Tcherniakov triumphs with Iolanta, but hobbles Nutcracker

By Mark Pullinger, 12 March 2016

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“Forget sugar plums, this Nutcracker tastes of ash and acid”

Reviewed at Opéra national de Paris: Palais Garnier, Paris on 11 March 2016

Tchaikovsky, Iolanta

Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker

Opéra national de Paris

Alain Altinoglu, Conductor

Dmitri Tcherniakov, Director, Set Designer

Elena Zaytseva, Costume Designer

Alexander Tsymbalyuk, King René

Sonya Yoncheva, Iolanta

Arnold Rutkowski, Vaudémont

Andrey Zhilikhovsky, Robert

Vito Priante, Ibn-Hakia

Elena Zaremba, Martha

Roman Shulakov, Alméric

Gennady Bezzubenkov, Bertrand

Anna Patalong, Brigitta

Paola Gardina, Laura

Marion Barbeau, Marie

Stéphane Bullion, Dancer

Alice Renavand, Dancer

Nicholas Paul, Dancer

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Choreography

Édouard Lock, Choreography

Arthur Pita, Choreography

Ballet de l'Opéra de Paris

Maîtrise des Hauts-de-Seine

Chœur d'enfants de l'Opéra National de Paris

Chœurs de l'Opéra national de Paris

Orchestre de l'Opéra national de Paris

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Mark Pullinger

Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.

Tcherniakov triumphs with Iolanta, but hobbles Nutcracker at the Garnier