Throwback Thursday and the First Sugar Plum
The first production of The Nutcracker was on December 18,
1892, and featured Antoinetta Dell-Era as the first Sugar Plum Fairy. Although
some sources say that Tchaikovsky described her as “pudgy and unattractive”, on
the opening night of the ballet she received five curtain calls and good
reviews. For other opinions on her dancing, see this link:
She was an Italian ballerina, born on February 10, 1860. She
came to Russia as part of the “Italian invasion” in 1886, along with ballet
notables Legnani and Cecchetti. She also had a successful career dancing at the
Berlin Opera.
But beyond that, her life remains a mystery. Some sources
say she died in Berlin on June 22, 1945, others say the exact place is unknown. When she
died in 1945 it was her final wish that her estate benefit dancers in need, and
thus the Dell’Era-Gedachtnis-Stiftung
foundation was established.
Secret #93:
“Antoinetta Dell-Era was the first Sugar
Plum Fairy in the first Nutcracker.”
Link of the Day:
Quote
of the Day:
“The possession of knowledge
does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery.”
― Anaïs Nin
― Anaïs Nin
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