The New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving’s “Sundays at the Symphony” series is bringing back Tchaikovsky’s much-loved ballet, “The Nutcracker Suite” with soloists and corps de ballet from Momentum Dance, Sunday, Dec. 11.
The holiday ballet will be staged with full orchestra at 3:30 p.m. in Carpenter Hall, Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd. Conducted by music director Dr. Sergio Espinosa, the 70-piece orchestra will also present Samuel Barber’s “Die Natali, Chorale Preludes for Christmas” and Otto Nicolai’s “Christmas Overture on von Himmel Hoch.”
Audience members are invited to come early to hear more about how a choreographer finds a fresh approach to this familiar ballet, as Momentum Dance director Jacquelyn Ralls Forcher comments on her own design for “Nutcracker” at 2:30 p.m., before the concert, in the Carpenter lobby.
Tickets are available now at the Irving Arts Center website – https://tickets.irvingartscenter.com - or by calling the Irving Arts Center box office, 972-252-2787 (ARTS) before the performance. General admission is $10 to $20, with discounts for seniors and students.
Jacquelyn Ralls Forcher, originally from Jackson, TN. has lived in Irving for more than 16 years. She trained at the prestigious School of American Ballet in New York City, one of three generations in her family to train there.
Ms. Forcher danced professionally with Ballet West in Salt Lake City, Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, and Ballet South in Memphis. Upon moving to North Texas, she joined Dallas Ballet and Ft. Worth Ballet. She began her guesting, choreographing, and teaching career after leaving full-time ballet company work; with her husband Jerry, she bought Forcher's Dance Center in 1998.
Momentum Dance began in the late 90's as semi- and professional dancers sought a venue for local performance in the DFW metroplex. Ms. Forcher, the company’s artistic director, incorporated Momentum in 2004. It soon became an Irving Arts Center Founding Organization.
Dr. Espinosa is an associate professor at the University of Texas at Arlington. A specialist in string music education, he has given workshops and presentations throughout the United States, Canada, China and Australia. He also serves as Senior Music Examiner for the International Baccalaureate organization in Wales, United Kingdom.
The New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving is a community orchestra, consisting of trained musicians who choose to continue to play their instruments while they serve in other professions: teaching, accounting, film-making and others. NPOI has performed for audiences in Irving, Euless, Dallas and throughout the Metroplex.
Further information about NPOI, including full program notes for the December 11 concert, can be found on the orchestra’s Web site at www.npoirving.com.
“Sundays at the Symphony” is supported in part bythe City of Irving through the Irving Arts Board.