If youve never seen this ballet, or you need a refresher on the story, weve provided a synopsis for you below. The nutcracker leaves and the bed finds its way into a snowcovered forest. After a battle with the mouse king, clara and her nutcracker prince travel through a snowy forest to the magical kingdom of sweets where they meet the lovely sugar plum fairy. The illustrations are gorgeous, and the story is all there, but just a few lines on each page for young readers and those new to the story. Ivan vsevolozhsky and marius petipa adapted hoffmanns story for the ballet. Hoffmanns 1816 tale the nutcracker and the mouse king had been adapted by alexandre dumas he of three musketeers fame in 1844, and. Now that the mouse king is dead, an ancient spell has been broken, and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince.
Hoffmanns 1816 fairy tale the nutcracker and the mouse king. Hoffmann, but most everyone is familiar with his most famous creation. Act i its the night before christmas in 19thcentury russia, and marie, misha, their parents and their beloved nursemaid baba are busy preparing for the annual christmas eve party at their country estate. Customers drop by his shop for lastminute christmas. Hoffmann story the basis for the ballet using tchaikovskys music, some quite faithful, some not. Hoffmann, in which young marie stahlbaums favourite christmas toy, the nutcracker, comes alive and, after defeating the evil mouse king in battle, whisks her away to a magical kingdom populated by dolls. Claras quick thinking helps the nutcracker defeat the king of the mice.
If youre off to see graeme murphys moving reimagaination of the nutcracker, nows the time to get acquainted with the story, which follows a ballerina, clara, through the glamour and romance, tragedy and travels of her life. The nutcracker suite should not be mistaken for the complete ballet. Why this was once the worlds creepiest ballet from pedophilic godfathers to gruesome sevenheaded mice, the first versions of. This is designed to quickly educate the nondance oriented about this wonderful. In honor of that tradition, i want to share free nutcracker printables and ideas for creating montessoriinspired activities using free printables.
Nov 27, 2015 when baum asked him to stage the nutcracker, banking on the popularity of the nutcracker suite in the united states, balanchine said, if i do anything, it will be fulllength and expensive. Geography going on a journey in the nutcracker there is a journey in a dream to the land of the sweets. It was a christmas eve and marie was waiting for uncle peter. The narrated story of the nutcracker ballet in under 5 minutes. Hoffmanns original story, nutcracker and mouse king, is darker and. Hoffmann, the nutcracker tells the story of clara, a young girl who dreams of having adventures with a nutcracker that she receives for christmas. Why this was once the worlds creepiest ballet from pedophilic godfathers to gruesome seven. The story of a young german girl who dreams of a nutcracker prince and a fierce battle against a mouse king with. The ballet of the nutcracker was inspired by the book the story of a nutcracker by alexandre dumas.
Skip forward a century and a quarter, and the nutcracker is by and large the most beloved ballet of the holiday season. The nutcracker ballet was written during the classical period of ballet, a time when many famous ballets were being written and performed. Who are the main characters in the nutcracker ballet. 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. The story of the nutcracker originally came from russia. The suite was first performed, under the composers direction, on 19 march 1892 at an assembly of the saint petersburg branch of the. The nutcracker is a ballet traditionally performed during christmas. A visual history of the nutcracker in 100 photos huffpost. The story of the nutcracker ballet scene descriptions. This is designed to quickly educate the nondance oriented about this wonderful story ballet.
The nutcracker ballet actually started as a story written by german author e. In the first act of the ballet, claras parents, the stahlbaums, throw a christmas. The nutcracker suite is a sparkly little box of jewels made up of highlights from tchaikovskys fairy tale ballet the nutcracker, which has become a christmas staple around the world. The nutcracker king would appear again 1891 as an enchanted prince in peter tschaikowskys nutcracker suite and continue to win childrens hearts. Reutersfabrizio bensch the nutcrackers disturbing origin story. He goes to the dead mouse king and with his sword cuts the crown off the kings head. The story centers on a young girls christmas eve and her awakening to the wider world and romantic love. My daughter was a dancer from the time she was little. It was a tradition for uncle peter to give marie presents the night before christmas. The nutcracker is based on the book the nutcracker and the mouse king, by e.
Since premiering in western countries in the 1940s, this ballet has become perhaps the most popular to be performed around christmas time. To promote and elevate the standards of journalism. Tchaikovskys most famous ballet, the nutcracker, is performed annually at lake lawn resort by accomplished dancers from the dance factory. Written in the early 1890s, this was the last ballet score tchaikovsky wrote. If you wish, you may check out a book on russia to go along with this weeks studies. This was tchaikovskys last ballet, from which he compiled a. The nutcracker is often performed during the christmas season due to its content, and many families make it an annual tradition to. The nutcracker suite, a selection of pieces from tchaikovskys nowclassic christmas ballet the nutcracker, is a personified depiction of the changing of the seasons. The nutcracker story drosselmeyer gives clara a special gifta nutcracker.
Shchelkunchik listen help info is an 1892 twoact ballet fairy ballet. Includes the complete suite simplified plus coloringbook style illustrations and the story of the nutcracker. The main characters of the nutcracker ballet are clara stahlbaum and the nutcracker prince. The original ballet was created by marius petipa and lev inavov with an original music score composed by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky. It was originally called the nutcracker and the king of mice. One of the party guests is a strange man named drosselmeyer. The nutcracker suite is the second segment of the 1940 disney film fantasia.
There have been several recorded childrens adaptations of the e. Its performed around the world as a staple of christmas ritual, thanks almost entirely to a 20th century choreographer by the name of george balanchine. The house grows dark, and clara steals back into the room to look at her precious nutcracker. Overture march dance of the sugarplum fairy russian dance arabian dance chinese dance dance of the reedflutes and more.
Dumas story was an adaptation of the dark fairytale the nutcracker and the mouse king, written by e. The nutcracker tells a story about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on christmas eve and wages a battle against the evil mouse king. History of the nutcracker pacific northwest ballet. The outline below represents the selection and sequence of the nutcracker suite culled by the composer. So, the nutcracker became a fun part of our christmas season. It starts with a party at the silberhaus familys house. Fun handson activities is a post from contributing writer christy of eclectic momma. Dec 24, 2015 a reallife nutcracker prince jeremy blanton and his snow queen veronica tennant give the christmas season a fairytale flourishas they sign autographs for youngsters in the opening day audience at okeefe centre after national ballets annual christmas presentation of the nutcracker in 1967. Those first performances of the nutcracker in 1892 st. That night, she experiences the nutcrackers battle with an army of mice and his transformation into a handsome prince. Its his gift for the stahlbaum family, who have invited him to join their holiday festivities. The story was based on a childrens fairy tale by e. Uncle peter got a funny looking nutcracker toy as her gift. As the edwards family prepare for their christmas party, clara imagines the wonderful things that might happen.
That night, she experiences the nutcracker s battle with an army of mice and his transformation into a handsome prince. Once again drosselmeyer calls upon his magic and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome boy. The nutcracker suite tchaikovsky, peter ilyich, bradley, richard on. The nutcracker leads the toy soldiers into battle with the mice, and marie helps him by throwing her slipper at the fierce mouse king, who the nutcracker then slays. Introducing himself as nc, he takes her on a wondrous journey through a stunning dimension where toys assume human form and everything appears ten times larger. Story craft february 1, 2019 a nutcracker suite primas of storywork on how they interpret the dance of the nut graf. Dec 24, 2014 reutersfabrizio bensch the nutcracker s disturbing origin story. On christmas eve, marys beloved uncle albert arrives with the gift of a wooden nutcracker doll. The nutcracker simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This is the best version of the nutcracker that ive ever seen. Later that night, marys imagination brings the doll to life. Scents of ginger, chocolate, and peppermint waft through the air.
December 3, 2019 leave a comment by sfballet nutcracker. The plot of hoffmanns story and dumas adaptation was greatly simplified for the twoact ballet. Her brother frederick cant miss a moment to tease her and is only stopped by the arrival of their beautiful older sister louise. Magically, he transforms the nutcracker into a dashing prince. He brings wonderful gifts including a nutcracker in the shape of a soldier for clara. Hoffmanns tale contains a long flashback story within its main. Heartbroken, clara begs uncle drosselmeyer for help. The nutcracker ballet was written by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky in 1892. Hoffmanns original story was darker than the ballet, but the plot remains largely the same. Although what is seen on the stage today is different in. He had been turned into a nutcracker by the evil mouse king, and only by the kings death could the nutcracker. The nutcracker is the story of clara, a little girl who is given a wooden nutcracker as a christmas gift by the mysterious dr. The room is filled with the magical christmas spirit. Tchaikovskys nutcracker, the story of a young girls journey to a magical land on christmas eve, is perhaps not only the composers most famous work but also one of the most famous ballets of all time.
Apr 29, 2016 this is the nutcracker story for kids. On a foggy christmas eve in 1915, drosselmeyer puts the finishing touches on a magical nutcracker doll. Hoffmann s 1816 fairy tale the nutcracker and the mouse king. Late that night the nutcracker comes to life and turns into a prince. The nutcracker synopsis the national ballet of canada. Go on a magical christmas adventure with a girl named clara as she is whisked away by a nutcracker prince to the kingdom of sweets. The nutcracker story after going to bed, clara returns to see the nutcracker, and as the clock strikes midnight she sees the christmas tree grow as she shrinks down to the size of the nutcracker led by the mouse king, mice stream out of the cracks in the wall for a battle with the nutcracker. Clara is immediately taken with the gift, but fritz is jealous and breaks it. He had been turned into a nutcracker by the evil mouse king, and only by the kings death could the nutcracker regain his human form. Although what is seen on the stage today is different in detail from the original story, the basic plot remains the same. Drosselmeyer ties a bandage around the nutcracker the adults dance the grossvater tanz grandfathers dance traditionally played at the end of celebrations, and the party ends. The nutcracker ballet is based on the story the nutcracker and the king of mice written by e. Give the gift of classical music by sharing this classic tale.
When baum asked him to stage the nutcracker, banking on the popularity of the nutcracker suite in the united states, balanchine said, if i do anything, it will be fulllength and expensive. The nutcracker returns and suddenly turns into a prince, who looks just like drosselmeyers nephew. Aug 29, 2018 tchaikovsky s nutcracker, the story of a young girls journey to a magical land on christmas eve, is perhaps not only the composers most famous work but also one of the most famous ballets of all time. Hoffmann, and an interpretation of hoffmans story written by alexandre dumas. Trepak from the nutcracker movement activity jessica. The last of his three ballets, it was first performed in december 1892. Mar 22, 2020 the nutcracker is a ballet traditionally performed during christmas. Unlike many other ballets, it is popular for children as well as adults. The composer made a selection of eight of the more popular pieces before the ballets december 1892 premiere, forming what is currently known as the nutcracker suite, op. These delightful vignettes feature talented area youth, gorgeous costumes, and gifted dancers. Trepak is one of the most widely known russian dances from the nutcracker suite.
Dec 03, 2019 the ferocious king of the mice challenges the nutcracker to a duel. The nutcracker prince musters his toy infantry and the cavalry. In my opinion, its one of those pieces of classical music that every child should be able to identify. If you are using story disks, draw a simple ballet slipper on one and place on russia. When i think of christmas, i think of the christmas story, christmas trees, presents, lights, caroling, hot chocolate, family, and the nutcracker ballet. Tchaikovskys famous ballet, the nutcracker suite, tells the story of clara, who is given a nutcracker for christmas. Paraphrase on tchaikovskys flower waltz, for solo piano. Cw 14, is a fairy ballet in 2 acts and 3 scenes, written and orchestrated by tchaikovsky between february 1891 and april 1892. Synopsis of tchaikovskys nutcracker ballet liveabout. Just as the mouse king is about to overpower the nutcracker doll, clara distracts him, allowing the nutcracker to strike the winning blow. The ballet contributes to the ever increasing popularity of the nutcrackers as collectible objects. The dark, romantic roots of the nutcracker few people today remember e. It was also loosely the basis for leo delibes comic ballet. It tells the story of a little girl who goes to the land of sweets on christmas eve.
Follow clara on a magical christmas adventure in this musical retelling of the nutcracker balletpush the button on each beautiful scene to hear the vivid sound of an orchestra playing from tchaikovskys score. Oct 05, 2017 the story follows clara in her dreams as she battles and defeats a mouse king, then travels with her nutcracker turnedprince to the land of sweets where she watches its enchanting inhabitants perform beautiful dances. As she falls back asleep on the couch, her thoughts are filled with exciting, happy memories of the christmas eve party and the dancing dolls. One that was not was a version titled the nutcracker suite for children, narrated by metropolitan opera announcer milton cross, which. For some people, christmas is not the same without at least listening to the nutcracker ballet by tchaikovsky. Other major players in the ballet include uncle drosselmeyer the toymaker, claras brother fritz, the mouse king and the sugar plum fairy.
1149 1665 366 23 662 1159 421 1211 538 57 190 127 1483 1500 1124 476 148 971 1143 1666 1290 491 315 438 198 643 447 27 868 1094 151 1200 1379 900 17 1102 1277 1036 396 922 666 1248 827 1072 752