December 03, 2009.

Old ballet with fresh eyes.

Rating: 5
This is by far the best performance of the Nutcracker I've seen, live or recorded. The fresh setting (both time --1915, and location--San Francisco), as well as the beautiful costumes and the fabulous twist on the pas de deux make it a pleasure to watch. The use of the World's Fair Pavilion as a backdrop for Act 2 is also a fun change.

This production is more child-friendly than many others, because it lacks the creepy persona that Drosselmeier is often given. There is also a more playful nature to many of the dances (the Chinese dance with the dragon comes to mind) which children love.

Helgi Tomasson should be commended for choreographing an old standard in a new way that makes it exciting to both new viewers and those who have seen the ballet many times before.

December 27, 2008.

Amazingly beautiful.

Rating: 5
Having seen Nutcracker in several productions, I can say that this one is incredibly beautiful, from the colors, to the coreography. First act is charming with a party scene with little boys and gilrs. My daughter favorite are Clara's friends, expecially the smaller one with the yellow dress. The snow scene is a classical beauty with great snow and lights effects. The second act starts with a scene that reminds me of Midnight Summer Dreams, flowers and dragonflies and cute small ladybugs dancing with the Sugar Plum Fairy. This scene is best appreciated from a distance as the coreography creates circle of flowers that open and close in delicate shades of yellow and orange. The Russian Dance is also one of my favorite. Madame De Cirque and her buffons are as cute as ever. A well deserved applause to these little dancers.

December 22, 2008.

Fabulous!.

Rating: 5
I was actually present at one of the taping sessions for this magnificent ballet. One year later, it is a joy to watch it over again. This is a visual feast. The dancing is beyond compare and the musical score magnificent!

December 18, 2008.

A wonderful performance.

Rating: 5
This is a spectacular performance of the Nutcracker with lots of little twists on the traditional dances. My parents who are classical music, ballet and opera lovers said it's the best Nutcracker they've ever seen. The dancing is marvelous, and the costumes are elegant and beautiful, set in the period during the San Francisco 1915 world's fair. If this is not the best Nutcracker, then it's got to be in the top two or three. You won't be disappointed if you purchase this DVD.

December 18, 2008.

A beautiful version.

Rating: 5
We purchased this to prepare our two sons to see a local live production of the Nutcracker. We love it! The quality of the production is just beautiful, especially in HD. It makes explaining the story to children much easier. (There is also a synopsis on the DVD, which is very helpful) This production includes the applause of the audience, which helps to make it feel like a real performance and not a silent stage set. It is a bright, lively performance.

The DVD is organized in chapters, which makes it easy to navigate from scene to scene. Our four year old has asked to watch it again three nights in a row, and we can easily skip from one favorite part to another. (Right now, he likes the Children's March and the battle scene the best.) My favorite is the Snow scene, which is absolutely gorgeous.

The storyline doesn't stray too far from the familiar tale, but there are some interesting twists. Drosselmeyer is mysterious, but not scary, and we enjoyed watching the opening bit in his clock shop. The stage magic is entertaining and fun. The young Clara transforms into an older version of herself in Act 2. There are some fun surprises in Act 2, with little twists on the usual dances. Even the Arabian dance, usually my least favorite, is fun to watch.

Whether you are looking for a first Nutcracker, or you want to add to a collection, this is a great performance to buy. (Parents and teachers: The San Francisco Ballet has a wonderful teaching guide on their website, with additional background and activities.)