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Nutcracker
This is one of the dearest concerts to my heart, created based on the Christmas tale by E.T.A. Hoffmann in collaboration with the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and conductor Dilyaver Osmanov.
As if by magic, sand animation transports you into a fantastical world, where the magic of sand and Tchaikovsky’s enchanting music create an atmosphere filled with anticipation of a miracle. The sand images take you into the world of little Marie, where the Nutcracker faces off against the Mouse King and, after his victory, transforms into a beautiful prince. This is not just a performance, but a fantastical journey where every grain of sand and every note of the orchestra tells the story that miracles are always near — you just have to believe.
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THE MAIN IDEA
SAND ANIMATION, INFUSED WITH ENCHANTMENT, AND ORCHESTRAL MUSIC, RICH WITH EMOTION, MERGE TO TELL THE STORY OF A WONDROUS JOURNEY THROUGH A CHRISTMAS FAIRY TALE.
Inspired by illustrations by Artuš Schneiner, Don Daily, Ziyi Gao, and Scott Gustafson, Svetlana Telbukh presents a unique interpretation of the classic Christmas story.
The stage transforms into a winter landscape of an old German town. Snow-covered streets, houses with brightly lit windows, gently falling snowflakes, and figures of passersby hurrying to their pre-Christmas activities create a sense of warmth and festive anticipation. The scene slowly fades away, revealing the inside of the Stahlbaum family home.
The warm glow of the fireplace fills the room, with a grand Christmas tree adorned with golden ornaments and bright lights standing in the center. Under the tree, little Marie plays with her favorite doll, while her brother Franz merrily rides a wooden horse.
In this cozy atmosphere, the mysterious guest, Uncle Drosselmeyer, presents Marie with an unusual Nutcracker. Marie excitedly plays with her new toy, then carefully puts it in the cupboard and falls asleep on the couch under the soft light of the Christmas tree.
And then, the magic begins… The room transforms: suddenly, the dolls come to life, soldiers march across the floor as if commanded by an invisible general. Soon, an army of mice led by the fearsome Mouse King appears. An epic battle ensues between the toy soldiers and the mouse army. In the climactic moment, the Nutcracker displays bravery and defeats the Mouse King, freeing the magical world from his evil rule.
The scene changes once more, and now Marie and the Nutcracker find themselves at the gates of a fairy-tale land. Together, they embark on a journey through an enchanting world, where they encounter a castle made of sweets with caramel towers, a magical lake with snow-white swans, and a magnificent Christmas tree shining at the heart of the fairy-tale palace.
As the wondrous adventure draws to a close, the room falls silent once again. On the screen appears an image of sleeping Marie on the couch with a book in her hands, as if everything that happened might have been just a dream. Beside her is the Nutcracker, who slowly transforms into a beautiful prince. But was it really so? Let the audience decide for themselves, straddling the line between dream and reality, immersed in the magic of the Christmas tale…
I am confident that this revelation will leave onlookers wondering about the strength of the human spirit in critical times.
FUTURE SHOW
SHOW
LOCATION
DATE
The Spectre’s Bride
Hof
January 30, 2026 19:30
THE SPECTRE’S BRIDE is a gripping ghost story that unfolds between longing, hope, despair, and terror—until the redeeming dawn. An orphaned girl waits for years for the return of her missing beloved, who finally appears to her as a bridegroom from hell, forcing her on a nocturnal ride to the cemetery. Passing decayed marshes, surrounded by will-o’-the-wisps and the howling of wild beasts, they race through the darkness until the first crow of the rooster and the first rays of the sun put an end to the haunting and set the bride free.
Antonín Dvořák’s operatic cantata THE SPECTRE’S BRIDE (1884) is based on the dark legend Svatební košile (literally: “The Wedding Shirts”) by Czech poet Karel Jaromír Erben. For the first time, this powerful work—rarely heard on stage—can now be experienced at Theater Hof in a concert performance featuring soloists, the opera chorus, and the Hof Symphony Orchestra. As a special highlight, internationally acclaimed sand artist Svetlana Telbukh will bring the imaginative and emotional world of the legend to life through live sand animation.
Le Landeron — 700 years
Le Landeron, Switzerland
October 31, 2025 18:00
Le Landeron — 700 years of history brought to life through sand, light and voice.
On October 31 and November 1, a poetic 45-minute sand animation concert will be presented in honor of the anniversary of Le Landeron.
The story of the town unfolds through a fusion of live sand animation, narration, and atmospheric light design, creating a moving visual journey.
Every gesture becomes the breath of time, every line a memory, every spark of light an expression of gratitude.
Two performances each evening: 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM
Duration: approx. 45 minutes
Location: Le Landeron, Switzerland
Production: Lunidea (lunidea.ch)
Sand Animation: Sand Elf – Lana Telbukh
Narration: Victoria Giorgini
Light Design: Illumination SA
The Whisper of Flowers
Vullierens, Switserland
August 28, 2025 20:00
The Whisper of Flowers is a poetic 45-minute concert blending live piano music, sand animation, and narration into an immersive visual and musical experience.
Inspired by the 70-year history of the iris gardens, the performance unfolds like a living story: each flower reveals its hidden secrets as images appear and dissolve in real time, shaped from grains of sand while the piano accompanies their journey.
Three artists unite to bring this universe to life — a pianist, a narrator, and sand-art virtuoso Lana Telbukh (Sand Elf).
Production: Lunidea (lunidea.ch)
Piano: CarolynWoods-Jardine
Sand Animation: Sand Elf – Lana Telbukh
Narration: Victoria Giorgini
Swiss Legends
Geneva, Switzerland
June 27, 2025 21:00
Swiss Legends is a captivating 45-minute sand animation performance inspired by Swiss mythology and legendary figures, including the haunting tale of La Fée Noire du Jura. Created by sand-art virtuoso Lana Telbukh (Sand Elf), the show blends live music and narration into an immersive visual journey.
Each scene appears and dissolves in real time, transforming ancient Swiss stories into living images shaped from grains of sand.
Produced by Lunidea (lunidea.ch)
General Concept: Victoria Giorgini
Sand Animation: Sand Elf – Lana Telbukh
Narration: Guillaume Pidancet
Light Design: Illumination SA
A poetic tribute to Switzerland’s cultural heritage — magical, atmospheric, and unforgettable.
Sand and Sound
Frauenfeld, Switserland
May 25, 2025 20:00
An exclusive unplugged live concert featuring Remo Forrer, Switzerland’s Eurovision participant, will be accompanied by the captivating sand-art performance of Sand Elf – Lana Telbukh. Visitors will experience a unique fusion of live music and real-time sand artistry. As Remo Forrer delivers the emotional soundtrack of the evening, the talented artist Lana Telbukh transforms the music into mesmerizing sand images, created live before the audience. The event will be hosted by Andy Zellweger, the well-known morning show presenter from RADIO TOP.
Organization is provided by Must HAVE Frauenfeld, a brand dedicated to stylish second-hand fashion and sustainable labels that prove fashion can be both trendy and environmentally friendly.
Music Remo Forrer
Moderator Andy Zellweger
Sand animation Lana Telbukh
School Concert The Little Mermaid
Gera, Germany
February 11, 2025 09:00
Experience the enchanting tale of “The Little Mermaid” brought to life through mesmerizing sand animation by Svetlana Telbukh, in collaboration with the Theater Altenburg Gera. Under the direction of conductor Changmin Park, the orchestra will perform Benjamin Britten’s “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra,” with narration by Ruth Ohlmann. This performance blends music and visual storytelling, immersing the audience in the Little Mermaid’s journey of love and curiosity in the human world.
REVIEW
Next project
Metamorphosis of the Soul
t the 2nd Philharmonic Concert, the “Schumann Open,” sand artist Svetlana Telbukh will create her own artwork during Robert Schumann’s 4th Symphony, enriching the musical experience with a stunning sand animation. Two ephemeral art forms meet, inspiring one another.
Day of German Unity
On October 3, 2019, during the live broadcast of the “Day of German Unity” celebration from Kiel on ZDF, the Philharmonic Orchestra Kiel performed accompanied by Svetlana Telbukh, who presented a touching sand animation story about the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Live concert with Remo Forrer, Switzerland’s Eurovision participant
An exclusive unplugged live concert featuring Remo Forrer, Switzerland’s Eurovision participant, will be accompanied by the captivating sand-art performance of Sand Elf – Lana Telbukh.
Visitors will experience a unique fusion of live music and real-time sand artistry. As Remo Forrer delivers the emotional soundtrack of the evening, the talented artist Svetlana Telbukh transforms the music into mesmerizing sand images, created live before the audience.
