Let us be your instant christmas escape into a world of majesty and wonder, a world filled with wooden soldiers and sugarplum fairies. It has retained its freshness because it appeals to the sense of wonder we all share. Sendak designed the set for the pacific northwestern ballets production of nutcracker. The original story of the nutcracker and the mouse king is a curious tale that could only have come from a german romanticist in the 1800s. Seattles maurice sendak nutcracker takes a controversial last bow. A short version of the nutcracker story, using, as much as i could, the illustrations by maurice sendak. December 29, 2011 his latest book bumbleardy is a deeply imaginative tale about an orphaned pig who longs for a birthday party. The the nutcracker and the mouse king community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. After 3 tiresome weeks pissing over the ballet nutcracker.
So the pair agreed to abandon the predictable nutcracker and set out to find a fresh version that would do honor to hoffmann and the ballets composer. With wolfgang volz, rufus beck, hannes jaenicke, florence joy. Sendaks vision premiered with the pacific northwest ballet in 1983. The original story of the nutcracker and the mouse king is a curious tale that could only have come. Nutcracker 1986 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. In 1983 maurice sendak designed the set for the pacific northwestern ballets production of nutcracker. The nutcracker crawls in the sleeve after the fleeing mouse and clara follows him. Maurice sendak, best known as the author and illustrator of where the wild things are, also created the sets for a 1983 production of the holiday ballet the nutcracker. This is a very well done nutcracker put on by the pacific northwest ballet in the 1980s. But not once as a child do i recall reading the story, written by eta hoffmann in 1816. In the 1980s maurice sendak, author of a number of childrens stories with a darkness that much more closely approximates. One can, after all, count on the instincts of a genius.
This is easily the best adaptation of the nutcracker ive seen, on stage or film. Hoffmanns original story, nutcracker and mouse king, is darker and. North seattles nutcracker lawn pays homage to sendak version of. Made into a movie by the director carroll ballard, with choreography by kent stowell and an incredible set and costumes by maurice sendak, it is well worth the vhs tape to view. If youve never joined us, dont miss your last chance to see tiny toy soldiers and snowflakes that dance if you loved it before, its time to come back for this wondrous nutcracker by stowell. The brilliant result of close collaboration between pnb founding artistic director and choreographer kent stowell and renowned childrens book author and illustrator maurice sendak, nutcracker premiered to national acclaim in december 1983. However, the disc is part of foxmgms manufactureondemand studio classics series. Maurice sendaks weird and wonderful nutcracker brain pickings maurice sendak illustration from the nutcracker by e.
Maurice sendak, in full maurice bernard sendak, born june 10, 1928, brooklyn, new york, u. Maurice sendaks weird and wondrous illustrations for the nutcracker it is rare and genuine and does justice to the private world of children. With sets and costumes designed by renowned illustrator maurice sendak where the wild things are, and choreography by pnb founding artistic director kent stowellpacific northwest ballets. So stowell and russell approached the late childrens book author and illustrator maurice sendak and invited him to. A lavish, exciting and heartwarming celebration of dance, of music, and of life. Maurice sendak designed brilliant sets and costumes for the pacific northwest ballets christmas production of nutcracker and created even more magnificent pictures especially for this book. With paul boyd, joyce cuoco, tero julku, anna vita. Hoffmanns original 1816 tale the nutcracker and the mouse. Hoffmanns classic story, 1816 the nutcracker and the mouse king one year later, in 1984, the book version, was published. Come on in and sit by the fire, enjoy the tree, make yourself a hot cup of cocoa and enjoy the classic tale of the nutcracker. Maurice sendaks weird and wonderful nutcracker brain pickings from maurice sendaks illustrations for nutcracker. Wonderfully reimagined through the eyes of maurice sendak, the nutcracker is the perfect tradition for any young childs christmas. Its a surprisingly dark blending of fantasy and reality that manages to somehow be sweetly innocent and scary as all hell. In seattle, maurice sendaks wild nutcracker reaches its final act for more than 30 years, the pacific northwest ballets nutcracker has used sets and costumes designed by the author of where.
The nutcracker and the mouse king background gradesaver. On the contrary, this book beautifully printed and bound features the original story written by e. Your browser does not currently recognize any of the video formats available. Hoffmans classic story, the nutcracker and the mouseking is the tale of a spoiled prince who lives in a magnificent palace with his magician uncle, drosselmeier. The colorful holiday classic is finally brought to the big screen, designed by famed childrens story author and artist maurice sendak, and written for the first time to be as close as possible to. Pnbs stowellsendak nutcracker takes a final bow the. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search.
Choreographed by kent stowell and designed by celebrated childrens author maurice sendak. He joined with the eminent translator ralph manheim to produce this illustrated edition of hoffmanns wonderful tale, destined to become a classic for all. The nutcracker and the mouse king he was surprised that it bore little relation to what hed seen previously on stage. Maurice sendak and the nutcracker what i got 2 say. The images really flow, and the maurice sendak designs are at once graceful and funny and slightly malevolent giving the material the edge it needs to avoid candyland preciousness. The chinese dance in the artist maurice sendak and the choreographer kent stowells production of the nutcracker, which is presented each season by the pacific northwest ballet in seattle. Lot detail maurice sendak autograph letter signed upon a card featuring his nutcracker artwork. Based upon the pacific northwest ballets original production. Sendak, stowell and the history of pnbs unique nutcracker. Hoffmans the nutcracker and the mouse king, stowell and sendak delved deeply into the original story and infused the ballet with a. So, it was quite exciting when a few weeks ago i received a copy of nutcracker, hoffmanns original story translated by ralph manheim with illustrations by maurice sendak.
A hoffmann, 1984 nothing in the world is more exciting than a moment of sudden discovery or invention, and many more people are capable of experiencing such moments than is sometimes thought. But what i loved most about the movie is what some of the critics. Pnb prepares to raise the curtain on a bold new nutcracker. Sendak was the son of polish immigrants and received his formal art training at the art students league of new york. When midnight comes, clara finds herself trapped in the middle of a battle between the mice and her toys being lead by the confused nutcracker. This beautifully hardbound edition makes a great addition to any child, or adults library.
Adult at the party mouse captain dervish beatrice bassett. Hoffmann, later watered down for the famous ballet. The secret history of one of the worlds most celebrated nutcracker. The legacy of the mouse king and the history of nutcracker. The motion picture, like the stowell sendak stage production on which it is based, is presented as claras comingofage story. As punishment for his good deed, the mouse queen managed to transform hans into a nutcracker prince of the dolls before her death. Hoffmans the nutcracker and the mouse king, stowell and sendak delved deeply into the original story and. The colorful holiday classic is finally brought to the big screen, designed by famed childrens story author and artist maurice sendak, and written for the first time to be as close as possible to the original story. It depicts claras inner conflict and confusion, as well as the beginning of her sexual awakening, as she approaches adolescence. Ballard is a great director who adapts his skills to the material. The best, worst and weirdest versions of the nutcracker.
At long last, nutcracker, the motion picture, carroll ballards film of the pacific northwest ballets maurice sendak designed production is available on an official region one dvd from mgm, the films current owner. The ballet was based on a french retelling of the story, and hoffmanns german original is rarely translated in its entirety. I finally saw it live in the final week of its retirement and got a backstage t. The motion picture, like the stowellsendak stage production on. Pacific northwest ballets the nutcracker, sets by maurice sendak. Hoffmann in 1816, has fascinated and inspired artists, composers, and audiences for almost two hundred years. Maurice sendaks illustrations from the nutcracker photos we know its a bit early to be thinking about christmas thanksgiving hasnt even passed yet.