Credits
Musical Director and Conductor: Dmitri Jurowski
Conductor: Eugene Volynsky
Stage Choreographer: Nacho Duato
Set & Costume Designer: Jerome Kaplan
Lighting Designer: Brad Fields
Assistant Stage Choreographer: Zhanna Ayupova
Assistant Lighting Designer: Alexander Kibitkin
Children’s Chorus Master: Margarita Mezentseva
1 hour 55 minutes
one intermission
Premiered on September 23, 2017
Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” ballet is usually considered a symbol of magic changes and constant renewal of life itself. This story of a wooden toy becoming a charmed prince, who defeats the evil Mouse King with the help of kind and brave girl Masha is not just a fairy-tale. It’s a passionate narrative of how fast the time is passing by when merry childhood is about to give way to juvenile tender sadness, dreams of love and understanding.
The authors decided to move the action to Russia, prerevolutionary times, Silver Age of Russian culture. The Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato considers his rendition of “The Nutcracker” neoclassic: “the main thing of this performance is not the technique, it’s something coming straight from the heart”.
Act I
It is Christmas Eve. In just a few hours the clock will chime midnight – and the time of magic and dreams will come. Our story begins as the loving but mysterious uncle Drosselmeyer gathers all the children at the family party to give them wonderful Christmas presents: a beautiful Princess, a handsome Prince and a wicked Mouse King. Finally, the surprise gift, the Nutcracker doll, Drosselmeyer gives to his godchild Masha. Masha is fascinated by the Nutcracker. She cuddles and comforts her favorite toy.
As the evening grows late, the guests depart and the Stahlbaum family gets ready to go to bed. Masha, worried about her beloved Nutcracker, sneaks back to the tree to check on him, falling asleep with him in her arms.
As the clock chimes midnight strange things begin to happen. The room grows wider, the toys around the tree come to life while the room fills with an army of mice, led by the wicked Mouse King. As the Nutcracker awakens, he leads his army of toy soldiers into battle with the mice. The Mouse King is killed and the mice run away, carrying off their leader’s lifeless body. The Nutcracker turns into a Prince and takes Masha on a journey to the Magic Land, where they are welcomed by dancing snowflakes.
Act II
The toys of the Magic Land are celebrating the victory over the Mouse King. They dance different dances from all over the world. Masha and Prince are happy. Masha knows that she has to leave this wonderful dream but it will stay with her forever.