Review: THE NUTCRACKER at Kinneksbond

On the 7th and 8th of December, the Kinneksbond welcomed the classic The Nutcracker, a timeless masterpiece that has delighted hundreds of thousands around the globe since it was first produced in 1892. This delightful version of the Casse-Noisette, as it is better known in the francosphere, was put together by the Opéra-Théâtre de Metz Métropole and featured many of the best artists currently performing in the Grande Région.

The show did not seem to diverge too much from the original story. During Christmas Eve, the Stahlbaum house hosts many of their friends and family for a night of tradition and joy. Clara and Fritz, the two children of Herr Stahlbaum and his (rather flirtatious) wife, seem to be more excited than anyone around, being constantly amazed by this world of light, dance and fantastic toys. Clara is particularly fascinated by a nutcracker, but her display of affection leads Fritz to break the poor soldier. After everyone goes to bed, Clara decides to check on her new wooden friend and embarks in a journey she could have never imagined. From epic battles between toys and mice to a thrilling adventure in the Land of of Sweets, Clara will meet fascinating new friends and the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy, queen of this magical land of wonders.

The highlights of the night seemed to be the main group numbers, that got everyone's feet tapping to well-known melodies. The ensemble was wonderfully synchronized even in sections that were not particularly easy to pull off. Much of the narrative progressed through the marvellous harmony displayed by the dancers - there were many key moments when whole conversations were had through nothing more than graceful movements performed to the sound of Tchaikovsky's genius. However, as great as these parts were, Sugar Plum Fairy's performance seemed to go unrivaled, who, alone or together with a fellow dancer, excelled at embodying this realm of elegance and grace.

We would only remark that the younger audience, who was not so familiar with the story, might have been at times a bit confused about the identity of the nutcracker, since his costume was not so different from a couple of other characters in the show.

We would like to extend our sincere congratulations to the Opéra-Théâtre de Metz Métropole for these wonderful nights and to Kinneksbond, for once again bringing such high quality events to the Grand Duchy.

Image credit: Philippe Gisselbrecht

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