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The Opera House is the second-largest theater
in the Center, with 2,300 seats. It was designed for ballet,
opera, and musical theater. Over the years, the Opera House
has welcomed dozens of the world's great dance and opera companies
and has hosted some of the most important artistic events of
the last quarter century. With its distinctive red and gold
silk curtain, a gift from Japan, and the exquisite Lobmeyr crystal
chandelier, a gift from Austria, the Opera House makes an elegant
setting for the annual Kennedy Center Honors, the nations highest
award for lifetime achievement in the arts.
Washington, DC Premiere George Balanchine's The Nutcracker™ Choreography by George Balanchine Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
"Pennsylvania Ballet's dressed-up Nutcracker dazzles" --The Philadelphia Inquirer
"Explodes with vital energy... a visual fantasy... this Nutcracker shows off the Pennsylvania Ballet at its finest." --Courier-Post
Washington has been witness to many Nutcrackers over the years but now, for the first time ever, the city will experience the timeless and spectacular wonder of one of this classic's most famous productions. George Balanchine's The Nutcracker™is among the best-loved versions of this seasonal favorite, and Pennsylvania Ballet has been one of the few companies nationwide to have the honor of performing it. Even for those who faithfully attend The Nutcracker as a winter tradition, George Balanchine's production holds many surprises. With brand new sets designed by Peter Horne, 192 lavish new costumes designed by Judanna Lynn, Bethesda's Norwood Middle School Chorus, and Balanchine's masterful choreography, the stage is set for holiday enchantment for all ages.
From the arrival of little Marie's mysterious godfather with his gift of the Nutcracker to the battle against the Mouse King, the young and young at heart will delight when Marie meets her prince and escapes to the Land of the Sweets. Since 1969, Pennsylvania Ballet has danced this classic in joyful proclamation that the Yuletide is here. Balanchine believed that The Nutcracker was appropriate for any time of year and his production continues to stand as a piece of art and a magical doorway into the beautiful world of ballet. Performed with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra.
Performance Time: Approx. 2 hours: Act I - 60 min.; Intermission - 20 min.; Act II - 38 min.
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