The chinese dance in the artist maurice sendak and the choreographer kent stowells production of the nutcracker, which is presented each season by the pacific northwest ballet in seattle. The bold and imaginative costumes and set design dreamt up by sendak, the author of where the wild things are, has given seattle a nutcracker unlike any other for decades, and mark zappone has been in pnbs costume shop from the start. From the nutcraker pacific northwest ballet, kent stowell. Pacific northwest ballets production of nutcracker, which opens tomorrow at mccaw hall, is such a venerable holiday tradition for our region that its easy to forget that it was once. With sets and costumes designed by renowned illustrator maurice sendak where the wild things are, and choreography by pnb founding artistic director kent stowellpacific northwest ballets. Choreographer kent stowell, the artistic director of the pacific northwest ballet pnb, first invited the authorillustrator maurice sendak to collaborate on a nutcracker production in 1979, after stowells wife and colleague francia russell saw a sendak designed performance of mozarts the magic flute in houston. Maurice sendak design the nutcracker original 1986 photo. In 1979, one kent stowell, choreographer for the pacific northwest ballet, contacted illustrator maurice sendak about collaborating on a new. This is the real thinga rare, original promotional photo. In 1983, four years after he adapted where the wild things are for the stage, sendak designed the set for the pacific northwestern ballets production of nutcracker.
In addition to his beloved childrens books, maurice sendak june 10. The motion picture was created to be a cinematic version of the pacific northwest ballets 1983 production of the classic. Nutcracker props adorn seattle lawn north seattles nutcracker lawn pays homage to sendak version of pnbs production, as owner continues to make beautiful music in. When you buy from us you can be assured that you are buying a genuine, professionally authenticated, original still photo. When we hear the name maurice sendak, our mind cant help but to immediately think of his oh so famous picture book where the wild things are. Pacific northwest ballet the brilliant result of close collaboration. Maurice sendaks designs for opera and ballet through oct. He joined with the eminent translator ralph manheim to produce this illustrated edition of hoffmanns wonderful tale, destined to become a classic for.
Maurice sendaks weird and wondrous illustrations for the. See maurice sendaks littleknown designs for the opera. Petersburg, russia, the first production in the united states choreographed by william christensen was performed by san francisco ballet in 1944. Stowell says, it was a very spiritual experience for him. Dec 15, 2015 the only perfect use of those three minutes in the nutcracker known as the arabian dance. Maurice sendaks designs for opera and ballet puts his fantastical drawings, dioramas and storyboards on display alongside props and costumesincluding some he designed for pacific northwest ballets nutcracker in the early 1980s.
Sendak, stowell and the history of pnbs unique nutcracker. With hugh duncan bigney mitchell, vanessa sharp, patricia barker, wade walthall. Maurice sendaks surprising connection to ballet dance magazine. Based upon the pacific northwest ballets original production. Jun 16, 2012 on december, 1983, pacific northwest ballet premieres a new production of nutcracker. This tale of hoffman was the basis for tchaikovskys ballet the nutcracker. Maurice sendaks designs for opera and ballet is made possible with generous support from the rita markus fund for exhibitions, the maurice sendak foundation, the caroline morgan macomber fund, rudy and sally ruggles, and the david berg foundation, with assistance from marilyn j. Northwest audiences get their last chance to see the stowellsendak nutcracker this winter. Pacific northwest ballets nutcracker, with lavish sets and costumes by maurice sendak and choreography by kent stowell, has been a tradition for seattlearea families since 1983. The only perfect use of those three minutes in the nutcracker known as the arabian dance. In 2015, pacific northwest ballet debuts a new version of the holiday classic.
The return to the original story was the reason maurice sendak aggreed to design the sets and costumes. Maurice sendaks designs for where the wild things are, the nutcracker and the magic flute are on show at the morgan library and museum. There are countless productions of these chestnuts in the puget sound and around the country, but truly nothing like pacific northwest ballets pnb version of the nutcracker with sets and costumes by maurice sendak of where the wild things are and choreography by longtime former pnb artistic director kent stowell. Maurice sendaks splendidly illustrated version of e. Maurice sendaks designs for opera and ballet the exhibit, which runs from june. For more than 30 years, the pacific northwest ballets nutcracker has used sets and costumes designed by the author of where the wild things. As a result the story has a darker side, most notably the creepy herr drosselmeyer. Discovering maurice sendak, the opera designer the new. After 31 years and hundreds of performances, pacific northwest ballet has begun its farewell to kent stowell and maurice sendaks nutcracker.
However, the disc is part of foxmgms manufactureondemand studio classics series. Seattle, wa pacific northwest ballet is delighted to celebrate three decades of kent stowell and maurice sendak s oneofakind nutcracker, the nortfrom the pacific. Pacific northwest ballet premieres kent stowellmaurice. Hoffmanns classic story, 1816 the nutcracker and the mouse king one year later, in 1984, the book version, was published. A lavish, exciting and heartwarming celebration of dance, of music, and of life. Dec 10, 2019 in 1983 maurice sendak designed the set for the pacific northwestern ballets production of nutcracker. Dec 23, 2014 in addition to his beloved childrens books, maurice sendak june 10, 1928may 8, 2012 vitalized the popular imagination with his equally innovative contributions to theater. Dec 03, 2014 after 31 years and hundreds of performances, pacific northwest ballet has begun its farewell to kent stowell and maurice sendaks nutcracker. By 1981, at age 53, sendak was working on the sets of four different operas. Director kent stowellpacific northwest ballets nutcracker should. Dec 01, 2010 the chinese dance in the artist maurice sendak and the choreographer kent stowells production of the nutcracker, which is presented each season by the pacific northwest ballet in seattle. Sendak was the son of polish immigrants and received his formal art training at the art students league of new york. Discovering maurice sendak, the opera designer the new york. Instead of following the original ballet version, pnb went back to the original story by e.
He had never been around ballet before, and he watched the training and rehearsals for. Dec 23, 2014 in seattle, maurice sendak s wild nutcracker reaches its final act for more than 30 years, the pacific northwest ballet s nutcracker has used sets and costumes designed by the author of where. Dec 17, 2001 maurice sendak photo courtesy of the barclay agency so the pair agreed to abandon the predictable nutcracker and set out to find a fresh version that would do honor to hoffmann and the ballet s. He revealed in an interview to the new york times in 2008 that he is gay and enjoyed a. The books introduction, written by sendak in 1984, beautifully explains his initial reservations and eventual excitement about working with the company. Maurice sendaks fabulous sets and costumes for the pacific northwest ballets nutcracker are as much a beloved. He joined with the eminent translator ralph manheim to produce this illustrated edition of hoffmanns wonderful tale, destined to become a classic for all. The nutcracker by maurice sendak enchanted booklet. In the hoffmann book, and in the text of the sendak illustrated volume, marie clara in the ballet is seven.
In seattle, maurice sendaks wild nutcracker reaches its. Seattle, wa pacific northwest ballet is delighted to celebrate three decades of kent stowell and maurice sendaks oneofakind. The bold and imaginative costumes and set design dreamt up by sendak, the author of where the wild things are, has given seattle a nutcracker unlike any other for decades, and mark zappone has been in pnbs costume shop. Maurice sendak s designs for where the wild things are, the nutcracker and the magic flute are on show at the morgan library and museum. On december, 1983, pacific northwest ballet premieres a new production of nutcracker. Maurice sendak, in full maurice bernard sendak, born june 10, 1928, brooklyn, new york, u. After deciding early last year that it was time to retire pnbs longrunning nutcracker, which debuted in 1983 with designs by maurice sendak and choreography by kent stowell, boal turned.
Maurice sendak, design for show curtain nutcracker, 1983, gouache and graphite pencil on paper. Fun fact although the nutcracker made its debut in 1892 in st. An exhibition highlights maurice sendaks ballet designs dance. The ballet is choreographed by pacific northwest ballet artistic director kent stowell b. Hoffmans the nutcracker and the mouse king, stowell and sendak delved deeply into the original story and. Maurice sendaks designs for opera and ballet are a. Pnb to shelve its beloved version of nutcracker in 2015. Maurice sendak nutcracker pacific northwest ballet download 4c30fd4a56 nutcracker. Maurice sendak and the nutcracker what i got 2 say. In 1983 maurice sendak designed the set for the pacific northwestern ballets production of nutcracker. Maurice sendak s fabulous sets and costumes for the pacific northwest ballet s nutcracker are as much a beloved. It is a staple of ballet companies around the world.
The brilliant result of close collaboration between pnb founding artistic director and choreographer kent stowell and renowned childrens book author and illustrator maurice sendak, nutcracker premiered to national acclaim in december 1983. He became widely known for his book where the wild things are, first published in 1963. In seattle, maurice sendaks wild nutcracker reaches. Dec 30, 20 nutcracker paid for itself the first year, doubling the companys income. Nutcracker drawings pacific northwest ballet, 2007. Kent stowell and maurice sendaks eerily dark version of. In 1983, sendak designed the captivating stage production of tchaikovskys ballet, the nutcracker. At long last, nutcracker, the motion picture, carroll ballards film of the pacific northwest ballets maurice sendak designed production is available on an official region one dvd from mgm, the films current owner. See more ideas about pacific northwest ballet, maurice sendak and nutcracker costumes. In addition to his beloved childrens books, maurice sendak june 10, 1928may 8, 2012 vitalized the popular imagination with his equally innovative contributions to theater. The stowell and sendak nutcracker contributed significantly to the companys identity, holding the stage for 32 seasons.
One year later, in 1984, the book version, was published. History of the nutcracker pacific northwest ballet. Jul 01, 2019 maurice sendak, design for show curtain nutcracker, 1983, gouache and graphite pencil on paper. Maurice sendaks designs for opera and ballet are a testament. Beloved childrens book author and illustrator maurice sendak might be. The new income allowed the company to take risks on more new ballets. June 10, 1928 may 8, 2012 was an american illustrator and writer of childrens books. An exhibition highlights maurice sendaks ballet designs. Hoffmann posted on december 16, 2018 by tygertale 2 comments following his involvement in an operatic adaptation of where the wild things are in 1979, maurice sendak was asked to design a new production of that famous festive chestnut, the nutcracker. Maurice sendak 19282012, design for battle scene, act i nutcracker, 19821983, by maurice sendak 19282012. Seattles maurice sendak nutcracker takes a controversial. Dec 10, 2012 maurice sendak designed brilliant sets and costumes for the pacific northwest ballet s christmas production of nutcracker and created even more magnificent pictures especially for this book.
In 2015, pacific northwest ballet debuts a new version. The colorful holiday classic is finally brought to the big screen, designed by famed childrens story author and artist maurice sendak, and written for the first time to be as close as possible to the original story. In honor of the farewell season of pacific northwest ballets stowell and sendak nutcracker, we updated this terrific article about the ballets fascinating history. At the invitation of artistic director kent stowell, sendak designed sets and costumes for pacific northwest ballets 1983 nutcracker production.
Dec 04, 2018 the ballet opened in december 1983 to great acclaim, and the sendak stowell edition of the nutcracker ran through 2014, before the pacific northwest ballet switched to george balanchines version. In 2015, pnb acquired george balanchines iconic production, blending peters boals personal historyhis new england childhood and his 30year involvement with the balanchine nutcracker as both a student and. Still, there is quite a bit from that version of the ballet out there that exists. Maurice sendaks original illustrations of clara and the prince. Maurice sendak designed brilliant sets and costumes for the pacific northwest ballets christmas production of nutcracker and created even more magnificent pictures especially for this book. The stories behind maurice sendaks nutcracker designs.
Choreographer kent stowell, the artistic director of the pacific northwest ballet pnb, first invited the authorillustrator maurice sendak to collaborate on a. He revealed in an interview to the new york times in 2008 that he is gay and enjoyed a romantic relationship with his partner, eugene glynn for fifty years. Maurice sendak designed brilliant sets and costumes for the pacific northwest ballet s christmas production of nutcracker and created even more magnificent pictures especially for this book. The nutcrackers american identities george balanchine and the nutcracker 28 mark morris and the hard nut 36 maurice sendak and nutcracker 44 part 4. In seattle, maurice sendaks wild nutcracker reaches its final act for more than 30 years, the pacific northwest ballets nutcracker has used sets and costumes designed by the author of where. Nov 24, 2009 with sets and costumes designed by renowned illustrator maurice sendak where the wild things are, and choreography by pnb founding artistic director kent stowellpacific northwest ballet s. The ballet opened in december 1983 to great acclaim, and the sendakstowell edition of the nutcracker ran through 2014, before the pacific northwest ballet switched to george balanchines version. In seattle, maurice sendaks wild nutcracker reaches its final act. And i have one beautiful copy of the book to give away. Petersburg, choreography by lev ivanov stowellsendak production premiere. Maurice sendak photo courtesy of the barclay agency so the pair agreed to abandon the predictable nutcracker and set out to find a fresh version that would do honor to hoffmann and the ballets.
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