Moscow Ballet’s Baltimore performances of the GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER feature live orchestra conducted by Silas Nathaniel Huff
The full ensemble includes a celesta doubler; one of the best-known works that makes use of the celesta is Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker
BERKSHIRES, MA (October 12, 2010) – Moscow Ballet will perform the Great Russian Nutcracker at the Hippodrome Theatre, Baltimore on Saturday, December 11, 3:00 and 8:00pm and Sunday, December 12 at 1:00 and 5:00pm. The performances will include a live orchestra conducted by composer and conductor Silas Nathaniel Huff. The full ensemble, including a celesta doubler, an unusual instrument whose sound is similar to the glockenspiel’s and is played in the Sugarplum Suite, will perform Tchaikovsky’s beloved Nutcracker Suite score for the 40 member, classically trained Russian dancers. To purchase tickets by phone, call the theater box office at 410-547-SEAT (7328). Buy tickets online at www.nutcracker.com. Tickets start at $27.50
Silas Nathaniel Huff conducts orchestral, choral, opera, ballet, and new music performances. In the United States Maestro Huff conducts youth, university, and professional ensembles from California to New York. Internationally, he has conducted the L’Orchestre de L’Institut Musical de Provence-Aubagne (Aix-en-Provence, France), the Republic of Adegya National Philharmonic Orchestra (Maikop, Russia), the New Symphony Orchestra (Sofia, Bulgaria), and the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra (Zlin, Czech Republic). Maestro Huff currently holds the music directorships of the Astoria Symphony (NYC) and the Round Rock Symphony (TX), conducts Moscow Ballet's Baltimore performances, and is the Associate Producer of Opera at the Manhattan School of Music.
A native Texan, Maestro Huff earned a Master of Music degree in music theory and composition under Ian Krouse at UCLA. An avid dance conductor, Maestro Huff has conducted performance with the Fullerton College Ballet Theater (CA), Long Island City Ballet (NYC), Octavia Cup Dance Theatre (NYC), Moscow Ballet, and the Martha Graham Ensemble. Maestro Huff has also organized and presented concerts of contemporary music in California, Texas, New York, Spain, France, Germany, and Italy, and continues to compose and conduct new music. In 2007, he conducted the premiere of his Five Episodes for Cello and Orchestra, and 2009 saw the premiere of his first ballet, Chun Zhi Ge ("Spring Song Festival"). In the fall of 2010 he conducts the orchestral premiere of his Four Cowboy Songs.
For a truly special Christmas experience Moscow Ballet introduces its Platinum Seating and Gift promotion. Platinum ticket buyers receive a limited edition fine art print created by contemporary Russian masters from the St. Petersburg Academy of Art. These stunning first edition prints were newly commissioned to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Marius Petipa’s life. Renowned as the creator of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, Petipa is revered as the “Father of Russian Ballet”. Platinum Seating includes front row* centered seats, a backstage Meet and Greet, gourmet chocolates, preferred parking and a Platinum Member’s Benefit Card for purchases at www.nutcracker.com. Only seven pairs of platinum tickets per performance are available! Visit http://www.nutcracker.com/premium.php for information on Platinum, VIP or discount tickets.
Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker stars 2008 IBC Gold Medalists and principal artists Cristina Terentiev as Masha and Alexei Terentiev as the Nutcracker Prince. Spectacular scenic design, gorgeous costumes, and the exquisite artistry of 40 top Russian artists have made the Great Russian Nutcracker an American holiday tradition not to be missed. Critically acclaimed for its unique setting of Act II in the "Land of Peace and Harmony”, the Great Russian Nutcracker entertains audiences with new characters and larger than life puppets all set against a stunning backdrop of unicorns, exotic birds and animals. An ethereal Dove, a messenger of peace, leads Masha and the Nutcracker to the peaceful kingdom. Beloved Russian fairytale characters, Father Christmas and his granddaughter the Snow Maiden, add to the whimsical and imaginative storytelling that sets this Nutcracker apart.
Moscow Ballet – 2010 North American Tour
Two simultaneous tours of the Great Russian Nutcracker and Swan Lake will visit 70 cities in the United States and Canada in November and December 2010. Ballet Masters for the 2010 tour are Vladimir Troschenko (western tour) and Andre Litvinov (eastern tour). For tickets and more information go to www.nutcracker.com.
Contact: Sally Michael Keyes
413-499-1733 x114 sally@nutcracker.com
For high-resolution images: http://www.nutcracker.com/promo.php
About Moscow Ballet
Moscow Ballet is known for its annual touring Great Russian Nutcracker and full-length productions of classic story-ballets, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and others. Created by award winning Juilliard alumnus, composer/conductor and theatrical producer, Akiva Talmi, the organization evolved out of Talmi’s all-star Russian "Glasnost Festival Tour" (1986-92). Moscow Ballet made its debut in 1993 with the Great Russian Nutcracker, which was directed and choreographed by soloist Stanislav Vlasov of the famous Russian Bolshoi Theatre. In 1994, Moscow Ballet invited the Moscow State Theatre of Natalia Sats, and the theatre's full orchestra, to expand the company to an 88-artist tour which was billed as the "19th Century Classical Nutcracker." In 2003, Moscow Ballet announced the appointment of Vladimir Troshchenko, director of Odessa State Ballet and a pivotal figure in the ballet world, as Ballet Master. Moscow Ballet continues to feature top graduates of Perm, Vaganova, Moscow State Academic Choreographic and Kiev schools in its productions.
*Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/Moscow Ballet & Twitter: @MoscowBallet
Tags: