The Nutcracker

Arthaus presents on DVD a production from the Royal Opera House in Stockholm: A Swedish "Nutcracker" - a version that interweaves the classical ballet wonderfully with Swedish traditions. The version seen here was the fifth production of the work in the history of the Royal Swedish Ballet, whose origins go back to the 18th century. It opened in December 1995 and is the work of the then forty-year-old Pär Isberg, who danced for the company as a soloist and is now in international demand as a choreographer. Isberg replaced Hoffmann's characters with others fromSwedish folklore drawn from Peter and Lotta's Christmas, the immensely popular children's book by Elsa Beskow (1874-1953). Not only does the choreography appear clearly inspired by Swedish folklore, but the designs by Bo- Ruben Hewall and Ann-Mari Anttila include motifs from Värmland. But no matter which interpretation, there is always the music of Tchaikovsky - from the first success in a concert performance of the score in July 1892 to today it has remained one of the most popular and well known pieces of ballet music. The light and at the same time dramatic music can rightly claim to have added immensely to the ongoing success of this ballet.