The Nutcracker

Love, dream and fantasy for one of the most fascinating ballets in the history of classical dance. The enchanting sets of the Ballet of the Romanian Opera House make the spectator participate in Hoffmann's fairy tale itself. With its characteristics of a fairy tale with a happy ending and a festive atmosphere, The Nutcracker has become a ballet that enchants children and enchants adults: a fairy tale of sweets, toy soldiers, a Christmas tree, snowflakes and dancing flowers, evil mice, prodigies, Prince Charming and fairies. This is why it is the most performed show in the world during the Christmas season. The finale is marked by the exquisite “Waltz of the Flowers”, after which Clara will find herself in her armchair with her nutcracker on her lap, happy with this Christmas dream.

PLOT

Act I
The story is set at the beginning of the 19th century, in Germany. It is Christmas Eve and Mr Stahlbaum is throwing a party for his friends and their children.
The children, waiting for their presents and full of enthusiasm, are dancing when Mr. Drosselmeyer, the uncle of Clara and Fritz, arrives. He brings presents for them all and entertains them with magic tricks, although at first he is frightening because of his peculiar figure. Drosselmeyer begins to show his gifts: Harlequin, the toy soldier and a Nutcracker, mechanical automatons, so perfect that they seem real. The Nutcracker attracts the attention of the little brothers, who quarrel and snatch it out of their hands until Fritz, annoyed, breaks it. After repairing it, the uncle entrusts it to Clara's care. Tired from the evening's dancing, the girl, after the guests have retired, falls asleep on her bed and begins to dream. It is midnight and everything around her begins to grow: the hall, the Christmas tree, the toys. Suddenly, unusual rustling and squeaking sounds are heard, strange presences prowl the room: they are mice trying to steal her nutcracker. Clara tries to chase them away when the Nutcracker comes alive and participates in a battle with Fritz's toy soldiers. At the end of the battle, he and the Mouse King are left, who puts him in a difficult position. To save the Nutcracker Clara grabs her slipper and throws it at the Mouse King, allowing the Nutcracker to strike him dead. He then transforms into a Prince and Clara follows him, entering an enchanted forest as the snow begins to fall. The act closes with a splendid Waltz of the Snowflakes.

Act II
The two youngsters enter the Kingdom of Sweets, where they are received at the Royal Palace by the Candy Fairy, who has the Nutcracker tell them all about his adventures, and how he won the battle against the Mouse King.
Nearly afterwards, all the courtiers perform a series of dances that make up the most famous and well-known divertissement of Tchaikovsky's music and make the ballet famous, culminating in the well-known Waltz of the Flowers. Finally, the Sugarplum Fairy and the Prince perform a very delicate Pas de deux. The ballet ends with the world-famous Waltz of the Flowers and the dream comes to an end: once she wakes up, as day breaks, Clara thinks back to her magical dream, with the Nutcracker clutched in her arms.

Program and cast

Music by Pëtr The’ič Tchaikovsky
Choreography Marius Petipa

Ballet Corps Ballet of the Romanian National Opera