Metropolitan Classical Ballet New & Reviews

This 'Nutcracker' is impressive show
Posted on Sat, Dec. 18, 2004

By Wayne Lee Gay

Star-Telegram Classical Music Critic

Some of the greatest choreographers in America, including Paul Mejia and Ben Stevenson, have staged Nutcracker productions in these parts in recent years.

But the most impressive Nutcracker we've seen around here, in terms of evoking a constantly captivating performance, is the version created by Metropolitan Classical Ballet co-artistic director Alexander Vetrov, with much material borrowed directly from and credited to Yuri Grigorovich, Vetrov's mentor at the Bolshoi Ballet.

Oddly enough, Vetrov achieves the sense of perpetual drama and momentum in his Nutcracker, which opened Friday night at UT-Arlington's Texas Hall, by minimalizing the already thin plot and generally eschewing character development in favor of focusing almost entirely on dance. The opening party scene becomes primarily a series of brilliant ensembles,including some impressively effective choreography for juvenile dancers.

Russian-born guest artist Gennadi Saveliev as the Nutcracker Prince and resident company principal Olga Pavlova as the Fairy Doll (known in most American productions as the Sugar Plum Fairy) were exactly in tune to Vetrov's concept of drawing the drama from the dance, moving like lightning bolts across the stage. Russian-born Yevgeni Anfinogenov was likewise striking as the Mouse King, who gets some of the best moments in this production; choreographer Vetrov was onstage as a particularly striking and elegant Drosselmeyer. Student dancers Kaya Aman and Glen Vetrov (Alexander Vetrov's son) were appropriately convincing and well-trained as Clara and Fritz.

The sets are simple and unpretentious, but the costumes, once again heavily Russian-influenced, were seductively colorful to complement the dancing; Ron Spigelman conducted the Texas Chamber Orchestra with the steady, sympathetic hand of an experienced and instinctive ballet conductor.

Metropolitan Classical Ballet

Nutcracker

• 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. today, and 2 p.m. Sunday

• Texas Hall, UTA

• Arlington

• $10-$30

• (817) 465-4644

• www.mcballet.org

GRADE: A

-- Wayne Lee Gay