Carol's Blog, Travels | February 8, 2012, 10:14 am

A Nutcracker Christmas Eve

I cannot imagine a more wonderful and traditional Christmas Eve than to see the Nutcracker Suite Performed.

But little did I know that the circumstances under which I would see this wonderful Ballet would be anything but traditional!

This year I was looking forward to a lonely Christmas. I was in Russia and my Family was far away in New York.

I thought a SKYPE call would be the best that I could do to have some Christmas contact.

My father died on Christmas morning- years ago, of course- but Christmas has always been especially poignant for my family.

So the fact that I have spent the last few years in Russia on Christmas Day, supporting my Boyfriend’s career, has been hard on my family. It has also been hard on me, as Russia does not really celebrate Christmas on December 25th. For that matter, it does not really celebrate The Roman Catholic Christmas as it really celebrates New Year’s Eve as the big Holiday.

SO you can imagine my surprise when my boyfriend came home announcing that we were going to see the Nutcracker on December 24th!

Not only that, but we were to see it in the newly renovated Bolshoi Theater!

have driven by this theater the last few times that I had been in Moscow and it was closed! I understood that it was undergoing extensive and much needed renovations. Naturally I thought that I would never have an opportunity to be in this theater or to see it for myself. I never imagined I would be in Moscow at the time that it opened but much less to see the Nutcracker on Christmas Eve!

I have never seen the Nutcracker Suite. So on Christmas Eve I was preparing for two firsts in my life: to see the Bolshoi Theater and to see the Nutcracker performed there.

Little did I know that My Boyfriend had another surprise planned for me- a tour of the theater which included actually standing on the Bolshoi Stage…..

But I get ahead of myself.

What had happened was that Alexei had a friend named Katya who worked PR at the theater. He called her to help OK a documentary being shot about him and his career in Hockey for Russian Television. Of course I was included in this documentary so Katya invited us to come over a little earlier than necessary to have a little tour of the theater.

LITTLE TOUR?

I stood on stage at the theater!I took this photo from standing on the legendary stage. We were backstage and I was able to see the actual props used in the Nutcracker as they set up for that night’s performance! Here is the centerpiece of that performance: The Rocking Horse!I was also able to photograph the snow mounds as they were being created:Going from there, we went to the orchestra pit and then to the hidden rehearsal stage-it was magnificent! All wood, hidden many floors above the actual stage- I almost passed out trying to climb the stairs to get up there-yet the ballerinas climb those stairs to go to workout!!We then went to the front of the theater and saw the reception rooms. Here is the old Beethoven Hall now called Great Imperator Foyer. Beautiful in detail- I even shot the wall covering, as they are handmade and antique.Great Imperator Foyer actually has the capacity for Chamber music concerts! Room for about 300 chairs…..but since the renovation, they have moved these chamber concerts to a new underground theater.Here is a photo of the Plaza outside of the Theater-you remember the New Year’s Tree from my Moscow tree blog- here is a view of it from the theater.We actually went to the front of the Theater LAST as we first went in through the back door (door #17) as there are two numbered doors at the side/back of the theater- one for Directors and VIP guests and one for dancers and administration.Then we went into see the costumes that are on loan from Italy to Russia in a Cultural Exchange Program. I saw the costumes for Nabucco, Aida, Ann Bolyen, Moses and Pharaoh and many other wonderful Operas that were written by Verdi, Rossini or directed by Franco Zefferelli! I was a dancer as a kid. I did dance ballet until I got too tall! But never in my life did I think that I would spend my Christmas Eve walking backstage at the Bolshoi and then sitting in front under the magnificent chandelier:Here is the Stage with it’s magnificent curtain-which yes, I did touch it when I was on stage!And my final picture is of the restored viewing boxes. Have you ever seen so much GOLD?

My Night at the Bolsoi Theater was amazing and I hope you enjoyed your tour. I am so happy that I was able to share this experience with all of you in some small way. Drop me an email and let me know if you enjoyed this tour!

Until then- stay healthy!

CA

PS: I did have a picture of me in my box. But it was too hard to see me……..sorry!

Author: Yes, this is me. Writing my own blogs on my web site. For 2012, my digital agency enabled me to blog from my iPhone and I love it. You will get even more timely content and photos. If you have questions that you would like to ask me directly on subjects I didn't cover in individual blogs, you can do so in "Ask Carol" section.

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