EUGEN ONEGIN (Wiener Staatsoper)*****

 

By Sophie

Link: https://play.wiener-staatsoper.at/event/ee614b25-8435-479b-baab-21b887943915/play 

Available until: 10^th May at about 6pm

It is often said that the modern world is cruel and there is certainly a great deal of truth in that. But the world has always been cruel to people who are perceived as being unlike everyone else.

The difference now is that our lives are so public, it is harder even for the so-called normal people to hide the moments when they are less than perfect. Anyone can become the butt of the very next joke and many people seek out the relative safety of laughing along with the crowd.

THE GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER (Moscow Ballet/Stream Theatre)***

 

By Emma

Link: https://www.stream.theatre/season/11 £23

Available until: Livestreams at 5pm every day until 1^st January 2021.

I did enjoy this really. There are lots of things about this production which are really great.

Firstly, the music. How could you not love the music? There are so many great tunes and the orchestra plays them brilliantly, it’s a really full sound and it’s like the music swells with emotion.

THE NUTCRACKER (BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET)*****

 

By Louise

Link: https://www.brb.org.uk/whats-on/event/the-nutcracker-at-the-rep-online#dates-and-times

Available until: 24th December, 11.59pm.

The Birmingham Royal Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker is really beautiful. It follows the story I know, but it makes many dramatic decisions which I wasn’t expecting but which work really well.

First of all Clara is centre stage as the main female character. This seems right as it is more her story than the Sugar Plum Fairy’s. The rivalry between the Nutcracker and the Rat King becomes a running theme which gives the story more continuity. When Clara is given the Nutcracker doll, Fritz is given a Rat King doll. The two toys have a play fight as one of Clara and Fritz’s games. That sets the scene for the fight later and it’s possible that isn’t the last we see of the Rat King.