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 ballet was inspired by the nutcracker and the mouse king, published in 1815 by the german author e. The nutcracker prince tells his court the story of how clara saved his life. Hoffmann, the nutcracker tells the story of clara, a young girl who dreams of having adventures with a nutcracker that she receives for christmas. While the original story was centered around a girl named marie and was considered dark and scary, french writer alexandre dumas adapted it to be much lighter. Dumas story was an adaptation of the dark fairytale the nutcracker and the mouse king, written by e. Hoffmann was set to music by tchaikovsky and originally choreographed by marius petipa. With nutcracker season less than a month away, ive been feeling that the ballet might even have a serious theme for me this year, as i see it thematically as concerned with the absorbtion of evil or the fearful into the peaceful ideals of the bourgeois world or perhaps the neutralizing or the. Tchaikovsky, nutcracker is a certified classic, replete with evocative music and beautiful dance. Classical ballet the nutcracker is a classical ballet in two acts.
Fun fact although the nutcracker made its debut in 1892 in st. Ivan vsevolozhsky and marius petipa adapted hoffmanns story for the ballet. The ferocious king of the mice challenges the nutcracker to a duel. The origin of the nutcracker, a classic christmas story, is a fairy tale ballet in two acts centered on a familys christmas eve celebration. It tells the story of a little girl who goes to the land of sweets on christmas eve. 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. Although what is seen on the stage today is different in detail from the original story, the basic plot remains the same. Hoffmanns tale contains a long flashback story within its main.
The first time i saw the nutcracker, while i loved the music and thought it festive and beautiful, i was a little confused by the story line, i have to admit. The nutcracker holiday events national ballet of canada. Hoffman german original of 1816, the nutcracker and the mouse king, but alexandre dumas 1844 french adaptation of hoffmans story, histoire dun cassenoisette the tale of the nutcracker. Nutcracker story the nutcracker the nutcracker san jose. If youve never seen this ballet, or you need a refresher on the story, weve provided a synopsis for you below. Pacific northwest ballets the nutcracker i am ulyssa. During a sweltering christmas eve in melbourne in the late 1950s, the ageing clara. History of nutcracker moscow ballets great russian nutcracker. The bigger the dance, the better it fits the huge space of the royal albert hall. In gratitude, the sugar plum fairy presents clara with a crown, and festivities commence in claras honor. Reading the story helped us to enjoy the ballet more, because we understood the big picture going into it. This is designed to quickly educate the nondance oriented about this wonderful story ballet.
Peter tchaikovsky, the famous russian composer, was commissioned by mastermind choreographer marius petipa to compose the ballet, score based on. The mall story times give audiences of all ages a chance to engage in the story with the unique elements of the alberta ballet version. Now, the original story is rather dark involving bloody cuts, malevolent characters and angry adults, so in the mid19th century, french author. Synopsis of tchaikovskys nutcracker ballet synopsis of tchaikovskys nutcracker ballet 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. In simple, clear language, children can follow the story of the christmas ballet themselves, from the opening christmas eve party scene to the closing scene in which marie and her nutcracker prince bid farewell to the land of the sweets. The january 2020 tour of storytime ballet is now complete. Synopsis of tchaikovskys nutcracker ballet synopsis of tchaikovskys nutcracker ballet 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. All 90 dancers, 62 musicians, 40 stagehands, and more than 125 children in two alternating casts from the school of american ballet join forces to make each performance as. Heartbroken, clara begs uncle drosselmeyer for help. The nutcracker is a ballet traditionally performed during christmas. Now that the mouse king is dead, an ancient spell has been broken, and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince. Petersburg, russia, the first production in the united states choreographed by william christensen was performed by san francisco ballet in 1944. The stahlbaums had prepared for their annual christmas celebration all day.
The premiere of the nutcracker transforms the classical ballet into a fairytale. The story of a young german girl who dreams of a nutcracker prince and a fierce battle against a mouse king with. The plot of hoffmanns story and dumas adaptation was greatly simplified for the twoact ballet. Boston ballet behind the scenes the nutcracker synopsis. Marius petipas twoact ballet the nutcracker premiered in russia in 1892 set to original music by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky, the final of his three fulllength ballet scores. Featuring timeless score from incredible composer pyotr i. The nutcracker ballet is a famous and colorful christmas ballet based on the nutcracker and the mouse king, a story in a book of fairy tales written by german author e. Hoffmann s 1816 fairy tale the nutcracker and the mouse king. Where to see the nutcracker ballet in new jersey, new york city and greater philadelphia, including sensoryfriendly shows. It was originally called the nutcracker and the king of mice. The nutcracker ballet actually started as a story written by german author e. The nutcracker is very popular today, but it didnt become popular in north america until san franciscos ballet performed it in 1944. It is a staple of ballet companies around the world. Holiday shopping and story time with alberta ballet.
Hoffmann was set to music by tchaikovsky and originally choreographed by. Birmingham royal ballet s new version of the nutcracker is strongest when it fills the stage with dancing. The last of his three ballets, it was first performed in december 1892. Grandparents and guests begin to arrive to celebrate the holiday with clara, fritz and their parents.
Tchaikovskys ballet of the nutcracker has come to sum up the magic of the festive season. Although what is seen on the stage today is different in. Follow clara on a magical christmas adventure in this musical retelling of the nutcracker ballet push the button on each beautiful scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing from tchaikovskys score. The nutcracker ballet is based on the story the nutcracker and the king of mice written by e. History of the nutcracker pacific northwest ballet. Exploring the mind of tchaikovsky and his masterpiece. The classic christmas story ballet the origin of the nutcracker, a classic christmas story, is a fairy tale ballet in two acts centered on a familys christmas eve celebration. Thursday, april 23, 2020 ballet, mccaw hall, pacific northwest, seattle, the nutcracker, travel, usa, washington state. Excitement runs high as last minute preparations are made. The story of the nutcracker is loosely based on the e.
The nutcracker ballet by deborah hautzig goodreads. A nutcracker who may just be a handsome prince in disguise prepare to enter a magical new world. The story of the nutcracker ballet scene descriptions. The ballet of the nutcracker was inspired by the book the story of a nutcracker by alexandre dumas. George balanchines the nutcracker new york city ballet. Alexandre dumas peres adaptation of the story by e. Synopsis of tchaikovskys nutcracker ballet liveabout. The nutcracker is a classical ballet always drawing audiences of all ages. The nutcracker prince musters his toy infantry and the cavalry. Pacific northwest ballet s the nutcracker ulyssa elaine. Since premiering in western countries in the 1940s, this ballet has become perhaps the most popular to be performed around christmas time. Sync to our storytime calendar and be notified when we next tour your city experience the worlds most famous ballet live on stage in a spellbinding production of the nutcracker created especially for children aged three and up join the narrator and a festive cast of characters at a marvellous christmas party that transforms into.
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. The nutcracker was first presented 123 years ago at the mariinsky theatre in st. Claras quick thinking helps the nutcracker defeat the king of the mice. This is designed to quickly educate the nondance oriented about this wonderful. 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. Posted on 12 april 2017 by maeve ashby 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. As the edwards family prepare for their christmas party, clara imagines the wonderful things that might happen. I am more and more in awe of this creative genious and most colorful characters. 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. Unlike many other ballets, it is popular for children as well as adults. Hoffmann s story the nutcracker and the mouse king, by alexandre dumas called the story of a nutcracker. The narrated story of the nutcracker ballet in under 5 minutes. 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. Magically, he transforms the nutcracker into a dashing prince.
Scents of ginger, chocolate, and peppermint waft through the air. Just as the mouse king is about to overpower the nutcracker doll, clara distracts him, allowing the nutcracker to strike the winning blow. At the end of the 19th century the director of imperial theaters prince vsevolzhsky decided to create a magnificent and luxurious performance that would become the main event of. Showcasing national pride, spanish dancers perform with passion and flourish. 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. Discover the many roles in tchaikovskys the nutcracker. Sugar plum fairy and the march of the wooden soldiers. The nutcracker is a celebrated ballet classic, but as a childrens story, it brims with enchanting heroism. A production of tchaikovskys ballet the nutcracker performed by the bonn ballet and the bonn telecom classic philharmonic orchestra. The nutcracker simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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