Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Story

Apr 29, 2016  This is the Nutcracker Story for kids. It was a Christmas Eve and Marie was waiting for Uncle Peter. It was a tradition for Uncle Peter to give Marie presents the night before Christmas. Uncle Peter got a funny looking nutcracker toy as her gift. Over 100 years old, The Nutcracker Ballet was first presented at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, on December 17, 1892. Peter Tchaikovsky, the famous Russian composer, was commissioned by mastermind choreographer Marius Petipa to compose the ballet, score based on Alexandre Dumas’s adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffman’s tale 'The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.' Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker,' the story of a young girl's journey to a magical land on Christmas Eve, is perhaps not only the composer's most famous work but also one of the most famous ballets of all time. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is widely considered the most popular Russian composer in history. His work includes the The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker is an 1892 two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E. Hoffmann's story 'The Nutcracker and the Mouse King'. Although the original production was not a success, the 20-minute suite that Tchaikovsky extracted from the ballet was. However, the complete Nutcracker has enjoyed.

Over 100 years old, The Nutcracker Ballet was first presented at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, on December 17, 1892. Peter Tchaikovsky, the famous Russian composer, was commissioned by mastermind choreographer Marius Petipa to compose the ballet, score based on Alexandre Dumas’s adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffman’s tale 'The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.' Tchaikovsky and Petipa had previously worked together on another classical ballet, Sleeping Beauty.

The first production of The Nutcracker was a failure. Neither the critics nor the audience liked it. Even though Czar Alexander III was delighted with the ballet, The Nutcracker was not an instant success. However, the ballet gained popularity with future productions, especially in the United States.

NutcrackerTchaikovsky Nutcracker Story

The first performance of The Nutcracker in the United States was by the San Francisco Opera Ballet, in 1944. The production was directed by William Christensen. However, by changing a few characters, choreographer George Balanchine brought new life to The Nutcracker. His 1954 production for the New York City Ballet popularized the ballet, establishing it as a holiday tradition. Many of the versions of The Nutcracker performed today are based on the version created by George Balanchine.

Synopsis

Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Ballet

During a holiday party, a young girl named Clara is presented with a beautiful toy nutcracker from her strange uncle. Clara is delighted with the unusual present until her brother becomes jealous and breaks it. Her uncle magically repairs the toy to Clara's delight. After the party, she falls asleep clutching it. Her dream then begins. She awakens suddenly, stunned by the events she sees happening in her living room. The Christmas tree has grown to an enormous size and life-size mice are scampering around the room. Fritz's toy soldiers have come to life and are marching toward Clara's nutcracker, which has also grown to life-size. A battle is soon underway between the mice and the soldiers, led by the giant Mouse King. The nutcracker and the Mouse King enter an intense battle. When Clara sees that her nutcracker is about to be defeated, she throws her shoe at him, stunning him long enough for the nutcracker to stab him with his sword. After the Mouse King falls, the nutcracker lifts the crown from his head and places it on Clara.

She is magically transformed into a beautiful princess, and the nutcracker turns into a handsome prince before her eyes. The prince bows before Clara, taking her hand in his. He leads her to the Land of Snow. The two dance together, surrounded by a flurry of snowflakes. He transports her to the Land of Sweets where they are entertained. They witness several dance performances including the Spanish Dance, the Arabian Dance, the Chinese Dance, and the Waltz of the Flowers. Clara and her Nutcracker Prince then dance together, in honor of their new friends. Clara awakens under the Christmas tree, still holding her beloved nutcracker. She thinks about the mysterious events that happened during the night and wonders if it was all just a dream. She clutches her nutcracker doll and delights in the magic of Christmas.

Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker,' the story of a young girl's journey to a magical land on Christmas Eve, is perhaps not only the composer's most famous work but also one of the most famous ballets of all time. 'The Nutcracker' is often performed during the Christmas season due to its content, and many families make it an annual tradition to attend a performance. If you've never seen this ballet, or you need a refresher on the story, we've provided a synopsis for you below.

Act I

Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum's House

The Stahlbaums are preparing for their annual Christmas Eve party. The house is decorated with ornaments, wreaths, stockings, mistletoe, and, in the center of it all, a majestic Christmas tree. The Stahlbaum children, Fritz and Clara, wait anxiously for their family and friends to arrive.

As the guests begin to appear, the party gathers steam, with much dancing and celebratory laughter. Soon, a mysterious guest arrives. Dressed in dark clothing, he frightens Fritz, but not Clara, who knows that he is Godfather Drosselmeyer, the toymaker. His surprise arrival is warmly accepted, and all the children dance and carry on with laughter.

Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker Soundtrack

The Gift of the Nutcracker

The celebration is interrupted again when Drosselmeyer reveals to the children that he has brought them gifts. The girls receive beautiful china dolls and the boys receive bugles. Fritz is given a beautiful drum, but Clara is given the best gift of all, a nutcracker. Fritz grows jealous, snatches the nutcracker from Clara, and plays a game of toss with the other boys.

It isn't long until the nutcracker breaks. Clara is upset, but Drosselmeyer fixes it with a handkerchief. Drosselmeyer’s nephew presents Clara with a small makeshift bed that he puts under the Christmas tree for her injured toy.

The party grows late and the children become sleepy. Everyone generously thanks the Stahlbaums before they leave. As Clara’s family retires to bed, she checks on her nutcracker one last time and ends up falling asleep under the Christmas tree with him in her arms.

Attack of the Mouse King

At the stroke of midnight, Clara wakes up to a frightening scene. The house, the tree, and the toys seem to be getting larger. Is she shrinking? Out of nowhere, large mice dressed in army uniforms, led by their Mouse King, begin to circle the room while the toys and Christmas tree come to life. Clara’s nutcracker has also come to life. He groups the soldier toys into battle formation and fights the mouse army.

The Mouse King traps the Nutcracker in the corner, but the Nutcracker can’t overcome the Mouse King’s strength. Clara makes a desperate move to save her Nutcracker from defeat and throws her slipper at the Mouse King, hitting him directly on the head. The Nutcracker is able to overcome the stunned Mouse King and claims victory. The mice army quickly carries away their king.

Clara falls onto what had been the toy nutcracker’s bed, overwhelmed by the moment. As angels and delightful music hover over their heads, the bed turns into a magical sleigh, floating higher and higher. The Nutcracker is transformed into a human prince (who looks strikingly similar to Drosselmeyer’s nephew). He climbs aboard Clara’s sleigh and drives them through a snowy forest, where the snowflakes turn into dancing maidens.

Nutcracker Tchaikovsky Songs

Act II

A Magical Land

After their journey through the snow forest, Clara and her prince arrive at their destination in the Land of Sweets. Clara can’t believe her eyes: There are ladyfinger mountains topped with whipped cream whiter than snow, sweetly glazed flowers, and buttercream frosting everywhere she looks. Upon their arrival, the duo is greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. As they reenact the night’s events, the Sugar Plum Fairy expresses admiration for Clara’s bravery and the Nutcracker’s heroism. In their honor, the Sugar Plum Fairy takes them inside the Candy Castle and throws a lavish festival. They are treated like royalty and presented with every imaginable sweet.

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Dancing Delights

Shortly thereafter, the dancing begins. Hot coco dances to the lively music of trumpets and castañets of the Spanish fandango. The women of coffee dance in veils and move their bodies like rising steam to an Arabian song while Mandarin tea dances to an exotic Asian flute chorus. Russian dolls follow the Mandarin tea, leaping and dancing to an invigorating dance known as a Trepak.

To Clara’s delight, there is still more to be seen. A giant gingerbread house, known as Mother Ginger, dances onto the Sugar Plum Fairy’s court. She opens her skirt and eight little gingerbread children come dancing out circling around her. After the dance is over, the children quickly file back into the large gingerbread house and Mother Ginger leaves the room. Soon after Mother Ginger exits, the dancing flowers enter to the tune of the harp. Clara thinks it is perhaps the most beautiful waltz she has ever heard, and she and the Nutcracker Prince watch with amazement. The flowers dance in beautiful mesmerizing patterns as a single Dewdrop floats above them.

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

Silence quickly follows the end of their dance. Clara doesn’t know what to expect next. A handsome Cavalier enters the scene and escorts the Sugar Plum Fairy to the center of the room. They dance to the most recognizable song in the entire work. The captivating pair dance lighter than air. This beautiful dance completes Clara’s most perfect evening.

Dream or Reality?

The festival concludes when everyone comes together on the court and bids Clara and the Nutcracker Prince farewell. She tells the Nutcracker she wishes the adventure would never end and he tells her it won’t for those who have an eye to see it. Clara wakes up the next morning under the Christmas tree with her toy nutcracker still in her arms. Was it all just a dream? Or was it the magic of Christmas, come to life?