Record-Breaking Nutcracker Ballet Performances in Toledo

Here come the holidays and everything we enjoy about celebrating this time of year. When it comes to Christmas, is it trimming the tree? Decking the halls? Singing our favorite carols from many days gone by? What about the bright displays, and entertainment that comes along with the season? This is also the time of year when we give back to the less fortunate while supporting local charities and non-profits.

Enjoying the Magic

Going to see The Nutcracker is a time-honored holiday tradition that dates back hundreds of years. Purchasing tickets to this beautifully performed program in Ohio also helps to support the Toledo Ballet and Orchestra. The 83rd annual presentation will unfold at the Stranahan Theater on Friday, December 8 at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 9th at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m., and then again on Sunday, December 10th at 2:00 p.m.

When looking at numbers, and as the title suggests, did you know that The Nutcracker performances in Toledo are an annual holiday tradition celebrating the longest-running, continuous performance of this classic ballet in all of North America? There's much more to explore with this age-old holiday family classic favorite given fresh choreography along with one of Tchaikovsky's beloved musical scores.

Exploring Fun Facts

As many people are already aware, the ballet is based on a novel written by E.T.A. Hoffman in 1816 whose actual title was Nutcracker and the Mouse King.  The tale itself is much creepier than the ballet and other adaptations presented on stage and screen that feel like a magical, holiday fairy tale.  As a matter of fact, the original plotline depicts a dark side of human nature that isn't very child-friendly. Other fun facts and trivia about this story include:

• It was in 1891 when Marius Petipa, the world-renowned Imperial Russian Ballet choreographer commissioned Pyotr (more commonly known as Peter) Tchaikovsky to compose the music for a lighter version of Alexandre Dumas' adaptation of the tale.
• While Petipa is often credited for the choreography, he became ill, had to withdraw from the project, and it was turned over to his assistant, Lev Ivanov who still delivered an excellent presentation.
• Even though Ivanov and Petipa's styles of dancing were contrasted, it's said that Marius' original vision was seen and delivered given strict direction from the ailing original choreographer.
• At the time, Tchaikovsky didn't think his original score of The Nutcracker measured up to some of his earlier compositions like Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake, but many fans and facts about the latter ballet disagree.
• Even though Peter wasn't fond of the musical piece had had just penned, he still released The Nutcracker Suite prior to the release of the ballet and it was a smashing success.
• One of the main characters (The Sugar Plum Fairy) voice was based on a newly created instrument from Paris called the celesta (which is French for heavenly) that resembles a piano and delivers beautiful, bell-like tones.
• The first ballet performance premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg on December 18, 1892, Tchaikovsky's, lesser-known, one-act opera Iolanta.

BONUS - More Famous Firsts: Also just in time for the upcoming holiday, the first performance outside of the USSR was in 1934 in jolly old England. However, the first full-length presentation and production popped up at the San Francisco Opera Ballet just ten years later.

Happy Holidays From Buckeye

And finally, from all of us here at Buckeye Broadband, we'd like to wish you, your family, and friends the happiest of holidays along with a joyous and prosperous New Year. Remember, we're all family, and always looking forward to hearing from you at one of our many locations. Don't forget about our Local blog content for more information about what's fun and festive going on in this part of Ohio along with tips and tricks about today's modern technology.