A beautiful tradition of Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen is to start the new year with a production made for children. This gives young people a taste of classical music and offers them a stepping stone into this world.
In recent years, wonderful productions have been created together with 'Die verdammte Spielerei', instrumentalists with a twist. This consistently resulted in a playful yet educational spectacle. This time too, deSingel was packed with young parents and their children and grandparents… Three generations enjoying a classic.
To usher in 2025 festively, inspiration was sought from '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 virtually the most performed ballet in the world, based on the imaginative music by Pjotr Ilijts Tsjaikovski. Like his version of Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty, brilliant examples of pure classical-romantic style and the great three of Russian ballets from the 19th century. Tampering with such an iconic choreography is of course bold!
Must classical ballet remain a blueprint of the original for all time? For this, the help of Het Laagland was enlisted, 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 their empathy. In addition, 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 struck the first notes when a ballerina in a wide open tutu glides across the stage and squirms between the instrumentalists. On her feet no 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 put on.
At the insistence of conductor Txemi Etxebarria, she fantasises about a related story and focuses on the mouse colony. It becomes a contemporary interpretation in which dance enters into a magical bond with the music, sober yet vivid costumes and the talent of the dancers. Modern dance and movement techniques are introduced. The result is a vivid, magical and playful evocation of the original in which the children are completely engaged. With the familiar strains of The Flower Waltz and The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, the instrumentalists captivate the older audience.
'De Notenkraakster' is an accessible multi-layered production with music, declamation and dance. The collective effort was rewarded with minutes of enthusiastic applause.