CHRISTMAS TRADITION - The world-famous classical ballet The Nutcracker will be back at the HCM City Opera House on December 8, 9 and 10 to welcome the Christmas season. Photo courtesy of HBSO

HCM City – The world-famous classical ballet The Nutcracker will be back at the HCM City Opera House on December 8, 9 and 10 to welcome the Christmas season.

The ballet is adapted from German author E.T.A. Hoffmann’s 1816 short story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by composer Tchaikovsky and choreographers Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov.

The two-part classical ballet revolves around young Clara who receives a magical nutcracker doll from her godfather on Christmas Eve. Incredibly, the nutcracker comes to life and leads her through a fantastical world of dancing snowflakes, dreamy sweets, and the fearsome Mouse King.

The Nutcracker premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1892, and has become a worldwide favourite during the Christmas season.

The ballet was first performed by the HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) in 2001 as part of the Transposition Programme of the government of Norway to bring classical music projects to Việt Nam.

It was choreographed by Norwegian Johanne Jakhelln Constant, who earned a Master’s Degree in dance performance from the University of Iowa in the US.

YOUNG TALENTS - Đỗ Hoàng Khang Ninh and Meritorious Artist Hồ Phi Điệp play Clara and the Nutcracker in the ballet. Photo courtesy of HBSO

This year's performance will feature Đỗ Hoàng Khang Ninh as Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Meritorious Artist Hồ Phi Điệp as the Nutcracker and the Cavalier.

Ninh got a scholarship to study with The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet, and participated in cultural exchanges to Korea. She has performed in the ballets Gissele, Cinderella and Ballet Kiều, which won the excellence award at the National Dance and Music Festival in the Central Highlands province of Đắk Lắk in June 2022.

Meanwhile, Điệp is currently the Deputy Head of HBSO’s ballet department. He has won top prizes at several national dance and music competitions, and had performances in Singapore, France, Japan, and South Korea.

The ballet will also present Meritorious Artist Đàm Đức Nhuận, La Mẫn Nhi, Nguyễn Hoàng Lan Anh and the dance department.

Lê Ha My, HBSO director, will conduct the female choir and symphony orchestra.

The Nutcracker will begin at 8 pm at the Opera House at 7 Lam Sơn Square in District 1. Tickets are available at the venue. VNS