A beautiful tradition of Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen is to kick off the new year with a production tailored for children. Thus letting the youth taste and offering a stepping stone towards classical music.
In previous years, beautiful performances were created together with 'Die verdammte Spielerei', instrumentalists with an edge. This always resulted in a playful yet instructive spectacle. This time too, deSingel was packed with young parents and their children and grandparents… Three generations coming to enjoy a classic.
To usher in 2025 festively, inspiration was sought in 'De Notenkraker', based on a fairy tale from the collection 'Die Serapionsbrüder' by E.T.A. Hoffmann, 'Notenkraker en Muizenkoning' published in 1816. Children's book author Benny Lindelauf delved into the story and gave the mouse colony an upgrade.
As a jewel of the classical repertoire, 'De Notenkraker' is arguably the most performed ballet in the world, based on the imaginative music of Pjotr Ilijts Tsjaikovski. Like his versions of Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty, brilliant examples of pure classical-romantic style and the big three of Russian ballets from the 19th century. Tampering with such iconic choreography is of course risky!
Must classical ballet remain a blueprint of the original for all eternity? To address this, help was enlisted from Het Laagland, a Dutch youth theatre facility that enriches a broad audience on regional and (inter-)national stages with distinctive quality theatre that takes children seriously, stimulates young people and moves adults. They appeal to the audience through the power of their imagination and empathy. Additionally, Roots Compagnie, a Ghent-based, distinctive, contemporary dance company that creates dance for and with young people under the artistic direction of Helena Vandecasteele.
Spielerei
It becomes a distinctive interpretation. The conductor has barely raised his baton when a ballerina in a wide-open tutu glides across the stage and winds her way between the instrumentalists. At her feet not pointes but heavy Doc Martens boots. Actress Kiki Auben finds the story of De Notenkraker rather meagre. No, she's not going along with that! But a performance must be staged.
At the insistence of conductor Txemi Etxebarria, she fantasizes a related story and focuses on the mouse colony. It becomes a contemporary interpretation in which dance enters a magical bond with the music, austere yet richly visual costumes and the talent of the dancers. Modern dance and movement techniques are introduced. The result is a visually striking, magical and playful evocation of the original in which the children are completely engaged. With the familiar tunes of The Waltz of the Flowers and The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, the instrumentalists captivate the older audience.
'De Notenkraakster' is an accessible layered production with music, declamation and dance. The collective effort was rewarded with minutes of enthusiastic applause.
