The romance and comedy of the story has never been more winning. Its wintry light has never been more radiant. The ballet’s snow scene has never seemed more beautiful. The ingenious artists who created this multifaceted Joffrey production that debuted in 2016 include choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, librettist Brian Selznick, set, costume and mask designer Julian Crouch, lighting designer Natasha Katz, puppet designer Basil Twist, the 59 Productions projection designer, and many others.

(The ballet also suggests the gritty construction site five months before the opening of the exposition, complete with a small army of rats.) They did so by setting it against the many wonders of Chicago’s 1893 Columbian Exposition – the World’s Fair that put the city on the global map, showcased its immigrant population, introduced several technological wonders, and exemplified the brilliance of Daniel Burnham, the American architect and urban designer who envisioned it.

Petersburg, Russia, also is a vivid reminder of the creative brilliance of all those who devised this exceptional reimagining of a ballet classic. This “Nutcracker,” set to Tchaikovsky’s beloved score that was heard for the first time in 1892 in St.

The lyric opera house