The Nutcracker

Щелкунчик

The main Christmas fairy tale, an essential component of the New Year holidays, a miracle and magic, a premonition and anticipation of the celebration, brilliant and beloved music: all this is "The Nutcracker", a fairy-tale ballet based on the story by Hoffmann.

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Actors

Marie

Elizaveta Kokoreva

Nutcracker The Prince

Artem Ovcharenko

Drosselmeyer

Denis Savin

The Mouse King

Mikhail Kryuchkov

Crew

Choreography, Libretto

Yuri Grigorovich

Set designer

Simon Virsaladze

Music Director

Gennadi Rozhdestvensky

Lighting designer

Mikhail Sokolov

Conductor

Valery Gergiev

About

The Nutcracker is a Christmas classic, with a special place in the hearts of ballet fans around the world. Tchaikovsky’s music and the enchanting characters bring Hoffmann’s story to life, creating a magical experience for both adults and children.

Yuri Grigorovich has filled the ballet with romantic introspection thanks to which it has become a 20th century classic.

Special project

The Nutcracker Marathon

This year’s Nutcrackers include: a tender, youthful production by students of the Vaganova Academy; a watercolor, cozy staging from the Dresden Opera; a grand, Hoffmann‑esque somber Viennese Nutcracker choreographed by Nureyev; an elegant, classical performance from the stage of the Berlin State Opera starring Vladimir Malakhov and Nadia Saidakova; a fairytale production by Matthew Bourne, an elegant tribute to 1930s musicals and early Hollywood; and the most beloved, long‑awaited New Year’s ballet version – staged by Yuri Grigorovich at the Bolshoi Theatre, among others. →

Summary

Act I
Guests are gathering for a Christmas party at the Stahlbaum home. Among them are Drosselmeyer, godfather to Marie and Fritz, the Stahlbaums’ children. He has brought them a wonderful present: a funny Nutcracker.

The children wait with impatience for when at long last they will be shown the Christmas tree and the presents. The long awaited moment comes: the handsomely adorned Christmas tree is presented tothe assembled company.

Drosselmeyer suddenly appears disguised as a magician: he is not recognized by the children. Their unknown guest’s ability to make their toys come alive delights the children but, as everything that is clad in mystery, it involuntarily arouses their fear. In order to calm them down, Drosselmeyer takes off his mask and the children now recognize their beloved godfather. Marie wants to play with the wonderful dolls which have come alive, but they have already been tidied away. To comfort Marie, Drosselmeyer gives her the Nutcracker-Doll. Marie takes a great liking to this awkward, funny creature.

Marie’s brother Fritz, who is a great tease and very naughty, accidentally breaks the doll. With great tenderness, Marie comforts her injured Nutcracker and rocks it backwards and forwards. Fritzand his friends now put on mouse masks and tease poor Marie.

The guests appear from an adjoining room. After the final, ceremonial Grossvater dance, they all leave.
At night the room where the Christmas tree stands is bathed in moonlight. It looks mysterious and full of magical secrets. Overcoming her fears, Marie has come to the room to visit her ‘sick’Nutcracker-Doll. She kisses the doll and rocks it.

Drosselmeyer now appears. But instead of her kind godfather, he has turned into a wizard. At a wave of his hand everything around them is transformed: the walls of the room slide back, the Christmastree starts to grow. And all the toys come alive and grow together with the tree.

Suddenly, mice creep out from under the floorboards, led by the Mouse King. The dolls are panic-stricken and thrown into confusion. The Nutcracker’s quick wits and bravery save the day: lining upthe lead soldiers, he boldly leads them out to do battle with the mice forces.

However, the forces are unequal, the advantage is on the side of the evil mice. The Nutcracker is left alone to face the Mouse King and his suite. Marie is out of her mind with worry over the danger that threatens her doll. At this very moment, Drosselmeyer hands her a lighted candle and she throws it at the mice who scurry away helter-skelter.

The battle field empties. The only person left here is the Nutcracker who lies without moving on the floor. Marie, together with the dolls, hurries to his rescue. And now a miracle occurs... BeforeMarie stands a handsome youth, the Nutcracker-Prince. He walks forward to meet her.

The walls of the house disappear. Marie and her friends are standing under a star-studded sky, by a fairy-tale Christmas tree. Snowflakes go round in a magical dance. Marie and her Nutcracker-Prince,beckon, as if to a beautiful dream, to the twinkling star at the top of the Christmas tree. They climb into a magic boat and set off for the top of the tree. The dolls follow behind them.

Act II
Marie and Nutcracker-Prince are sailing in their magic boat through the Christmas tree kingdom. There are their friends, the dolls with them. The shining star is getting closer and closer. They are just about to reach the top of the tree when they are suddenly attacked by the mice and the Mouse King who have crept up behind them. Once again, theNutcracker-Prince goes boldly into battle. Horribly frightened, Marie and the dolls watch the fight. The Nutcracker-Prince vanquishes the enemy. Joyous victory celebrations are underway. The dolls dance, the candles burn even brighter, the Christmas tree comes alive. The evil mice have been defeated. Marie and the Nutcracker-Prince are radiant with happiness — they have reached the kingdom of their dreams! But it appears all this was just a dream. Christmas Eve is over and with it all wonderful reveries. Marie, still in the thrall of the fabulous dream, is sitting at home by the Christmas tree, with the Nutcracker-Doll on her lap.