona Lisa’. This statement from the souvenir programme is one that stood out to me – it speaks to the monument of ballet that Swan Lake is. But unlike the Mona Lisa, it presents the advantage of being a form of art that is live, constantly in motion, with endless possibilities of reinterpretation. With the aim of creating a show for a modern audience, Dawson stripped back the layers of the story to reach its essence: passion and betrayed trust. There are no elaborate palace and lakeside decors, or costumes adorned with tutus. The costumes, designed by Yumiko Takeshima, are for simplicity, elegancy, and showing off the physicality of the dance. No Baron von Rothbart ei...
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