The Nutcracker

The Royal Ballet
15 December 2008 to 10 January 2009
Main Auditorium

The Guardian said in December 2006, this is a production that resembles the ideal Christmas decoration: ‘dusted off every year, yet always more fabulous than you remembered.’


The Nutcracker
　
Composer: Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
Choreographer: Peter Wright after Ivanov
First ROH Performance: 20 December 1984 (Wright after Ivanov)
First performance: 18 December 1892 (Ivanov) at the Mariinsky Theatre
Original scenario: Marius Petipa after E.T.A. Hoffmann's Nussknacker und Mausekönig

The Story
　
Drosselmeyer is a magician and creator of mechanical toys and clocks. He was employed in a royal palace where he invented a trap that killed off half the mouse population. In revenge the wicked Queen of the Mice cast a spell over Drosselmeyer's nephew, Hans-Peter. She transformed him into an ugly Nutcracker Doll.
　
The only way to break the spell is for the Nutcracker to slay the Mouse King, thereby committing an act of great bravery, and for a girl to love him in spite of his awful appearance.
　
Drosselmeyer is invited to entertain the guests at his friends’, the Stahlbaums, Christmas party. The Stahlbaums have a daughter, Clara, who is a little younger than Hans-Peter. It occurs to Drosselmeyer that she may be the one to break the spell.
　
Drosselmeyer decides to give the Nutcracker to Clara and makes a special Christmas Angel to guide her. When all the guests have departed and the house is asleep, Clara creeps downstairs and discovers Drosselmeyer waiting for her. He draws her into his own special world of fantasy where time is suspended. Drosselmeyer exerts all his powers to transform the living room into a great battlefield and summons the Mouse King.
　
A battle rages between mice and toy soldiers. Clara helps the Nutchracker, when out of compassion, she saves his life. The Nutcracker then slays the Mouse King. Transformed into his real self, Hans-Peter dances with Clara. They find themselves in the Land of Snow.
　
Drosselmeyer then sends them on a magic journey to the Sugar Garden in the Kingdom of Sweets. They meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Prince. Freed at last from his imprisonment inside the Nutcracker, Hans-Peter recounts to the Sugar Plum Fairy his great adventure and how Clara saved his life. They then join in a magnificent entertainment put on by Drosselmeyer to honour them for their bravery.
　
Returning to reality, Clara runs out into the street in search of Drosselmeyer and encounters a familiar young man. Back in his workshop Drosselmeyer prays that his efforts will be rewarded. His nephew returns; the spell is broken.

(Taken from a synopsis by Peter Wright)

　

　

　
　
Wish You All a Very Happy Holiday! Y