Annual Report 2012 - Tivoli

❖tivoli ANNUAL REPORT 2012 ❖A REAL TIVOLI BALLETThe Nutcracker was the last major ownproduction of the year and premiered at theConcert Hall on 22 November. The idea was tocreate a real Tivoli ballet with a family appeal.Tivoli has moved the plot of The Nutcracker toCopenhagen. The guests on Christmas Eve includeHans Christian Andersen, August Bournonville andBernhard Olsen, the director of Tivoli. Everybody isbringing gifts for Clara who, in her dreams at night,finds herself at Tivoli where the second act of theballet plays out. The ensemble consisted of 35 dancersfrom all over the world and not least 49 children whotook turns in performing. Peter Bo Bendixen’schoreography included a few references to formerchoreographers’ versions, but otherwise offered anabundance of elements, from the romantic pas dedeux between Clara and the Solider, over the swirlingsnowflakes to a flower waltz through the four seasonsof the year. Even a Spanish dance was fitted in,danced and choreographed by Selene Muños.HM Queen Margrethe’s set designs switched fromdetailed Biedermeierstube to the snow-covered towersof Copenhagen, on to a starry sky, Tivoli’s entrancegate and finally the Gardens with green leaves andcoloured lampions, just like in the old days. The morethan 100 costumes made at the Royal Opera HouseCovent Garden in London sparkled in all colours.Neat dresses with bustles, floor-sweeping floraldresses, handsome soldiers’ uniforms, cute mice andpiquant snowflakes followed each other at high speedaccompanied by Tjaikovskij’s atmospheric music andto the great delight of the audience. About 33,000visitors saw The Nutcracker, which will be back onstage in 2014.Her Majesty Queen Margrethe attended the premierein her capacity of set designer of the ballet. On stage,the Queen and the ensemble were applauded enthusiasticallyby the audience. HRH the Prince Consort,HRH Princess Benedikte and HM Queen Anne-Mariewere also among the first-nighters.Clara and the Soldier in an intimate pas de deux watchedby Pierrot and the children as lanterns18