Sir peter wright is a british ballet teacher, choreographer, director and former professional dancer. Please note 14 dec performance times have been revised and are now 1pm and 6pm. Over 25 years since it first premiered, sir peter wright s sumptuous, classical version of the nutcracker is still delighting festive audiences. John macfarlanes ravishing design moves from a richly crimson edwardian home to the sparkling land of snow to the vivid land of sweets in a series of breathtaking transformations with costumes to match. On retiring from the company in 1995, he was bestowed the honorary title of director laureate of the company. The former artistic director of the brb created this sumptuous ballet as a gift to birmingham in 1990 when the sadlers wells royal ballet moved to the city, and it has been a huge success story. Street decorations, in the shops, indeed all around us, signs of christmas seem to arrive ever earlier, but in birmingham you really know the festive season is really coming soon with the first sighting of sir peter wrights glorious nutcracker. Hes cracked it why the ballet world is nuts for peter wright. Birmingham royal ballets evergreen production of the nutcracker has been part of the citys christmas tradition since 1990 and returns to birmingham hippodrome in november 2019. Choreographer and director peter wright is one of the most eminent names in ballet.
The mysterious drosselmeyer mourns his nephew hans peter who fell victim to the mouse queens curse, turning him into a nutcracker. Sir peter wrights birmingham nutcracker serves up a festive. How fitting that sir peter wright celebrated his 90th birthday on opening night of the latest nutcracker which seems better than ever. In 1959, sir peter was appointed ballet master to sadlers wells opera and teacher at the royal ballet school. In what has now become an annual tradition for many families and audiences, sir peter wright s production will have been performed in birmingham a total of 429 times during its 25 sparkling years. Peter wright draws on hoffmann to introduce some backstory that acts as a framing device to his 1984 production.
The magical tale is wonderful played with fantastic clarity and the sets and costumes are sumptuous without being overly ostentatious. The production is by peter wright and scenery and costumes are by peter farmer. Herr drosselmeyer, a mysterious magician and creator of mechanical toys and clocks, was once employed at the royal palace, where he invented a. His royal ballet productions of the nutcracker and giselle are among the. He can come back to life only through the love of a young woman. A judicious blend of magic and realism allows the dancers in peter wrights production maximum expressive licence. Sir peter wright s conversation is peppered with the word wonderful. Dec 09, 20 a judicious blend of magic and realism allows the dancers in peter wrights production maximum expressive licence. Peter wrights the nutcracker returns to the royal ballet so. It is the 21st anniversary of the spectacular ballet, and on friday the creator, sir peter wright, was at the opening nighton his 85th birthday.
He made it in 1990 as a thank you to the city fathers for supporting his ballet company. Nov 26, 2016 the opening night also had an added significance as it was also the 90th birthday of the former artistic director of the birmingham royal ballet, sir peter wright cbe, who is also the creator of. This is all the more so when you have a clara and a hanspeternutcracker of the calibre of. Sir peter wright memoir reveals monster feuds of ballet greats this article is more than 3 years old rudolf nureyev is recalled as a troubled man who pushed people, behaving appallingly in. Over the years, the event has drawn over 600 exhibitors and more than 600,000 visitors.
Nov 24, 2016 do 90thbirthday presents come any finer. The royal ballets production was created by sir peter wright who took a bow at the end of the show. And even more yes, the royal ballet plays peter wrights nutcracker a staging unrivalled for intelligence, respect for the score, charm, splendid julia trevelyan oman design, sense of magic. Clara, a ballet student, is celebrating at a christmas eve party. It would need a very hard heart not to be warmed by sir peter wrights sparkling production of the nutcracker for the royal ballet and it was. Sir peter wright, the grand old man of british ballet celebrates his 90th birthday this was a fine performance of the nutcracker lauren cuthbertson and federico bonelli make for a handsome couple and are well suited to each other both physically and temperamentally the company did sir peter proud at this performance. Hes cracked it why the ballet world is nuts for peter. Clara breaks the spell when she defeats the mouse king in battle. The opening night also had an added significance as it was also the 90th birthday of the former artistic director of the birmingham royal ballet, sir peter wright cbe, who is also the creator of. The ballet was first performed by the australian ballet in 2007. Jul 29, 2014 peter wrights production of the nutcracker is considered the worlds most beautiful, and coupled with tchaikovskys beloved score, it truly is a magical experience for the whole family. Choreographer peter wright on what makes the nutcracker so. Sugar plums and snowflakes dreams and spells the nutcracker is one of the worlds bestloved ballets and this production by peter wright is one of the most enchanting stagings ever created.
Dec 14, 2017 despite ballets unique need for open room for dancers, birds successful decade in ballet design has taken him around the world, first working with the nutcrackers david bintley on productions of aladdin and the firebird in japan and the us, and collaborating with sir peter wright on a florida production of summertide. It would need a very hard heart not to be warmed by sir peter wright s sparkling production of the nutcracker for the royal ballet and it was especially heartening to see this nonagenarian in the audience to celebrate another years opening of one of his most enduring achievements. Peter wrights interpretation of the nutcracker has been enchanting children and adults alike since its first performance by the royal ballet in 1984. The 40th anniversary of the houston ballet nutcracker market will be held november 1215 at nrg center. The australian ballet shines in this charming classic. Lev ivanovs 1892 ballet combined with tchaikovskys sumptuous, iconic score are presented in a festive period setting with vivid designs to make this a charming and magical production. Choreographer peter wright reflects what makes his classic royal ballet production of the nutcracker so magical, more than three decades. On retiring from the company in 1995, he was bestowed the honorary title.
He worked as a choreographer and as the artistic director of birmingham royal ballet, a classical ballet company based in birmingham, england. Birmingham royal ballet at the birmingham hippodrome november 25, 2016. And as it happens, this year the opening night of sir peter wrights production for the royal ballet was also the performance beamed live to hundreds of cinemas. The nutcracker, royal opera house, london impeccable. Nov 24, 2016 and even more yes, the royal ballet plays peter wrights nutcracker a staging unrivalled for intelligence, respect for the score, charm, splendid julia trevelyan oman design, sense of magic. Oct 16, 2014 peter wrights the nutcracker is famous for its gorgeous costumes, theatrical sets and spectacular props. His royal ballet productions of the nutcracker and giselle are among the most popular works in the companys repertory. With interest i returned to sir peter wrights 1984 staging after much too long a time away and was encouraged to read his synopsis telling of. Nutcracker with the birmingham royal ballet at the hippodrome. For 10 years, the nutcracker market has offered shoppers an original, festive and charitable holiday shopping experience, bringing together near a hundred exhibitors under one roof. The magician, drosselmeyer, gives her a nutcracker doll and when the clock strikes twelve, dreams and magic are unleashed as the. Nutcracker with the birmingham royal ballet at the. The nutcracker at birmingham hippodrome sir peter wrights production of tchaikovskys the nutcracker, now in its 25th year is the ballet of all ballets, being both magical, marvellously well designed and presented by a company which is in world class.
Time is running out to step into the world under our magical christmas tree. Tomorrow afternoon, birmingham royal ballet will dance a matinee of the nutcracker. Sir peter wright, cbe the national ballet of canada. This worldfamous production by sir peter wright, with exquisite designs by john macfarlane, is acclaimed as one of the best. He is one of the most eminent names in ballet, and between 1977 to 1995 he held the position of artistic director to the birmingham royal ballet previously the sadlers wells royal ballet, where he still holds the title of director laureate. The nutcracker tchaikovsky, peter wright, irek mukhamedov. Nutcracker from the royal ballet, the 2001 overview.
For 2019, the contestants were the australian ballets production of peter wright s nutcracker, the royal opera houses 2016 nutcracker, the mariinskys 2012 nutcracker, the czech national ballets 2017 the nutcracker and the cuddly mouse and the opernhaus zurichs 2018 the nutcracker. This ballet will subsequently be seen in switzerland, france, pertugal, spain, italy and heiland, when the royal ballet makes a 14week tour of europe during may, june, july and august. Birmingham royal ballet the nutcracker 2019 birmingham. In what has now become an annual tradition for many families and audiences, sir peter wrights production will have been performed in birmingham a total of 429 times during its 25 sparkling years. Peter wright s interpretation of the nutcracker has been enchanting children and adults alike since its first performance by the royal ballet in 1984.
Sir peter wright s version of the nutcracker, after the original book by lev ivanov, performed by the royal ballet from the restored covent garden opera. The nutcracker sets, costumes and magic the australian ballet. Jun 17, 2016 sir peter wright memoir reveals monster feuds of ballet greats this article is more than 3 years old rudolf nureyev is recalled as a troubled man who pushed people, behaving appallingly in. With interest i returned to sir peter wrights 1984 staging after much too long a time away and was encouraged to read his synopsis telling of how the wicked queen of the mice cast a spell over drosselmeyers nephew, hanspeter, which transformed him into an ugly nutcracker doll. Alexander campbell makes an ardent nutcracker in the revival of sir peter wrights famous production debra craine friday november 25 2016, 12.
Over 25 years since it first premiered, sir peter wrights sumptuous, classical version of the nutcracker is still delighting festive audiences. This article first appeared in the australian ballets program for its 2014 season of sir peter wright s nutcracker in melbourne and sydney. Sir peter wright memoir reveals monster feuds of ballet. The recording was made in 2016 which coincided with sir peter s 90th birthday. In sir peter s version, the nutcracker is drosselmeyers nephew who is imprisoned in wood.
Any performance of the nutcracker by the brb is a special event, but the latest prechristmas production by the pride of the midlands must rate as a particular milestone. Sir peter wrights 1984 production of the christmas ballet par excellence really is the benchmark for how the nutcracker should look and feel, and its broadcast as part for the royal opera house live cinema relays programme is a fitting start to christmas celebrations worldwide. Sir peter wright, cbe born 25 november 1926 is a british ballet teacher, choreographer, director and former professional dancer. Birmingham royal ballet presents sir peter wrights the. Artists and principals of the royal ballet in sir peter wrights production of the nutcracker photo.
In 1990 peter wright, then director of birmingham royal ballet, dedicated his version of this festive frolic to. Birmingham royal ballet presents sir peter wright s the nutcracker. Sir peter wright second left with former birmingham hippodrome director peter tod, birmingham royal ballet assistant director marion tait, and company soloist and choreographer kit holder at the celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of birmingham royal ballets the nutcracker. Karolina kuras for some people, the festive season starts with the nutcracker. The royal ballet the nutcracker peter wrights 90th. Wright made his debut as a dancer with ballets jooss during world war ii. Not just any old nutcracker, mind, but the 500th performance of sir peter wrights bespoke production. His royal ballet productions of the nutcracker and giselle are among the most popular works in the companys repertory wright made his debut as a dancer with ballets jooss during world war ii. Sir peter wright is a living legend, celebrated as the founder of birmingham royal ballet and for his muchloved productions of such classics as the nutcracker and giselle. Peter wrights the nutcracker returns to the royal ballet so it is. The wonderful life of sir peter wright valerie lawson. Peter wright s version of the nutcracker is a wonderfully lavish production and an absolute delight for all viewers. Birmingham royal ballet presents sir peter wrights the nutcracker.
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