Nutcrackers, Sweet!
Nutcrackers have been around for at least three centuries, carrying with them a sense of tradition and folklore. They have stories and also inspired them. German legend says that a nutcracker represents power and strength and that they fiercely protect your family from danger and evil spirits. They were given as keepsakes to bring good luck.
When the ballet, The Nutcracker, with the now-famous score by Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker Suite, Op 71a, premiered in St. Petersburg in 1892, there was a tremendous surge in the popularity of nutcrackers. The practice of collecting nutcrackers in the United States did not begin until the early 1950s. Not only was that the time that The Nutcracker ballet became very popular in America, igniting a passion for the whimsical wooden creations, but many of the soldiers stationed in Germany during World War II discovered nutcrackers in open air fairs or markets. When the soldiers returned home after the war, these sturdy and intriguing new comrades often accompanied them. Strengthened by the nutcracker’s ability to ward off evil from its owners, the soldiers brought a figure of power and protection to their families and loved ones. And so, the nutcrackers with their rich heritage had arrived in the United States, and were here to stay. Due to the magic and mystery of the ballet that has enchanted audiences year after year, the popularity of collecting nutcrackers here continues to this day.
The first nutcrackers depicted images of kings, military officers, and other prominent members of the upper classes. The Steinbach company in Germany changed that tradition and raised the nutcrackers to a different level by depicting various characters from German folklore and legend and introducing historical and literary figures from different places in the world. Their vast choice of subjects, superb quality and craftsmanship, and development of limited edition pieces, helped establish the nutcracker as a treasured and valuable collector’s item.
They are not simple factory-made and assembled pieces, Christian Steinbach explained, "To produce one nutcracker can involve up to 130 separate procedures. At one time the curing and natural drying of the wood could take up to 3-4 years depending upon the piece." No wonder they are such unique and fascinating characters!
One lover of the Steinbach creations is St. Simons resident Sandy Storino. She has been amassing a collection of nutcrackers since she first took her daughters to see “The Nutcracker” ballet at the Lincoln Center when they were 12 and 13 years old. Her eldest is now 40. Once people found out she collected them, they started buying them for her. Now, she has a veritable army of soldiers in her Sea Palms home. They come from different makers, range from big to small, and represent all sorts of real and fictional characters. Many Steinbachs are included in the collection, and Sandy says they’re her favorites due to the exquisite detail on the nutcrackers.
There are the “patriots,” who are Sandy’s pride and joy. These include Ben Franklin with his kite, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington. She recalls bringing a couple of them home with her from Libby Hogan’s store Tortoise & The Hare when it was closing, and Sandy’s late husband, Pat, had purchased many there throughout the years. The characters from Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas tale stand on the shelf in the form of Ebenezer Scrooge, Marley’s ghost, complete with chains, and Bob Cratchit holding Tiny Tim. The nativity’s three wise men sit under the three musketeers. There are nutcracker golfers, fishermen, musicians, a gardener, a puppeteer, and so many more in the dozens that line the bookcases from top to bottom and decorate the rooms.
Sandy professes to have no particular favorite, but she can vividly describe the “one that got away.” It was a Steinbach Beefeater, now a retired piece. She didn’t purchase it when she initially saw it and knows she may never have the opportunity again. A recent shopping trip at Tuesday Morning, however, did yield an unexpected treasure. She snagged some bargain-priced Steinbachs that happened to be there, and now Tchaikovsky, who holds the Mouse King, toy soldier, and sugar plum fairy will join the others. It’s only fitting that a nutcracker depicting the man who composed the music for The Nutcracker ballet which created the popularity of these items and is the originator of Sandy’s own collection belongs there!
While it is common knowledge that Tchaikovsky wrote the music for the popular holiday ballet that has been performed for more than 120 years, many people are not aware of the story that inspired it. The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, was a scary fairy tale published in 1816 by E.T.A. Hoffman. It was not intended for children. Years later, Alexander Dumas’ lighter version of the tale brought it to a younger audience. The chief ballet master of the Russian Imperial Ballet, Marius Petipa, liked the story and used it as inspiration to create a ballet, commissioning Tchaikovsky to write the music. The Russian composer also wrote the music for Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. Petipa’s assistant Lev Ivanov created the choreography. The production was first performed in December 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
George Balanchine grew up in Russia and studied dance at the Russian Imperial Ballet School. In 1919, at the age of 15, he danced the role of the Prince in The Nutcracker. After he had moved to the United States and established the New York City Ballet in 1948, he choreographed his own version of The Nutcracker for his company. Balanchine was well known for creating ballets performed in simple practice clothing without elaborate scenery, so that the focus is on the music and dancing. The first performance of Balanchine’s production of The Nutcracker took place on February 2, 1954. It has been an annual holiday tradition ever since, with the New York City Ballet presenting close to 50 performances of the ballet each year and countless other productions of the holiday classic being danced on stages worldwide.
The Nutcracker will be an integral part of the Coastal Symphony of Georgia’s December concert, “Christmas Traditions,” this year. Guest artist Bess Chambliss and Val Salnikov will dance the Pas de Deux from “The Nutcracker” ballet. Following intermission, Ms. Chambliss will narrate as the orchestra performs The Nutcracker Suite. Opening the concert will be traditional selections including White Christmas, Carol of the Bells, the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah and other holiday classics. Singing along is encouraged! This will be a concert to delight young and old with the magic and excitement of the season. Reserve your seat in the audience at Brunswick High School for the Monday, December 7 concert by calling the Symphony Box office at 912.634.2006 or visit coastalsymphonyofgeorgia.org.
Sandies for Santa
All this discussion of nutcrackers and Sandy, dancing and sugar plums, makes us hungry. To make practical use of those nutcrackers, crack open some pecans and bake some delicious sandies (you see what we did there) for Christmas. These have always been one of Santa’s favorites at our house. Don’t forget the glass of milk to accompany these rich tasty bites and some apples or carrots for the reindeer!
Pecan Sandies
Ingredients:
2 c. butter
2/3 c. granulated sugar
4 tsp. water
4 tsp. vanilla
4 c. flour
2 c. pecans, chopped
6 Tbsp. confectioner’s sugar
Directions:
Using mixer, cream together butter and sugar. Beat in water and vanilla. Stir in flour and pecans until well-blended. Cover dough and chill at least 4 hours. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Shape dough into walnut sized balls. Place on cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake 18-20 minutes. Roll in confectioner's sugar while still warm. Makes about 48 cookies.
