Libretto by M.Petipa as adapted by Andrei Petrov based on Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann’s fairy tale.
Choreographer-director is Andrei Petrov, people’s artist of the Russian Federation, Moscow Award laureate
Scene designer is Anatoly Nezhny, merited art worker of the Russian Federation
Costume designer is Olga Polyanskaya

The “Nutcracker” continues the line of the Kremlin Ballet Theatre in preserving and carefully creatively reframing the classical ballet heritage. In this case choreographer Andrei Petrov managed to the most to come close to the literary primary source and recreate a fantastic world and philosophy of the great German storyteller Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann.
Andrei Petrov’s “Nutcracker” is not a child’s fairy tale interesting for kids only, but a story of the first love rise and the opening of a huge world of non-childish emotions and feelings. The ballet’s choreography delivers the whole range of new senses of a just grown-up girl who, together with her beloved young Drosselmeyer, confronted the evil and conquered it having defended her love.

The performance is accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra Radio Orpheus (Artistic managing director and Principal conductor - Sergey Kondrashov)

Act I

 Guests are gathering for a Christmas party at the Stahlbaum home. Among them are Drosselmeyer, godfather to Marie and Fritz, the Stahlbaums’ children. He has brought them a wonderful present: a funny Nutcracker.

The children wait with impatience for when at long last they will be shown the Christmas tree and the presents. The long awaited moment comes: the handsomely adorned Christmas tree is presented to the assembled company.

Drosselmeyer suddenly appears disguised as a magician: he is not recognized by the children. Their unknown guest’s ability to make their toys come alive delights the children but, as everything that is clad in mystery, it involuntarily arouses their fear. In order to calm them down, Drosselmeyer takes off his mask and the chil­dren now recognize their beloved godfather. Marie wants to play with the wonderful dolls which have come alive, but they have already been tidied away. To comfort Marie, Drosselmeyer gives her the Nutcracker-Doll. Marie takes a great liking to this awkward, funny creature.

Marie’s brother Fritz, who is a great tease and very naughty, acci­dentally breaks the doll. With great tenderness, Marie comforts her injured Nutcracker and rocks it backwards and forwards. Fritz and his friends now put on mouse masks and tease poor Marie.

The guests appear from an adjoining room. After the final, ceremonial Grossvater dance, they all leave.
At night the room where the Christmas tree stands is bathed in moonlight. It looks mysterious and full of magical secrets. Overcoming her fears, Marie has come to the room to visit her ‘sick’ Nutcracker-Doll. She kisses the doll and rocks it.

Drosselmeyer now appears. But instead of her kind godfather, he has turned into a wizard. At a wave of his hand everything around them is transformed: the walls of the room slide back, the Christmas tree starts to grow. And all the toys come alive and grow together with the tree.

Suddenly, mice creep out from under the floor­boards, led by the Mouse King. The dolls are panic-stricken and thrown into confusion. The Nutcracker’s quick wits and bravery save the day: lining up the lead soldiers, he boldly leads them out to do battle with the mice forces.

However, the forces are unequal, the advantage is on the side of the evil mice. The Nutcracker is left alone to face the Mouse King and his suite. Marie is out of her mind with worry over the danger that threatens her doll. At this very moment, Drosselmeyer hands her a lighted candle and she throws it at the mice who scurry away helter-skelter.

The battle field empties. The only person left here is the Nutcracker who lies without moving on the floor. Marie, together with the dolls, hurries to his rescue. And now a miracle occurs…Before Marie stands a handsome youth, the Nutcracker-Prince. He walks forward to meet her.

 The walls of the house disappear. Marie and her friends are standing under a star-studded sky, by a fairy-tale Christmas tree. Snowflakes go round in a magical dance. Marie and her Nutcracker-Prince, beckon, as if to a beautiful dream, to the twinkling star at the top of the Christmas tree. They climb into a magic boat and set off for the top of the tree. The dolls follow behind them.

Act II

Marie and Nutcracker-Prince are sailing in their magic boat through the Christmas tree kingdom. There are their friends, the dolls with them. The shining star is getting closer and closer. They are just about to reach the top of the tree when they are suddenly attacked by the mice and the Mouse King who have crept up behind them. Once again, the Nutcracker-Prince goes boldly into battle. Horribly frightened, Marie and the dolls watch the fight. The Nutcracker-Prince vanquishes the enemy. Joyous victory celebrations are underway. The dolls dance, the candles burn even brighter, the Christmas tree comes alive. The evil mice have been defeated. Marie and the Nutcracker-Prince are radiant with happiness - they have reached the kingdom of their dreams! But it appears all this was just a dream. Christmas Eve is over and with it all wonderful reveries. Marie, still in the thrall of the fabulous dream, is sitting at home by the Christmas tree, with the Nutcracker-Doll on her lap.

Act I

Prologue

Scene One

In a dense forest, behind the impenetrable thicket on a meadow, there is a green mound. On its top grows a beautiful scarlet flower. This flower is not ordinary, it is magic. It emits very strong invisible waves: vibes of love and loyalty for pairs destined for each other. That is why men and women, girls and boys are looking for this scarlet flower, hoping that it will help them find their couple and happiness. The scarlet flower cannot help only the witch. Prince Charming rejected her for her malice. Therefore, the witch turned the young prince into a terrible beast and put a spell on him to guard the scarlet flower forever.     

“At the Pier”

Scene Two

Wealthy merchant Ivan Vasilyevich is leaving to trade overseas: he and his friends are loading the ship. Meanwhile, people gather at the pier to give merchants a send-off. Among the gathered are the daughters of the merchant.

Before the ship departs, the daughters ask the father to bring them expensive gifts: the eldest asks for a golden crown with gems, the middle sister wants pearl beads. Only the youngest does not ask for anything. Nevertheless, Ivan Vasilyevich insists, and Nastenka finally tells him about her dream, which does not give her rest. She saw a scarlet flower in this dream, which is prettier than anything else in this world.  Nastenka asks her father to bring this flower from overseas to her. Father promises to fulfil the wishes of his daughters and together with other merchants sets off with the sails raised.                

“Oriental Bazaar”

SceneThree

The oriental bazaar is in the usual motion and bustle: merchants smartly pitch customers to come in demonstrating their goods. Chinese girls with fans, beautiful oriental dancers, everything attracts curious passers-by. Pearl divers are also an object of attention.

Meanwhile, Ivan Vasilyevich, who sold the goods at a good profit, is looking for gifts to his daughters. He fulfilled the orders of the elder and middle daughters, but what the younger daughter asked for, he cannot find. Nobody even heard about the scarlet flower. Upset, the merchant embarks on the ship and together with the companions sails home.

The wicked witch does not slumber: having learned about the interest of Ivan Vasilyevich to the scarlet flower, she decides to ruin the merchant; because of her charms and conspiracies, he will not be able to reach his native shore.                              

“the Sea”

Scene Four

The ship gets into a strong storm: lightning strikes her masts, wind tears her sails. The ships rolls and Ivan Vasilyevich falls into the raging sea. The ship floats away, but the merchant manages to escape; the wave throws him onto an unknown shore.

“the Island”

Scene Five

Ivan Vasilyevich wakes up on an unknown island, in an enchanted forest. On a mound before him, there is a beautiful palace.

There are many magic flowers and butterflies in that palace. The merchant is treated to delicious foods. They dance in front of him. However, the owner is nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, on a mound, which is in the middle of the meadow, Ivan Vasilievich sees a flower, which can be named the most beautiful in the world.  From the flower is so amazingly radiant that the merchant understands: this is the scarlet flower.

Ivan Vasilyevich comes to the flower and as soon as he wants to pick it, suddenly, as if from under the ground, a terrible Beast appears and grabs the merchant by the hand.

The beast threatens to punish the merchant by death for his audacity, but Ivan Vasilyevich prays the beast to let him go because he wanted to bring this flower to his younger and beloved daughter, Nastenka.

The Beast listened to the merchant and offered him a deal: it will give him the flower and return Ivan Vasilievich home if he would send one of the daughters back to him, but if the daughters refuse, then the merchant will have to return to the Beast himself.

Ivan Vasilyevich agrees. They seal the deal with an oath. The beast gives the merchant the flower and takes off the magic ring from his finger. Ivan Vasilyevich puts this ring on his finger and this very moment...

“Upper Chamber”

Scene Six

… he wakes up at home. Here he stands in his upper chamber with a flower in his hands. Daughters meet their father, they are glad to receive presents. Here are the companions of the merchant; they are the grooms of his daughters: their ship has safely reached the native shores. Ivan Vasilyevich is extremely happy. Everything seems to be all right, but only he does not know how to tell daughters about his deal with the Beast.

Act II

 «Upper Chamber»

Scene Seven

Night. All are asleep, except the merchant. Nastenka does not sleep either: she worries about her father, seeing the sadness in his eyes. The youngest daughter tries to calm her father, and Ivan Vasilievich, unable to conceal a terrible secret, tells her about everything. After talking with his daughter, the merchant goes to bed, to sleep on the problem. Nastenka decides to save her father. Taking her favourite scarlet flower, she puts on her finger a magic ring and this very moment ...

“Garden and Palace”

Scene Eight

 ... finds herself in a beautiful garden. The sun is shining; birds of paradise are flying in the air. The girl puts a flower on the green mound. Suddenly, she hears charming sounds, goes in their direction and finds herself at the portal of the palace. Doors swing open, and on the threshold, beautiful fairies meet her. They invite the girl to a table full of delicious foods and are ready to fulfil all her desires. Nastenka is very happy with such a reception. She thanks the invisible Master for his care and goes to bed. Fairies cover the girl with a soft swan fluff blanket and she falls asleep.

The Beast appears. Making sure that Nastenka sleeps, it is lovingly watching the beautiful guest.

Scene Nine

Suddenly Nastenka wakes up. Seeing the terrible Beast in front of her, the girl tries to hide her fear, but the gentle look of the Beast soothes her.

Soon Nastenka gets accustomed to the ugly appearance of the Beast: they walk together, have gentle conversations in the park of the fairytale beauty, surrounded by dancing butterflies and fairies.

Scene Ten

One day, Nastenka sees a bad dream, as if her father is lying in bed. He is sick. The girl's heart shrinks with sadness. She asks the Beast to let her go to her father. The master of the palace agrees but warns that if she does not return till sunset, he will die of longing for her. Nastenka promises to be in time and puts the magic ring on a finger...

“Bedroom and Upper Chamber”

Scene Eleven

The sick father lies in bed. Nastenka rushes to him. Older daughters have no time to help their father, they are busy with grooms and outfits. They do not want to let their younger sister go: who will take care of a sick father? To detain her, treacherous sisters put the clock back. However, Nastenka’s soul is restless. Feeling trouble, she puts on a ring and a few minutes before the specified time returns to the island to the Beast.

“On the Island”

Scene Twelve

The beast suffers from loneliness. Time is running out, but Nastenka still is not there. He loses strength; his eyes darken. Embracing his favourite scarlet flower, he loses consciousness.

Scene Thirteen

Nastenka finds herself in a terrible dense forest. A fierce thunderstorm and rain prevent her from moving on. The servants of the witch are trying to knock her off the road. Nevertheless, having overcome all the obstacles, she comes to the mound on the meadow where she planted the scarlet flower, and sees the Beast embracing it. The Beast does not breathe. Trying to revive him, Nastenka calls him, hugs him and kisses. This very moment, a bright flash of lightning suddenly lights up the sky, and thunder shakes the earth. Nastenka loses her senses, and the enchanted Beast begins to rise throwing off the animal hide and turning into a beautiful young man. The spell of the wicked witch is over.

The Prince Charming hugs Nastenka and kisses her.  Everything transforms. Garden is full of paradise flowers, butterflies fly in it, the palace glitters in the rays of the morning sun. Guests from all over the world come to congratulate young lovers. The father blesses them, and the insidious sisters beg for forgiveness. Soon there will be a wedding in the palace!

Nastenka and the Prince Charming thank the magic scarlet flower, a symbol of love and fidelity!