Relive the Nutcracker Suite
It’s that time of year again, when holiday festivities include not only dinner preparations, visits between relatives, and decorating your home for celebrations, but a traditional date to go to the theater nearest you and enjoy a performance of the Nutcracker Suite. Performed worldwide by ballet companies each year, the charming Christmas story should be every child’s first introduction to cultural events and classical music. The musical score, written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, is set to the story by E.T.A. Hoffman, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King”.
The story revolves around a magical councilman and toy maker, who arrives at a Christmas Eve celebration with gifts for all children, including four lifelike dolls that dance to the enchantment and pleasure of everyone present. After the performance, the dolls are put away for safekeeping, much to the disappointment of the children, but the councilman has yet another toy for them. He produces a nutcracker in the shape of a soldier, which delights the young heroine, Clara. However, her brother, Fritz, breaks the toy, and Clara is heartbroken.
During the night, after everyone has gone to bed, Clara checks on her toy. The clock strikes midnight, and the magic begins. The nutcracker grows to life-size and Clara suddenly finds herself in a battle between Gingerbread man soldiers and mice, led by the mouse king. The mice begin to eat the gingerbread men, and the nutcracker leads a charge against them with tin soldiers and dolls that carry away the wounded.
When the mouse king advances on the still wounded nutcracker, Clara throws a shoe at him, giving the nutcracker time to stab him. The nutcracker is then transformed into a handsome prince and carries Clara away into the Land of Sweets, ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy.
The Nutcracker Suite is one of Tchaikovsky’s most popular composition. Although set around a children’s story, the ballet is a delight for all ages. For many, growing up with the Nutcracker Suite a part of their traditional festivities has been the door that opened to a life-long appreciation of classical music, ballet and opera. With performances beginning as early as November 9th, this would be the perfect time to make your reservations and enjoy this tender, enchanting and charming ballet.
Categorized in: Theater