Nutcracker - A Christmas Fairytale

Was it all just a dream? Somewhere between illusion and reality, between day and night, Peter I. Tchaikovsky set his masterpiece. Like no other work, "The Nutcracker" embodies danced fantasy and a musical wonderland in one. Here you can dream, listen, watch – and be amazed! Against an enchanting backdrop, a poetic fairytale unfolds at the Prinzregententheater, made up of familiar and new elements, with Tchaikovsky's delightful music forming the foundation: A mix of ballet, colors, light, and even acrobatics transports the viewer into magical scenes, distant worlds, and snow-covered winter landscapes. The Mouse King and Sugar Plum Fairy, coffee, tea, and chocolate – they are all there, part of the familiar plot, which, like Tchaikovsky's picturesque musical ideas, is an indispensable component.

The fascinating combination of classical ballet and acrobatics lends "The Nutcracker" magical moments: objects whirl effortlessly across the stage; a dream figure in a mirror costume conjures up ethereal sounds from a glass orchestra to Tchaikovsky's music; a jester adds a special note to the lively scenes. The plot and characters are framed by familiar sounds: the Waltz of the Flowers, Dance of the Reed Flutes, Snowflake Waltz, Chinese Dance... a lovingly crafted masterpiece, whose details surprise and invite you to dream. Children are also welcome – after all, "The Nutcracker" remains a true Christmas fairytale classic.

Plot 

Below is a synopsis based on the original 1892 libretto by Marius Petipa. The story varies from production to production, though most follow the basic outline. The names of the characters also vary. In the original Hoffmann story, the young heroine is called Marie Stahlbaum and Clara (Klärchen) is her doll's name. In the adaptation by Dumas on which Petipa based his libretto, her name is Marie Silberhaus. In still other productions, such as Balanchine's, Clara is Marie Stahlbaum rather than Clara Silberhaus.

Act I

Scene 1: The Stahlbaum Home

In Nuremberg, Germany on Christmas Eve in the 1820s, a family and their friends gather in the parlor to decorate the Christmas tree in preparation for the party. Once the tree is finished, the children are summoned.

When the party begins, presents are given out to the children. When the owl-topped grandfather clock strikes eight, a mysterious figure enters the room. It is Drosselmeyer— a councilman, magician, and Clara's godfather. He is also a talented toymaker who has brought with him gifts for the children, including four lifelike dolls who dance to the delight of all. He then has them put away for safekeeping.

Clara and her brother Fritz are sad to see the dolls being taken away, but Drosselmeyer has yet another toy for them: a wooden nutcracker doll, which the other children ignore. Clara immediately takes a liking to it, but Fritz accidentally breaks it. Clara is heartbroken, but Drosselmeyer fixes the nutcracker, much to everyone's relief.

During the night, after everyone else has gone to bed, Clara returns to the parlor to check on the nutcracker. As she reaches the small bed, the clock strikes midnight and she looks up to see Drosselmeyer perched atop it. Suddenly, mice begin to fill the room and the Christmas tree begins to grow to dizzying heights. The nutcracker also grows to life size. Clara finds herself in the midst of a battle between an army of gingerbread soldiers and the mice, led by their king.

The nutcracker appears to lead the gingerbread men, who are joined by tin soldiers, and by dolls who serve as doctors to carry away the wounded. As the seven-headed Mouse King advances on the still-wounded nutcracker, Clara throws her slipper at him, distracting him long enough for the nutcracker to stab him.

Scene 2: A Pine Forest

The mice retreat and the nutcracker is transformed into a human prince.[25] He leads Clara through the moonlit night to a pine forest in which the snowflakes dance around them, beckoning them on to his kingdom as the first act ends.

Act II

The Land of Sweets

Clara and the Prince travel to the beautiful Land of Sweets, ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Prince's place until his return. He recounts for her how he had been saved from the Mouse King by Clara and transformed back into himself. In honor of the young heroine, a celebration of sweets from around the world is produced: chocolate from Spain, coffee from Arabia, tea from China, and candy canes from Russia[31] all dance for their amusement; Marzipan shepherdesses perform on their flutes;[32] Mother Ginger has her children, the Polichinelles, emerge from under her enormous hoop skirt to dance; a string of beautiful flowers perform a waltz. To conclude the night, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier perform a dance.

A final waltz is performed by all the sweets, after which the Sugar Plum Fairy ushers Clara and the Prince down from their throne. He bows to her, she kisses Clara goodbye, and leads them to a reindeer-drawn sleigh. It takes off as they wave goodbye to all the subjects who wave back.

In the original libretto, the ballet's apotheosis "represents a large beehive with flying bees, closely guarding their riches". Just like Swan Lake, there have been various alternative endings created in productions subsequent to the original.

Program and cast

A Christmas Fairytale

International Festival Ballet & Special Guests

Peter I. Tchaikovsky, Music
Marius Petipa, Libretto
Lev Ivanov, Choreography
Martin Jansons, Lighting Design
Alex Bogutsky, Production
Ivan Luzan, Direction
Thekla / Mackay, Storyteller (11:00 AM & 3:30 PM)