Mariinsky Theatre's NUTCRACKER BALLET Screens Nationwide, Beg. Today

Celebrate the holiday season with an exciting tradition - the Mariinsky Theatre's The Nutcracker Ballet. SpectiCast, More2Screen and EuroArts Music bring the magic of Tchaikovsky's beloved holiday ballet to select theaters in 3D and 2D beginning today, November 30, 2013. This sumptuous traditional production was filmed at the historic Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia where the original Nutcracker was first performed over 120 years ago. An all-time favorite ballet for the holidays, the Mariinsky Theatre's The Nutcracker Ballet is the perfect holiday outing for the whole family.

The Nutcracker tells the story of a young girl Clara, who is given a nutcracker doll for Christmas. After being broken by her brother, Clara cares for the wounded nutcracker, which later saves her from the evil Mouse King and is then transformed into a heroic prince. Together the prince and Clara travel to an enchanted island where celebrations, hosted by the Sugar Plum Fairy, are held in their honor.

Under the leadership of the Mariinsky's Artistic Director and renowned conductor, Valery Gergiev, the Mariinsky Theatre was the first ballet company in the world to embrace 3D technology. After the release of Giselle In 3D in 2011, The Nutcracker Ballet is their second 3D project, which has been expertly filmed to demonstrate how this technology illustrates not only the strength and agility of the dancers, but the masterful staging and choreography of the production. The result leaves the audience feeling as if they are witnessing the unfolding story on stage with the characters.

"The Mariinsky Theatre is one of the world's leading opera and ballet companies with a far-reaching global profile," says Gergiev.

"Through ground-breaking projects like The Nutcracker Ballet, produced to the same exacting standards for the big screen as for the stage, we are able to share our beautiful productions with many more people worldwide."

This production showcases the impeccable virtuosity of two of the Mariinsky Theatre's rising stars - Alina Somova as Clara (Masha in the original Russian production) and Vladimir Shklyarov as the Nutcracker. With Tchaikovsky's eternally popular score, grand staging and exquisite costumes, this production of the Mariinsky Theatre's The Nutcracker Ballet will provide the stunning 3D visions of dancing sugar plums this holiday season.

To book tickets, visit nutcrackeronscreen.com.

Date: Screenings Beginning November 30, 2013
Ballet in three acts with an epilogue
Running time: 105 minutes
Rating: Treat as G
Recorded at the Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg in December 2011

PRODUCTION CREDITS:
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Mariinsky Theatre Ballet Company
Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Valery Gergiev
Choreography: Vasily Vainonen
Set Design: Simon Virsaladze
Libretto: Marius Petipa after the tale by ETA Hoffmann

A production of EuroArts Music International and Mariinsky Theatre in co-production with Ovation LLC, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Digital Images GmbH

SOLOISTS:

Alina Somova (Masha)
Prize-winner at the Vaganova-Prix International Ballet Competition (St Petersburg, 2002); Recipient of the Golden Mask (2009) in category - Best Female Role (Tsar-Maiden from the ballet The Little Humpbacked Horse).
Born in St Petersburg she graduated from the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet in 2003 (class of Lyudmila Safronova). In 2003 she was admitted to the Mariinsky Ballet Company and a year later was promoted to soloist.

Alina performed the role of Masha in the ballet The Nutcracker at the National Theatre in Tokyo in 2004 and in 2006 she made her debut at the Wiener Staatsoper as Odette-Odile in Swan Lake (Rudolf Nureyev's version). Two years later in 2008, she danced at the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre in Swan Lake (Odette-Odile); a role she also performed at the Paliashvili Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Georgia (2009).

She has performed at numerous concerts both in Russia and abroad, including a New Year gala at La Scala (Milan, 2005), Stars of the 21st Century (Toronto, 2006), Les Étoiles (Montreal, 2006, 2007), a gala concert dedicated to Marina Semyonova (Moscow, 2008), a Tamara Rojo gala (Spain, 2008) and a concert dedicated to Maya Plisetskaya (Spain, 2008).

She performs lead roles in numerous ballets and appears in all of the theatre's tours, performing at the greatest ballet theatres in Western Europe, the USA, Canada, Japan and China.

Vladimir Shklyaraov (Nutcracker):
Prize-winner at the XI International Ballet and Choreography Competition (category "Solo" Moscow, 2009, 1st prize)
Prize-winner at the Vaganova- Prix International Competition (St Petersburg, 2002)
Holder of the Soul of Dance - 2008 prize, instituted by Ballet magazine (category "Rising Star")
Holder of the annual Leonid Massine International Prize For the Art of Dance (Positano, Italy, 2008)
Holder of the Zegna - Mariinsky New Talent Awards grant (London, 2008)
Born in St Petersburg, Valdimir graduated from the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet (class of Vitaly Afanaskov) in 2003. He joined the Mariinsky Ballet Company that same year and has been a soloist since 2007. His repertoire includes: La Sylphide (James and Youth); Giselle (Count Albrecht, Classic Duo from Act 1); La Bayadère (Solor, Golden Idol, additional role choreographed by Nikolai Zubkovsky in Vakhtang Chabukiani's version of Ma- rius Petipa's ballet); The Sleeping Beauty (Prince Désiré, Suitor); Konstantin Sergeyev's version; The Nutcracker (Nutcracker Prince); Swan Lake (Alexei Ratmansky's Cinderella (Prince) and The Little Humpbacked Horse (Ivan the Fool) to name a few.

Vladimir Shklyaraov was a participant in the gala-concerts including ones to mark the 70th birthday of the outstanding dancer Maris Liepa (Moscow, Kremlin Palace, 2006), Mariinsky&Bolshoi Theatres (Tokio, 2007) Malakhov and Friends (Berlin, 2008), Ballettisimo (Guadalajara, 2008) and DANCE OPEN (St Peterburg, 2010). Has toured with the Mariinsky Ballet Company to Europe, America and China.

More2Screen is at the very forefront of the dynamic Event Cinema market. We're passionate about bringing the finest entertainment content closer to local audiences across the globe, from distributing magnificent opera and ballet productions in partnership with Europe's leading companies including the Royal Opera House, the Mariinsky Theatre and the Dutch National Ballet, to first-class classical music concerts from the Berliner Philharmoniker. Our ever-expanding repertoire also features live and recorded pop music events from best-selling artists like the Rolling Stones, Adele, Queen, Morrissey and Def Leppard, plus the musical theatre must-sees Chess In Concert and an all-star Broadway cast performing Stephen Sondheim's Company. More2Screen is the leading distributor of alternative content events in the UK* with more than 7 years of experience acquiring and distributing world-class opera, ballet, music concerts, theatre and special event films to 4,000 cinemas in 50 international territories - including 32 live broadcasts, and over 100 different recorded productions and 3D live/recorded content. www.more2screen.com

SpectiCast is one of the fastest growing all-digital distribution companies in the world, distributing film, cultural arts events, and alternative content programs to over 1,600 theatrical and non-theatrical venues in 24 countries on six continents. SpectiCast markets and distributes the finest 2D and 3D programs using the industry's most advanced technologies. We distribute programs from some of the world's most prestigious cultural arts organizations including Opera de Paris, The Salzburg Festival, The Paris Opera Ballet, the Mariinsky Theatre, and The Philadelphia Orchestra. Our fast growing slate of alternative content and, "event cinema," includes classic and modern music events from best-selling artists including Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pat Metheny, Andre Rieu, and Jimi Hendrix, as well as world-class theater events including Great Expectations from London's Vaudeville Theatre, Stephen Sondheim's Company, and Phantom of the Opera from The Royal Albert Hall. SpectiCast also distributes some of the best specialty film programs including its "SpooktiCast" horror genre program, the Women's Edge Film Series, the Laugh Out Loud Film Festival, and many other similar programs. SpectiCast is a privately owned and operated firm based in Philadelphia, PA. www.specticast.com

EuroArts has more than thirty years' experience in the visualisation of great musical artists and experiences. With the amazing possibilities of 3D film, EuroArts opens audiences to a new dimension of seeing, hearing and experiencing. After the huge success of Lang Lang: The Third Dimension and Berlin Philharmonic in Singapore: A Musical Journey in 3D, EuroArts is a step further to bringing the stage directly into cinema halls and living rooms.
www.euroarts.com

The Mariinsky Theatre, (formerly the Kirov), is one of the leading opera and ballet companies in the world. Its origins date back to the 18th century and its founder Catherine the Great. As the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre, it was the most famous ensemble of the Tsarist Empire and its history is interwoven with many ballet greats including Rudolf Nureyev, Vaslav Nijinksy, Anna Pavlova, and Michel Fokine. The Mariinsky Theatre is enjoying a second golden age under the dynamic, forward-thinking leadership of Artistic Director, Valery Gergiev.
www.mariinsky.ru/en

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