THE NUTCRACKER
An interactive sand show after E. T. A. Hoffmann's story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King and music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky
"The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" is a story written in 1816 by Prussian author E. T. A. Hoffmann, in which young Marie Stahlbaum's favourite Christmas toy, the Nutcracker, comes alive and, after defeating the evil Mouse King in battle, whisks her away to a magical kingdom populated by dolls. In 1892, the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky turned the adaptation of the story into the ballet The Nutcracker and made it one of the favourite Christmas fairytales in the world.
The production of 274 Theatre is making the most of the legendary Christmas story and the amazing music by Tchaikovsky with presenting an original English text adaptation and musical transcription for piano made by Mikhail Pletnev. The music is performed by a Russian London based pianist Konstantin Lapshin. The amazing live visual sand performance to accompany the story is created by one of the leading sand animators in the Europe Alyona Voynova (Germany).
Duration: 55 min
Age: 2+
ALYONA VOYNOVA
SAND ANIMATOR
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One of the leading sand artists in the Europe. In her portfolio - bigger international projects including ad campaigns for Mercedes Benz, BMW, as well as interactive show at Bradenburgh Gates in Berlin, international festivals and performances.
Drawing with sand, moving sand, transient and infinitely changeable, stories that tear between the fingers, so one can put into words the achievement of Aljona Voynova, although this unique art (only a few people in the world master it) gets along without words .
In real time, pictures and stories are painted by hand into a thin layer of sand that floats, comes and passes seemingly weightlessly on a glass plate illuminated from below. The entire process of drawing with sand, the creation of paintings from the sand is shot with a video camera and transferred to a projection.
Aljona Voynova is a gifted young artist who will be the the special star of the project.
KONSTANTIN LAPSHIN
PIANO
konstantinlapshin.com
Named “a very special talent” by Murray Perahia, London-based Russian pianist Konstantin Lapshin is a prize-winner in more than 15 national and international competitions. “An impressive technique, and the impulsive, Romantic expression that has been a hallmark of so many Russian pianists, including Rachmaninov and Horowitz”- said 'Fanfare' magazine (USA) about him.
Before moving to London, Konstantin completed his studies in the Moscow State Conservatoire and he is currently pursuing the doctoral degree at the Royal College of Music. During his time at the RCM, Konstantin won the Chappell Gold Medal and the college’s highest prize for the most outstanding student (across all disciplines), the Queen Elisabeth Rose bowl. He subsequently played for HRH Prince Charles and in the same year was the nominated ‘Rising Star’ to play at Cadogan Hall, London. Konstantin also teaches at the Royal College of Music and will serve as a Jury member of the Schumann Piano competition in Italy.
Konstantin has given recitals and concerto appearances at various concert halls across the Europe including the Wigmore Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Purcell Room at the Southbank Centre, Cadogan Hall, Steinway Hall, Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, the Salle Cortot in Paris and many others.