Since premiering in western countries in the 1940s, this ballet has become perhaps the most popular to be performed around christmas time. The nutcracker site provides a central location for nutcracker ballet information. Scents of ginger, chocolate, and peppermint waft through the air. The story of the nutcracker ballet scene descriptions. In the first act of the ballet, claras parents, the stahlbaums, throw a christmas. Tchaikovskys ballet of the nutcracker has come to sum up the magic of the festive season. Press the note to hear tchaikovskys music by katy flint and jessica courtneytickle oct 5, 2017 4. The stahlbaums had prepared for their annual christmas celebration all day.
In gratitude, the sugar plum fairy presents clara with a crown, and festivities commence in claras honor. The ballet of the nutcracker was inspired by the book the story of a nutcracker by alexandre dumas. Tchaikovsky s nutcracker, the story of a young girls journey to a magical land on christmas eve, is perhaps not only the composers most famous work but also one of the most famous ballets of all time. Magically, he transforms the nutcracker into a dashing prince.
The nutcracker leads the toy soldiers into battle with the mice, and marie helps him by throwing her slipper at the fierce mouse king, who the nutcracker then slays. Hoffmanns tale contains a long flashback story within its main. Join us for this holiday event and you will enjoy a night of specialty cocktails, fabulous hors doeuvres, music, and more. Follow clara on a magical christmas adventure in this musical retelling of the nutcracker balletpush the button on each beautiful scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing from tchaikovskys score. Tchaikovskys nutcracker, the story of a young girls journey to a magical land on christmas eve, is perhaps not only the composers most famous work but also one of the most famous ballets of all time. African american king nutcracker in red gold hologram 14 inch. The nutcracker is based on the book the nutcracker and the mouse king, by e. The nutcracker story the nutcracker was first presented 123 years ago at the mariinsky theatre in st. In the first act of the ballet, claras parents, the stahlbaums, throw a christmas party. The original ballet was created by marius petipa and lev inavov with an original music score composed by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky. The nutcracker tells a story about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on christmas eve and wages a battle against the evil mouse king.
Showcasing national pride, spanish dancers perform with passion and flourish. Hoffmann, in which young marie stahlbaums favourite christmas toy, the nutcracker, comes alive and, after defeating the evil mouse king in battle, whisks her away to a magical kingdom populated by dolls. That night, she experiences the nutcracker s battle with an army of mice and his transformation into a handsome prince. The narrated story of the nutcracker ballet in under 5 minutes. The australian ballet exists to inspire, delight and challenge audiences through the power of its performances. Once again drosselmeyer calls upon his magic and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome boy. This is designed to quickly educate the nondance oriented about this wonderful.
A commitment to artistic excellence, a spirited style and a willingness to take risks have defined the company from its earliest days, both onstage. Hoffmann was set to music by tchaikovsky and originally choreographed by. The story of a young german girl who dreams of a nutcracker prince and a fierce battle against a mouse king with. Hoffmann fantasy story the nutcracker and the mouse king, about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on christmas eve and wages a battle against the evil mouse king. The story of the nutcracker is loosely based on the e. The synopsis nycb new york city ballet official site. But there is a darker history to the story, and the. The nutcracker fights a courageous fight but is no match for the rat king. Synopsis of tchaikovskys nutcracker ballet liveabout.
It was originally called the nutcracker and the king of mice. How tchaikovskys nutcracker became a christmas classic. Heartbroken, clara begs uncle drosselmeyer for help. The rat king appears and challenges the nutcracker to a duel. A nutcracker who may just be a handsome prince in disguise prepare to enter a magical new world. Smith concert hall set in the 1850s in huntsville, alabama, our production of the nutcracker has a traditional feel thanks to the huntsville history sets and elaborate antebellumstyle costumes. Written in the early 1890s, this was the last ballet score tchaikovsky wrote. The last of his three ballets, it was first performed in december 1892. If youre off to see graeme murphys moving reimagaination of the nutcracker, nows the time to get acquainted with the story, which follows a ballerina, clara, through the glamour and romance, tragedy and travels of her life. Excitement runs high as last minute preparations are made. Libretto by yuri grigorovich after the fairytale of the same name. It tells the story of a little girl who goes to the land of sweets on christmas eve. Here at the traveling ballerina, weve put together this nutcracker ballet quiz so that you can find out just how knowledgeable you really are. It was a tradition for uncle peter to give marie presents the night before christmas.
The book has beautiful pictures carry the text along and make the story come to life. Nutcracker ballet nutcracker ballet performances in alabama. The nutcracker ballet was written during the classical period of ballet, a time when many famous ballets were being written and performed. Hoffmanns original story, the nutcracker and mouse king, maries claras, journey becomes a fevered delirium that transports her to a land where she sees sparkling christmas forests and marzipan castles, but in a world populated with dolls. Act one the ballet opens with a scene in drosselmeyers workshop, where he is getting ready for the stahlbaums christmas party. As the edwards family prepare for their christmas party, clara imagines the wonderful things that might happen. Nutcracker ballet mug mardigras1 3 masks, confetti and crown. Although what is seen on the stage today is different in. The nutcracker ballet provides the history of the nutcracker ballet, nutcracker music, nutcrakcer links, nutcracker movies and information on nutcracker ballet performances in your area.
The story of the nutcracker ballet by deborah hautzig. The origin of the nutcracker, a classic christmas story, is a fairy tale ballet in two acts centered on a familys christmas eve celebration. Nutcracker ballet mug mardigras6 nutcracker jester with diamond background. It was first performed in at the marinsky theatre in st petersburg in 1892. Soldier nutcracker in fancy rose gold white fur hat 10 inch. Hoffmanns original story, nutcracker and mouse king, is darker and. Nutcracker the story of clara the australian ballet. Godfather drosselmeier and his apprentice nephew had worked long and hard preparing this years magical gifts and were putting the final touches on their creations. Hoffmanns tales were so bizarre, sigmund freud wrote about them in the uncanny.
If youve never seen this ballet, or you need a refresher on the story, weve provided a synopsis for you below. Although what is seen on the stage today is different in detail from the original story, the basic plot remains the same. Clara and fritz have a very special godfather who makes inventions out of clockwork or perhaps they are magical and his christmas presents are always amazing and wonderful. The company of almost 40 dancers is the only internationally touring ballet group to perform to critical acclaim in over 75 north american cities annually. We present the classic story with music by tchaikovsky from his famous ballet. Clara distracts the rat king just enough so the nutcracker can strike a fatal blow which breaks a spell that was on the nutcracker, turning him back into the prince of the land of sweets. Boston ballet behind the scenes the nutcracker synopsis. Nutcracker ballet quiz so youve seen the nutcracker dozens of timesbut how well do you know the story behind the story of one of the ballet worlds most treasured traditions. That night, she experiences the nutcrackers battle with an army of mice and his transformation into a handsome prince. King nutcracker in red and gold hologram with crown 14 inch. The nutcracker is often performed during the christmas season due to its content, and many families make it an annual tradition to attend a performance. Uncle peter got a funny looking nutcracker toy as her gift. The plot of hoffmanns story and dumas adaptation was greatly simplified for the twoact ballet.
The nutcracker is the story of clara, a little girl who is given a wooden nutcracker as a christmas gift by the mysterious dr. The australian ballet is one of the worlds premier ballet companies and has delivered extraordinary performances for over 50 years. Nutcracker performance listings are provided by state and city and by the company performing the nutcracker ballet. The ferocious king of the mice challenges the nutcracker to a duel. The nutcracker, russian shchelkunchik, ballet by pyotr tchaikovsky.
Now that the mouse king is dead, an ancient spell has been broken, and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince. Hoffmanns 1816 fairy tale the nutcracker and the mouse king. W hen the san francisco ballet company performed the first complete version of the nutcracker in the u. Grandparents and guests begin to arrive to celebrate the holiday with clara, fritz and their parents.
Peter tchaikovsky, the famous russian composer, was commissioned by mastermind choreographer marius petipa to compose the ballet, score based on alexandre dumass adaptation of e. Just as the mouse king is about to overpower the nutcracker doll, clara distracts him, allowing the nutcracker to strike the winning blow. Home nutcracker ballet gifts nutcrackers, ornaments. San francisco ballet auxiliary invites you to an exciting night celebrating the 75th anniversary of san francisco ballets nutcracker. A series of photo clips with narration to tell the story of the nutcracker in a brief synopsis. Hoffmanns 1816 tale the nutcracker and the mouse king had been adapted by alexandre dumas he of three musketeers fame in 1844, and it was a ballet based on this version that was. Hoffmann, and an interpretation of hoffmans story written by alexandre dumas. It was also loosely the basis for leo delibes comic ballet.
Hoffmanns original story was darker than the ballet, but the plot remains largely the same. See moscow ballets great russian nutcracker and create memories for a lifetime. In the late 1800s, the brilliant composer peter ilyich tchaikovsky unveiled a ballet called the nutcracker, which brimmed with soaring melodies and quickly became a christmastime favorite. Hoffmann s 1816 fairy tale the nutcracker and the mouse king. Hoffman published the nutcracker and the mouse king, a scary fairytale intended only for adults. The nutcracker ballet story the most common of many variations the nutcracker ballet is based on the story the nutcracker and the king of mice written by e. The nutcracker ballet actually started as a story written by german author e. Its time to celebrate a great holiday memory see the. Dumas story was an adaptation of the dark fairytale the nutcracker and the mouse king, written by e. The story of the nutcracker ballet is a beautiful, classic book about the story everybody knows. The nutcracker prince musters his toy infantry and the cavalry. With the help of his assistant, he gets two lifesize dolls in a sleigh, grabs a wrapped present, and then sets off. It was a christmas eve and marie was waiting for uncle peter.
Featuring timeless score from incredible composer pyotr i. Claras quick thinking helps the nutcracker defeat the king of the mice. The history of the nutcracker ballet in america time. The nutcracker ballet listing nutcracker performances. Find a performance in your state, or visit your city to find out when we will be in your area. The nutcracker ballet is based on the story the nutcracker and the king of mice written by e. The nutcracker story royal opera house learning platform. The premiere of the nutcracker transforms the classical ballet into a fairytale. History of the nutcracker pacific northwest ballet. This holiday season, experience moscow ballets great russian nutcracker acclaimed by the press and adored by audiences everywhere. Ivan vsevolozhsky and marius petipa adapted hoffmanns story for the ballet. Tchaikovsky, nutcracker is a certified classic, replete with evocative music and beautiful dance.