Alexandra Dariescu's The Nutcracker and I

For her concerto debut disc, pianist Alexandra Dariescu chose to pair Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with her own transcriptions for piano of movements from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker (see my review). Now Dariescu is deepening her relationship with the ballet and premiering a new show The Nutcracker and I, which is far more than just a piano recital, at the Guildhall School's Milton Court concert hall on 19 December 2017.

Alexandra Dariescu

The Nutcracker and I is a multi-media performance piece for piano soloist, ballerina and digital animation. Directed by Nick Hillel, the evening will feature Alexandra Dariescu and ballet dancer Désirée Ballantyne, with choreography by Jenna Lee. Ballantyne will be dancing behind a gauze screen on which animations by Yeast Culture. Dariescu will be playing fifteen movements from the ballet, in arrangements by Mikhail Pletnev, Stepan Esipoff, Percy Grainger and three brand new variations by Gavin Sutherland.

The premiere of The Nutcracker and I, by Alexandra Dariescu is part of the Guildhall School’s Alumni Recital Series. Alexandra Dariescu is currently on the Guildhall School’s Creative Entrepreneurs programme, run in partnership with social enterprise Cause4. It is an intensive 12-month programme, which helps entrepreneurs develop ideas offering training in vision development, business planning and marketing, sales and funding and individual support. The aim of the scheme is to enable entrepreneurs to develop sustainable business and to secure vital seed funding.

Following the premiere, there will be 16 performances in Moscow’s International Performing Arts Centre as well as Stavanger International Chamber Music Festival in Norway and multiple tours to China.

Further details about The Nutcracker and I from the Guildhall School's website.