The story takes the viewer into the magical realm where the good and the beautiful reign supreme and where you want to return again and again, even as an adult. The fascinating splendour of the stage design and costumes, the fairytale plot, the music and the dance complete the vital work full of romance and make the ballet evening a true feast.
For young and old, it is a welcome chance to experience the unique perfection of ballet and to effortlessly access the magical world of ballet. The libretto of "The Nutcracker" is based on the fairy tale "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" by E. T. A. Hoffmann. This new theme for the composer, the discovery of the world by children on the threshold of adolescence, was based on ideas from the symphonic world and led to a lyrical-philosophical poem. Conceived as a puppet ballet for children, the "Nutcracker", which was not exactly extensive (only two acts) according to the usual categories, became the harbinger of many appearances of Russian ballet theatre at the beginning of the 20th century due to the importance and richness of its content and its new form.
The Nutcracker – Royal Classical Ballet © Royal Classical Ballet
It is said that Modest Tchaikovsky arranged the fairy tale of the "Nutcracker and Mouse King" by the German poet E.T.A. Hoffmann, which became known worldwide in the last years of the 19th century, into a children's room game for his sister's children. The composing brother Peter Ilyich must have been present at this family idyll. He told his "Sleeping Beauty" choreographer Marius Petipa about it. So the plan was born to make a ballet out of this "Nutcracker" story.
In "The Nutcracker", a new world of imagery finds its way into the ballet: the characteristic drawing of the figure of Drosselmeier and the kingdom of mice conveys a touch of "horror" and irony at the same time. The action dances are full of symphonic development: the growth of the fir tree, the snowflake waltzes, two Andante from Act 2, which radiate a special warmth, humanity and lyrical richness of emotion unique to Tchaikovsky.
It was not until 1892, a year before his death, that Tchaikovsky finally achieved the longed-for success as a ballet composer among his contemporaries.
December 17, 2023
