TV REVIEW : Solid but Scarcely Magical ‘Nutcracker’

Although “The Nutcracker” was created for the St. Petersburg company now known as the Kirov, the ballet remained out of repertory there for decades. Two years ago, however, on its 100th anniversary, it was remounted for an American tour in a 1934 version by Vassily Vainonen.

It is that Kirov “Nutcracker” that comes to Bravo cable twice tonight in a solid though scarcely magical performance led by Larissa Lezhnina and Victor Baranov. This is not a traditional “Nutcracker” (with real children), but the ancestor of the prevalent “adult” interpretations--in particular the psychosexual Baryshnikov/American Ballet Theatre “Nutcracker” still seen on videotape.

Vainonen’s choreography is much admired in Russia for reasons hard to fathom when watching this performance. Yes, the Kirov is a magnificent classical ensemble--but for half its length, “The Nutcracker” focuses on party games and mice-on-the-march, requiring greater dramatic conviction than the cast can muster.

Moreover, when classical dancing finally becomes dominant, the conducting of Victor Fedotov proves ruinous: slowing the music down until it’s impossible for even Kirov dancers to sustain a sense of flow or spontaneity. Staged in 18th-Century style (as usual for Soviet-era versions), the Waltz of the Flowers emerges static and limp, while the Arabian Dance threatens to come to a complete stop more than once.

Lezhnina brings her usual delicacy and refinement to the role of Masha and Baranov dances with exemplary smoothness and lightness as the Nutcracker Prince. But, starting with Piotr Russanov’s prosaic Drosselmeyer, this is a very routine performance.

With a few discreet exceptions, director Yvon Gerault keeps the camera far back and avoids video effects. This, then, is a souvenir of how the ballet looks on stage--except that the Epilogue is different from the one in the 1992 American premiere in Orange County.

Back then, Masha awoke from her dream still wearing her tutu, but she now appears in a shapeless nightdress. Makes more sense, but listen to the music. Does it tell you her dream is over? Of course not, and a sensible “Nutcracker” is no “Nutcracker” at all.

* The Kirov Ballet “Nutcracker” screens at 5 and 10 tonight on Bravo cable.