The nutcrackers origin comes from the erzgebirge region of germany. That night, she experiences the nutcracker s battle with an army of mice and his transformation into a handsome prince. W hen the san francisco ballet company performed the first complete version of the nutcracker in the u. By noreen malone for most people, christmas nutcrackers the kind that look like little men call to mind sugarplum fairies and first trips to the ballet. The nutcracker doll that mysterious godfather drosselmeyer gives to little marie for christmas is no ordinary toy. A fierce protector, the nutcracker bares its teeth to the evil spirits and serves as the traditional messenger of good luck and goodwill. On christmas eve, at the clocks strike midnight, marie watches as the nutcracker and her entire cabinet of playthings come to life and boldly do battle against the malevolent mouse king and his armies. To foster and encourage the interest of the general public of the importance of nuts in the diets of humans throughout history and in. The ferocious king of the mice challenges the nutcracker to a duel. 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.
The dark, cocainefueled history of the nutcracker ballet. The nutcracker story the nutcracker was first presented 123 years ago at the mariinsky theatre in st. Marius petipa, the esteemed and prolific maitre dballet of the st. The history of the christmas nutcracker lili on the loose. Dec 24, 2014 w hen the san francisco ballet company performed the first complete version of the nutcracker in the u. Learn the origins of the nutcracker and about the many famous hands that helped make it the christmas tradition it is today the original production of the nutcracker, 1892. The history of the nutcracker ballet 687 words 123 help me. The most common nutcracker is the in the form of a wooden soldier, which weve had for about 200 years now. The ballet wasnt widely performed in america until the mid 20th century. In the late 1800s, the brilliant composer peter ilyich tchaikovsky unveiled a ballet called the nutcracker, which brimmed with soaring melodies and quickly became a christmastime favorite. Why this was once the worlds creepiest ballet from pedophilic godfathers to gruesome sevenheaded mice, the first versions of. Hoffmanns story the nutcracker and the mouse king, by alexandre dumas called the story of a nutcracker.
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. Yet he didnt become part of the story until the very, very end. Hoffmann was set to music by tchaikovsky and originally choreographed by marius petipa. Hoffman german original of 1816, the nutcracker and the mouse king, but alexandre dumas 1844 french adaptation of hoffmans story, histoire dun cassenoisette the tale of the nutcracker. His version reflects more of what we have come to love as the nutcracker ballet. The story of the nutcracker delightful tale of a little girls love for an enchanted nutcracker, with all the wonderful scenes. The story of a young german girl who dreams of a nutcracker prince and a fierce battle against a mouse king with. Learn the origins of the nutcracker and about the many famous hands that helped make it the christmas tradition it is today. The nutcracker ballet is based on the story the nutcracker and the king of mice written by e. And why is it that a german romantic short story set to music by a. The room is filled with the magical christmas spirit.
The plot of hoffmanns story and dumas adaptation was greatly simplified for the twoact ballet. Dec 10, 2009 the nutcracker ballet is a holiday tradition, but how did it begin. The ballet version of the nutcracker wasnt directly based on the short story by eta hoffmann, but on a retelling called the story of a nutcracker. The house grows dark, and clara steals back into the room to look at her precious nutcracker. Hoffmann s 1816 fairy tale the nutcracker and the mouse king. History of the nutcracker pacific northwest ballet. Nutcrackers are a huge part of christmas decorating. 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. Hoffmann wrote the story the nutcracker and the mouse king in 1816.
In honor of this years holiday nutcracker themed workouts, we wanted to take a closer look at the history of this magical ballet beloved around the world. The first limited edition nutcracker piece was king ludwig ii, which was limited to 3000 pieces. How tchaikovskys nutcracker became a christmas classic. In 2014, boal returned to new york city ballet as a guest artist to reprise the role of herr drosselmeier for the school of american ballets annual nutcracker benefit. Heartbroken, clara begs uncle drosselmeyer for help. Dumas simplified the original story, which was multilayered with a story within the story within the story, kind of like a gobstopper.
The nutcracker ballet is a holiday tradition, but how did it begin. Hoffmann, a german romantic author of fantasy and horror, composer, music critic, and caricaturist. The nutcracker ballet actually started as a story written by german author e. Nutcracker performance listings are provided by state and city and by the company performing the. Nutcracker dolls originate from late17th century germany, particularly the ore mountains german. Its an irresistible tale of a toy soldier that turns into a prince. A brief history of the nutcracker doll all media content. It was originally called the nutcracker and the king of mice.
The tool is designed to crack open all sorts of nuts, and usually resembles a pair of pliers. 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. It tells the story of a little girl who goes to the land of sweets on christmas eve. The dumas adaptation is also most like the childrens tale we see performed nutcracker ballets of today. 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. Nm the history of nutcrackers leavenworth nutcracker museum. History of the nutcracker the classic christmas 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.
Grand rapids ballets production opens 129 at devos hall. Green is an expert on classical music and music history, with more than 10 years of both solo and ensemble performance experience. Just as the mouse king is about to overpower the nutcracker doll, clara distracts him, allowing the nutcracker to strike the winning blow. Carving these intricate wooden nutcrackers became the livelihood of the people of the erzgebirge region. These dolls were first made in the 1700s, due to the ample supply of wood and depleting supply of metal. A visual history of the nutcracker in 100 photos huffpost. All the credit for creating it tends to go to tchaikovsky. Hoffmanns 1816 tale the nutcracker and the mouse king had been adapted by alexandre dumas he of three musketeers fame in 1844, and it was a ballet based on this version that was. One origin story attributes the creation of the first nutcracker doll to a craftsman from seiffen. Once again drosselmeyer calls upon his magic and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome boy. Hoffmanns 1816 fairy tale the nutcracker and the mouse king.
Later that night, the nutcracker ends up turning into a prince. Nov 02, 2018 the nutcracker story opens on christmas eve in a familys grand and beautiful home which is the scene of a lovely holiday party. Although what is seen on the stage today is different in detail from the original story, the basic plot remains the same. The leavenworth nutcracker museum shows a bronze roman nutcracker dated between 200 b. The legend says that a nutcracker represents power and strength and serves like a trusty watch dog guarding your family from evil spirits and danger. Now that the mouse king is dead, an ancient spell has been broken, and the nutcracker is transformed into a. The nutcracker simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. A story that spawned a thousand childrens books and countless adaptations for the stage, and then eventually made it to the. Hoffmann was set to music by tchaikovsky and originally choreographed by marius. I ron lever nutcrackers are shown in the ironworks museum in rouen, france with some dating back to the th century, and brass nutcrackers are known to have existed in the 14th and. 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.
Learn the history of the beloved holiday classic, the nutcracker. However, nutcracking devices have had a longstemming evolution for a few thousand years. A story that spawned a thousand childrens books and countless adaptations for the stage, and then eventually made it to the silver screen. In the tale, young marie stahlbaums favorite christmas toy, the nutcracker, comes alive and, after. The dumas adaptation is also most like the childrens tale. Henceforth, clara and herr drosselmeyer, the nutcracker prince and the sugar plum fairy they became just as important a part of the winter pantheon. The nutcracker is the story of clara, a little girl who is given a wooden nutcracker as a christmas gift by the mysterious dr. Dance channel tv provides a colorful, detailed history of the origins of the nutcracker as we know it today. Dec 24, 2015 the first of his five fulllength ballets, this was the nutcracker that launched the hundreds of nutcracker ballets that now dominate americas decembers, laura jacobs writes in vanity fair. The history of nutcrackers according to german folklore, nutcrackers were given as keepsakes to bring good luck to your family and protect your home. The origin of the nutcracker, a classic christmas story, is a fairy tale ballet in two acts centered on a familys christmas eve celebration. In 1975, pacific northwest dance ballet company, as pnb was then called, acquired lew christensens nutcracker, performing the work for eight seasons. The nutcracker returns and suddenly turns into a prince, who looks just like drosselmeyers nephew.
A hoffman christmas story called the nutcracker and. Hoffman published the nutcracker and the mouse king, a scary fairytale intended only for adults. The nutcracker has become an incredibly popular christmas productionone thats responsible for 40% of annual ticket sales at major american ballet companies. The nutcracker was first presented 123 years ago at the mariinsky theatre in st. The nutcracker leaves and the bed finds its way into a snowcovered forest. Culture how tchaikovskys nutcracker became a christmas. By 1844, alexandre dumas revised the story and this version was turned into a ballet in 1892 called the nutcracker. 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.
Claras quick thinking helps the nutcracker defeat the king of the mice. 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. It was a tradition for uncle peter to give marie presents the night before christmas. The history of the nutcracker ballet when we think about the nutcracker today, we see a memorable story about a girl marie receiving a magical gift at a christmas party from her mysterious uncle dosselmeyer. Alexandre dumas peres adaptation of the story by e.
Ballets by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky swan lake the sleeping beauty the nutcracker list of all compositions v t e the nutcracker is an 1892 twoact ballet, originally choreographed by marius petipa and lev ivanov with a score by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky. They were often given as gifts, and at some point they became associated with christmas season. French writer alexandre dumas came up with his own. 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. The story of the nutcracker ballet scene descriptions. The synopsis nycb new york city ballet official site. The nutcracker prince musters his toy infantry and the cavalry. The history of the nutcracker ballet in america time. That night, she experiences the nutcrackers battle with an army of mice and his transformation into a handsome prince.
Although the original production was not a success, the 20minute suite that tchaikovsky extracted from the ballet was. 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. The story follows clara in her dreams as she battles and defeats a mouse king, then travels with her nutcrackerturnedprince to the land of sweets where she watches its enchanting inhabitants perform beautiful dances. It was found in 1960 after being buried for over 1800 years. For many people, attending a performance of the nutcracker is a holiday tradition and an introduction to the world of classical ballet and music. Behold, a visual history of the nutcracker in 100 photos. Years later, alexander dumas peres version of the story made it happier and more appropriate for children to read.
The story of clara and her magical nutcracker has gone from german fairytale, to french novel, to russian ballet. Drosselmeyer, godfather to the familys children, makes a dramatic entrance to the party with presents for his godchildren, clara and fritz. Uncle peter got a funny looking nutcracker toy as her gift. Vsevolozsky thought another ballet based on a childrens story. Dec 03, 2019 the ferocious king of the mice challenges the nutcracker to a duel.
The last of his three ballets, it was first performed in december 1892. The idea of a limited nutcracker produced an overwhelming response because it contributed to the collectability of the nutcrackers and greatly increased their value. Reutersfabrizio bensch the nutcracker s disturbing origin story. Magically, he transforms the nutcracker into a dashing prince. The nutcracker is an 1892 twoact ballet originally choreographed by marius petipa and lev ivanov with a score by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky op. Read on to learn more about the history of the nutcracker and how they evolved into todays form. The story of the nutcracker originally derives from the nutcracker and the mouse king, by e. Moscow ballets acclaimed great russian nutcracker is a holiday tradition in households across north america, and has been enjoyed by prominent figures, including former first family barack and michelle obama, a memory she retells in her 2018 bestselling memoir becoming. This revised story was the basis for the libretto of the original ballet version of the nutcracker with choreography by marius petipa and lev ivanov, and with music by peter tchaikovsky. A nutcracker is an instrument used to crack nuts, typically consisting of two hinged metal levers between which the nut is squeezed. The nutcracker site provides a central location for nutcracker ballet information. The story of clara and her magical nutcracker far predates the ballet, and with disneys new movie, it is clear that the evolution of the nutcracker is far from over. A hoffman wrote a story called the nutcracker and the mouse king. Pacific northwest ballet has its own nutcracker history, which now intersects with balanchines.
The original story, the nutcracker and the mouse king, was written by german author e. Christmas eve at the stahlbaum house, the arrival of godpapa drosselmeier and the presentation of the nutcracker, the fierce battle between the nutcracker and the sevenheaded mouse king, and much more. The origin of the nutcracker has its roots in the great success of the. Read on to learn more about the history of the nutcracker and how th. The nutcracker and the mouse king is a story written in 1816 by prussian author e. While the original story was centered around a girl named marie and was considered dark and scary, french writer alexandre dumas adapted it to be much lighter. Clemency burtonhill goes in search of the nutcrackers universal appeal. Apr 29, 2016 this is the nutcracker story for kids. Mar 10, 2019 a nutcracker is an instrument used to crack nuts, typically consisting of two hinged metal levers between which the nut is squeezed. The nutcracker is a timeless and popular christmas production one thats responsible for 40% of annual ticket sales at major american ballet companies. It was a christmas eve and marie was waiting for uncle peter.
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