It is the Christmas ballet par excellence: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”. Moreover, it completes Tchaikovsky’s (1840-1893) ballet trilogy, which today are fixed core repertoire of every ballet company: “Swan Lake”, “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Nutcracker”.
The ballet premiered in December 1892 at the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg and is based on the fairy tale “Nutcracker and Mouse King” written by E. T. A. Hoffmann.
On Christmas Eve, young Klara (sometimes called Marie after Hoffmann’s original) is given a wooden nutcracker. During the night he transforms into a living apparition and Marie joins him in battle, in which the Nutcracker and his soldiers fight against the mischievous Mouse King and his entourage. After the victorious end, the Nutcracker transforms into his true form, a handsome prince. In honor of Marie and the victory, a lavish party is held.
There are different versions for the ending. In the most popular version, the story took place in Klara’s dreams. With her waking up, the Nutcracker brought to life with his soldiers turns back into toy figures.