I have seen
the Nutcracker before (see Day 90) and I love the Pittsburgh Symphony POPs. Many people make going to these shows a holiday tradition. I was
excited to make these two shows mine this year and experience the beauty of the
Nutcracker with the peacefulness
and brilliance of Tchaikovsky’s score, and the Holiday POPs with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Mendelssohn Choir, and vocal
soloists for an explosion of holiday cheer.
Reflection
The
Nutcracker
The
Nutcracker with over 100 dancers and elaborate sets is one of the most
beautiful, colorful and action packed ballets that I have experienced. The scene
opens on Christmas Eve at the grand estate of the Stahbaum home in Shadyside.
This production incorporates
Pittsburgh’s unique landmarks and there is even a Heinz carriage. At the Christmas party there are many dancing children and a lot of gift giving as Marie receives a
Nutcracker from her Godfather Drosselmeyer. He seems to have some magical powers
as he performs magic ticks during the festivities.
At midnight, the house magically grows and the Nutcracker becomes life-sized saving Marie from human-sized rats. The amazing set transformation and the gigantic
growing Christmas tree always offsets the creepiness of the red eye big rats.
Because of his bravery the Nutcracker becomes a prince and takes
Maria on a sleigh ride through a glistening snow forest guided by the dance of the Snow King and
Queen. This is when the memorizing beauty of the ballet really starts.
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| Making the Nutcracker a holiday tradition |
The second half is filled with amazing dancing as Marie and the
Prince visit the Land of Enchantment and Sugary Plum Fairies. The Fairies dance
to that famous song that we all know (listen here). I love this part because there
is a continual display of color and fantastic dancing as Marie and the Prince are entertained by dancers from many lands; Chinese dancers and dragon, a salutary Middle Eastern
pair, Russian high jumping men, clowns
and more.
There is so much happening in this ballet. You can just enjoy
the musical score, the flurrying snow, and/or the elaborate sets that accompany all the
talented Pittsburgh Ballet dancers.
Holiday POPs
The Holiday POPs conducted by Andres Franco was an explosion of
holiday cheer. The full sound of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Mendelssohn
Choir and Santa with a wonderful baritone
voice, merged early in the show. There was a variety of musical selections from
a “Holiday Overture” of familiar Christmas favorites, “Chanukah List” with fantastic
vocals from Pittsburgh native, Vanessa Campagna and a beautifully sung A cappella Mendelssohn Choir selection.
In the second half we were swooned by the vocals of Ryan
Silverman who had the Donny Osmond smile, the young Elvis look, and that Frank
Sinatra charisma. He charmed us with "It’s
Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas" and" White Christmas" and more.
The Holiday POPs gave us a little sing -a- long and then my
mother and I were brought to tears when Campagna and Silverman sang “The Prayer”
(listen to a version here). This sure was a great evening of fun and music.
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| Holiday POPs new tradition |
I must admit
that both of these Holiday shows put that warm holiday feeling in my heart especially when
shared with a special friend and my mother. Seeing their enjoyment put me in
the Christmas spirit which is about giving not receiving. There was nothing but happy faces everywhere and I think
many in the audiences were making their own special memories and like me,
starting a Pittsburgh tradition!
(The Nutcracker runs from December 1-27 at the Benedum. Tickets
available on line at www.pbt.org. See The
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and POPS upcoming events at Heinz here)
Spiritual Source
A generous person will prosper;whoever refreshes others will be refreshed (Proverbs 18:16)
Other sources
A generous person will prosper;whoever refreshes others will be refreshed (Proverbs 18:16)
Other sources
https://www.pbt.org/performances/nutcracker/
https://pittsburghsymphony.org/