This year’s Claras who will perform in the Corpus Christi Ballet’s 40th version of The Nutcracker. Courtesy photo
When the 2014 season of “The Nutcracker” begins Saturday, Dec. 13, it will mark the 40th year the Corpus Christi Ballet has presented this well-loved holiday classic to a local audience. This year's production features a cast of more than 150 dancers and actors, complete with lavish scenery, costumes and new choreography.
Only four performances are set. The first two are 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. The final two are 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21. Tickets for the first weekend will be half price ranging from $6.50 to $16.50.
The final gala weekend includes live music from the Corpus Christi Ballet Orchestra led by guest conductor Dr. William Reber. Tickets for the gala weekend range in price from $11.50 to $31.50. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster outlets and the box office of the American Bank Center.
The original performance of the ballet premiered in Moscow, Russia, a week before Christmas 1892. The tale is an adaptation of a story by E.T.A. Hoffman. Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote the music. Marius Petipa was the original choreographer.
While a collection of eight of the musical pieces became widely popular as Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a, the ballet itself did not become well known until almost 100 years later. Its first performance outside of Russia was in 1934 in England. It was first performed in the United States in 1944 by the San Francisco Ballet. It wasn't until George Balanchine's production by the New York City Ballet in 1954, that the story, music and dance became mainstream.
“The Nutcracker”
Corpus Christi Ballet
American Bank Center
1901 N. Shoreline Blvd
Corpus Christi
