The secret story behind tchaikovskys mysterious celesta. The marquee at the apollo advertises duke ellingtons nutcracker suite december 11, 2014 in new york. The nutcracker is broken into two completely separate theatrical units. Give the gift of classical music by sharing this classic tale. Scents of ginger, chocolate, and peppermint waft through the air. The story behind the jazzedup nutcracker the story behind the jazzedup nutcracker the original cover for the 1960 big band album, the nutcracker suite, presented three people as the. The room seems to have grown and the china cabinet has become a castle, home to a lifesized version of her nutcracker doll that comes to life.
The prince escorts clara to the land of sweets where they are greeted by the sugar plum fairy. The nutcracker suite is a section of eight pieces from the nutcracker ballet by tchaikovsky. Intermediate english reading the nutcracker, by tchaikovsky. This is designed to quickly educate the nondance oriented about this wonderful story ballet.
The origin of the nutcracker, a classic christmas story, is a fairy tale ballet in two acts centered on a familys christmas eve celebration. This nutcracker is particularly suited to such fantasies because it is made to look like a man, as is traditional in europe. The story behind cuban ballet carmen suite being banned. Part of a free series of online lessons for english language learners about holidays, festivals, and cultural events in the usa. Hoffmans classic story, the nutcracker and the mouseking is the tale of a spoiled prince who lives in a magnificent palace with his magician uncle, drosselmeier. The nutcracker suite ballet is about reaching puberty. Learn the story behind the popular ballet the nutcracker by the russian composer tchaikovsky, a christmas time favourite for adults and children in the usa. Heartbroken, clara begs uncle drosselmeyer for help. This is designed to quickly educate the nondance oriented about this wonderful. Although the firebird was the work that elevated stravinsky to international renown, he. The dance of the sugar plum fairy is a dance for a ballerina. All the credit for creating it tends to go to tchaikovsky. Magically, he transforms the nutcracker into a dashing prince.
Hoffmanns original story was darker than the ballet, but the plot remains largely the same. When i think of christmas, i think of the christmas story, christmas trees, presents, lights, caroling, hot chocolate, family, and the nutcracker ballet. Peter tchaikovsky, the famous russian composer, was commissioned by mastermind choreographer marius petipa to compose the ballet, score based on alexandre dumass adaptation of e. Trepak is one of the most widely known russian dances from the nutcracker suite. In 1892, the russian composer pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky and choreographers marius petipa and lev ivanov turned alexandre dumass adaptation of the story into the ballet the nutcracker. How did tchaikovskys ballet become a staple of the festive season. From pedophilic godfathers to gruesome sevenheaded mice, the first versions of the classic ballet were different. Cracking the story behind the nutcracker crown and shield. Claras quick thinking helps the nutcracker defeat the king of the mice.
Hoffmanns tale contains a long flashback story within its main. This ballet was staged at the mariinsky theatre in st. Hoffmann s story the nutcracker and the mouse king, by alexandre dumas called the story of a nutcracker. 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. She visits the lands of the sweets in her dream after her nutcracker christmas gift which her brother broke in real life turns into a real soldier and defeats an army of rats. The wealthy stahlbaums are hosting a festive holiday party for family and friends, including herr drosselmeyer, the childrens mysterious godfather, who gives clara the nutcracker of the ballets title. The firebird, ballet by russian composer igor stravinsky, first performed in paris on june 25, 1910. Once again drosselmeyer calls upon his magic and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome boy.
The story of the nutcracker is loosely based on the e. And why is it that a german romantic short story set to music by a. The secret story behind tchaikovskys mysterious celesta in the nutcracker posted by thomas kotcheff 122019 12. Synopsis of tchaikovskys nutcracker ballet liveabout. Hoffmanns original story, nutcracker and mouse king, is darker and. The nutcracker turns into a prince and takes clara on a journey to the land of snow, an enchanted forest wonderland where they are welcomed by dancing snowflakes. When marius petipa had the idea to choreograph the story into a ballet, it was actually based on a revision by alexander dumas, a well known french author. It includes a wonderful story telling version of the ballet, lavish photos, and a great deal of detail about everything that goes on behind the scenes. 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. Clemency burtonhill goes in search of the nutcracker s universal appeal. The original ballet was created by marius petipa and lev inavov with an original music score composed by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky. It was the first international success of the composers career. It tells the story of a little girl who goes to the land of sweets on christmas eve. The plot of hoffmanns story and dumas adaptation was greatly simplified for the twoact ballet.
Written in the early 1890s, this was the last ballet score tchaikovsky wrote he died less than a year after it was premiered. Dance of the sugar plum fairy simple english wikipedia. What is the story behind the nutcracker by tchaikovsky in. 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 dark, romantic roots of the nutcracker few people today remember e. Russian composer rodion shchedrin took the music from the bizet opera and reconfigured it with new rhythms and instruments, as well as rephrasing it in an irreverent. Clara is immediately taken with the gift, but fritz is jealous and breaks it. The nutcracker is able to overcome the stunned mouse king and claims victory.
Boston ballet behind the scenes the nutcracker synopsis. The nutcracker suite, a selection of pieces from tchaikovskys nowclassic christmas ballet the nutcracker, is a personified depiction of the changing of the seasons. Dumas story was an adaptation of the dark fairytale the nutcracker and the mouse king, written by e. Principal dancer lasha khozashvili shares an inside look at the role of drosselmeier, claras beloved uncle who sets her enchanted journey to the nutcracker princes kingdom in motion. Its fantastical second act a confetti of divertissements is a homage in dance to the 19th centurys most precious foodstuffs. Unseen, drosselmeyer remains behind and casts his magic. Cracking the story behind the nutcracker emily tieu 2 years ago every year many flock to see the nutcracker, the ballet that has it all. The nutcracker is the christmas ballet that everyone knows and loves. The nutcracker prince musters his toy infantry and the cavalry.
The nutcracker story the nutcracker was first presented 123 years ago at the mariinsky theatre in st. The mouse king traps the nutcracker in the corner, but the nutcracker cant overcome the mouse kings strength. Hoffmann s 1816 fairy tale the nutcracker and the mouse king. The party ends and clara leaves her nutcracker by the tree before going to bed. The last of his three ballets, it was first performed in december 1892. History of nutcracker moscow ballets great russian nutcracker. The story centers on a young girls christmas eve and her awakening to the wider world and romantic love. Hoffmann fantasy story the nutcracker and the mouse king, about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on christmas eve and wages a battle against the evil mouse king. 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. 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. 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. There are several websites that have samples from the suite as well as a tutorial about the story. The nutcracker suite is the second segment of the 1940 disney film fantasia. The nutcracker is a timeless and popular christmas production one thats responsible for 40% of annual ticket sales at major american ballet companies.
Behind the tinsel and fluffy snowflakes lies a story imbued with darkness and death. The musical performance will take place december, 14, 2014 at the apollo. Just as the mouse king is about to overpower the nutcracker doll, clara distracts him, allowing the nutcracker to strike the winning blow. A visual history of the nutcracker in 100 photos huffpost. Go behind the scenes to see the magic of the nutcracker unfold.
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. A similar trajectory would be followed by the ballet carmen suite. But maybe that is the secret of its unfading allure and beauty. Yet he didnt become part of the story until the very, very end. That night, she experiences the nutcrackers battle with an army of mice and his transformation into a handsome prince. The narrated story of the nutcracker ballet in under 5 minutes. Her uncle drosslmire, who is a toy maker, gives ckara a nutcracker. Now that the mouse king is dead, an ancient spell has been broken, and the nutcracker is transformed into a. It was also loosely the basis for leo delibes comic ballet. The nutcracker and the mouse king is a story written in 1816 by prussian author e. But the thing i like best about the nutcracker backstage is the loving way it treats the corps roles, especially the childrens parts.
Trepak from the nutcracker movement activity jessica. The sweets of the nutcracker the australian ballet. Hoffmann, but most everyone is familiar with his most famous creation. Originally published in 1816, the original nutcracker story was a complex world of intrigue, adventure, and true love between a girl and her nutcracker doll. Hoffman published the nutcracker and the mouse king, a scary fairytale intended only for adults. A free online reading lesson for english students of all ages. Clara, the lead role is having a party on christmas eve. How tchaikovskys nutcracker became a christmas classic. The nutcracker returns and suddenly turns into a prince, who looks just like drosselmeyers nephew. 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. The nutcracker ballet was written by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky in 1892.
The nutcracker story drosselmeyer gives clara a special gifta nutcracker. The nutcracker simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The ferocious king of the mice challenges the nutcracker to a duel. Act 1 opens on christmas eve at the home of hans stahlbaum, the town mayor. Unseen, drosselmeyer remains behind and casts his magic let battle commence. Unable to sleep, clara tiptoes down to the dark room and is soon surrounded by large mice. The number was choreographed by lev ivanov to music written by tchaikovsky. 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. The nutcracker is the story of clara, a little girl who is given a wooden nutcracker as a christmas gift by the mysterious dr.
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