Friday, December 23, 2016

Variation of the Sugar Plum Fairy from the Nutcracker

Submitted by Mei-Chen Lu – December 23, 2016

The notation score of variation of the "Sugar Plum Fairy" from the Tschaikovski-Petipa ballet "The Nutcracker" is now available for download.  It was danced by Alicia Markova, prima ballerina at the time, and notated by Ann Hutchinson Guest in 1957.

Markova was an outstanding interpreter of this role and made comments of this dance:

"The essence of this variation should be like spun sugar.  Technically it should be danced in a very classical form, but not as bravura variation to dazzle and bring applause.  The success it merits should come from its delicacy and gentle grace, expressing the sweet goodness which is the quality of the Sugar Plum Fairy, who is dancing to entertain little Clara in the Kingdom of Sweets."

This score was published and copyrighted by the DNB in 1957.




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