Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker, one-hour special excerpted from the 2019 production at the Boston Opera House, presented by Primark. December 25, 5 p.m. (Telemundo). December 25, 7 p.m. (NBC 10 Boston). Also available free for a limited time on bostonballet.org.
By Jules Becker
Ballet, by definition, is a wordless language of movement. Due to COVID-19, Boston Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” has moved to television in an excerpt under an hour in length. While the second act Palace of Sweets in the celebrated winter classic may seem on a diet in this condensed broadcast, the company and individual dancers fully sparkle in scenes from the recorded 2019 production.
For television, NBC (the recent initial broadcast on NBC 10 followed by Sunday’s on NECN) has Today Show co-host Hoda Koib making introductions and briefly commenting on the ballet. At the same time, armchair narrator Colton Bradford of “Boston’s The Hub” provides vocal program notes about 1820 young heroine Clara’s dream and the title magical Christmas gift. Koib’s assistance is more of a mere network addition, while Bradford’s narrative bits are likely to benefit young newcomers unfamiliar with Clara’s workshop wizard godfather Drosselmeyer and the ballet itself.
Tigran Mkrtchyan as Nutcracker Prince and Mia Steedle as Clara in Boston Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’ (photo: Liza Voll, Boston Ballet).
Even in an excerpted form, company artistic director Mikko Nissinen’s smart choreography is vividly evident. Paulo Arrais, arguably Boston Ballet’s finest male principal, captures Drosselmeyer’s elegance as well as his skill with the nutcracker itself at designer Robert Pertziola’s sharply detailed workshop.
Mia Steedle has all of Clara’s wonder and grace. (Missing in a broadcast also shortened by commercials is the heroine’s envious sibling Fritz.) Tigran Mkrtchyan catches the Nutcracker Prince’s bravery in the amusing first act battle of cadets and mice. Closing the first act as always is the radiant snow scene, gorgeously lit by Mikki Kunttu. Here Paul Craig as Snow King pulls off strong high lifts with Seo Hye Han, who displays impressive leg extension as Snow Queen.
Once Clara arrives at the Palace, the congenial Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker Prince greet the dancers who will charm and amaze Clara and escorting Drosselmeyer. Boston Ballet fans will notice the absence here of such entertaining feats as the richly sensual Arabian and the acrobatically spirited Russian. Still, the pleasures of the remaining ‘sweets’ cannot be denied. Pertziola doubles as costumer throughout the ballet and especially at the Palace — most notably in the lively Spanish opener’s fiery red outfits and the pastel poetry of the dancers in the Waltz of the Flowers.
In the famed latter sequence, Viktorina Kapitonova combines rapid turns and lyrical entries and exits. Mkrtchyan brings good length to the Prince’s turns, and Ji Young Chae has the right lightness as well as speed during the Sugar Plum’s pivotal solo. Their iconic pas de deux impresses with breathtaking lifts. Music director Mischa Santora and the Boston Ballet Orchestra do beautiful justice to the evocative Tchaikovsky score.
As always, Clara wonders whether everything was reality or dream. With COVID -19 vaccines now an approaching reality, Boston Ballet newcomers and aficionados alike can dream of the 2021 return of “The Nutcracker” in all its fully realized glory.
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