January 21, 2005
By Tammy O'Reilly
A CONTRAST of temperament and style will characterise the first two shows by the South African Ballet Theatre when they stage two of the most popular ballets of all time: Giselle and The Nutcracker.
Although Joburg's ballet aficionados will have to wait till March to see these classics, tickets are currently on sale.
Performances of The Nutcracker, on stage at the Nelson Mandela Theatre in the Johannesburg Civic Theatre complex, take place from 4 March to 10 March, to be followed by Giselle from 11 March until 20 March.
The last time Johannesburg audiences got to see The Nutcracker was in 2001 and, following its recent highly successful run at the Pretoria State Theatre, organisers have decided to bring the programme here.
Although The Nutcracker is traditionally performed during the Christmas season, organisers are optimistic that the time of year will not impact on audience numbers. "The reason we are doing it is because of public demand," says the company's media officer, Jacob Mosehla.
"Most of the ballet patrons that come to our ballets feel we did not have enough performances of The Nutcracker. There are a lot of people enquiring about it and ticket sales are picking up," he adds.
This classic tale, with its evergreen Tchaikovsky score, tells the story of a girl who receives a nutcracker as a Christmas gift from her uncle, who is known for his fascination with the enchanted. The nutcracker comes alive and what begins is a magical adventure to the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets.
Principal dancer Iain MacDonald will perform the role of the nutcracker prince - marking his first major role following a hip replacement operation last year.
This is followed by the dramatic Giselle - the greatest of the romantic ballets. With its potent themes of love, betrayal and tragedy, this tale has captivated audiences around the world. The story tells of peasant girl who falls in love with a nobleman, and the disastrous consequences of that love.
The Johannesburg Festival Orchestra will accompany each performance of both Giselle and The Nutcracker.
Performances for The Nutcracker are from 4 March to 10 March, excluding Monday, 7 March. Tickets range from R65 to R186 for all performances except the opening night where they go for between R65 and R114.
Giselle will be performed from 11 March to 20 March. Evening performances are at 8pm and matinees will be held at 3pm on 12,13,19 and 20 March. Ticket prices range from R65 to R186.
Bookings can be made at www.computicket.com or telephonically on 011 340 8000.
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