The National Ballet of Cuba, led by Viengsay Valdés, will be performing The Nutcracker at the Avellaneda Hall of the National Theatre of Cuba. This ballet is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed performances.

The Patrimonio Cultural de la Nación company will offer seven performances on 28, 29, and 30 December 2023, and 1, 5, 6, and 7 January 2024. The first of January will be dedicated to the 65^th anniversary of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution.

The prima ballerina Viengsay Valdés stated that this classic has not been performed since 2020, and it is in the version of the beloved Alicia Alonso. The performance will showcase the technical and artistic brilliance of the dancers, including children and a special choir performing the snow scene at the end of the first act.

Viengsay Valdés also reflected on the year and stated that it has been a beautiful and fruitful year for the National Ballet of Cuba. The company celebrated its 75^th anniversary in style and fulfilled national and international commitments while maintaining its artistic splendour, keeping its loyal audience engaged.

The general director of the company expressed that this year has been special for them, as they have continued to demonstrate their high artistic level, maintaining their demand and rigour, which characterizes them as the cultural heritage of the nation.

Maestro Yhovani Duarte will conduct the Orquesta Sinfónica del Gran Teatro de La Habana Alicia Alonso, and the voices of Cantoría Solfa, directed by Mailán Ávila, will also be part of the musical enchantment of The Nutcracker.

Maestro Mailán Ávila commented on the unique proposal of having the children of the Cantoría Solfa perform on stage alongside the dancers, as they have done in the past while participating from the orchestra pit.

The director and founder of the children’s choir considers it a challenge since the song is sung in a very high tessitura, requiring a difficult vocalization that varies in three different parts.

The main roles in these performances will be played by Viengsay Valdés, Anette Delgado, Sadaise Arencibia, Grettel Morejón, Dani Hernández, Yankiel Vázquez, Ernesto Díaz, Chavela Riera, María Luisa Márquez, Ányelo Montero, Estefanía Hernández, Jorge Guerra, Luis Fernández and Víctor Álvarez, supported by the company’s corps de ballet.

Photo: Gabriel Dávalos

Alicia Alonso created a choreography for The Nutcracker ballet, which was based on Lev Ivanov’s original work and scored with music by Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky. The original libretto by Marius Petipa was inspired by Alexandre Dumas’ version of the story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, written by E.T.A. Hoffmann. The ballet premiered on November 5th, 1998 at the 16^th Havana International Ballet Festival, marking its 25^th anniversary.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez