IVSO brings “The Nutcracker” to local audiences, Dec. 14 & 15

Staff
Posted 12/4/19

LA SALLE - The Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of music director and conductor Daniel Sommerville, will present Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker.”

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IVSO brings “The Nutcracker” to local audiences, Dec. 14 & 15

Posted

LA SALLE - The Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of music director and conductor Daniel Sommerville, will present Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker” with dancers from Dance Center in LaSalle, Gray’s School of Dance in Ottawa and Ottawa Dance Academy, plus The Latin Mass Choir of the Illinois Valley and voice students of Kori Suarez.

Performances will take place at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14 and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15 at LaSalle-Peru High School Matthiessen Auditorium. As the only Nutcracker ballet performances in the area, this special Christmas season event is offered by the IVSO every two years with Illinois Valley dancers and musicians performing the ballet.

The Nutcracker is based on Alexandre Dumas’ French version of “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” by E.T.A. Hoffmann. The tale invites the audience into a child’s world filled with anticipation. The story is one of magic and transformation that can be enjoyed on many levels, which unfold as we become aware that things are not always as they seem.

First performed on Dec. 18, 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia, The Nutcracker, has been a Christmas-time classic performed throughout the world and is the first ballet seen by many people. The entire Illinois Valley area is invited to view this special performance.

Reserved seating is $20 for adults; $5 for students through high school and college students with an ID. For tickets, send check payable to IVSO and a self-addressed stamped envelope to: IVSO Nutcracker, c/o Larry Ault, 1300 Briarcrest Drive, Ottawa, IL 61350. Please specify performance date, main floor or balcony, and how many adult or child tickets. Ticket orders received after Dec. 6 will be held at the door. 

Matthiessen Auditorium is accessible. For further information on upcoming concerts, visit ivso.org. Sponsors for this event are Spring Valley City Bank and Eureka Savings Bank. Season sponsors are Ottawa Radio and Regional Media.

IVSO board members, left to right, Laurel Maze, Barbara Lukancic, Marilynn Hurley (IVSO general manager) and Helga Interrante, display some of the items that will be available to purchase during “The Nutcracker” performances, Dec. 14 and 15. (Photo contributed)