Performance by Moscow City Ballet

Tchaikovsky’s rousing and familiar score, sumptuous sets and fabulous costumes, make this magical production of The Nutcracker a visual feast for every audience.

Follow little Clara’s adventures as her world is transformed into a magical snowy pine forest and then into a colourful Kingdom of Flowers.

"A treat for all, served up in mouthwatering style"
Bristol Evening Post
29 October 2003

A lively and thoroughly entertaining production, Act Two of the ballet is a non-stop spectacle of dancing - a breathtaking display of the skills, artistry and athleticism of Moscow City Ballet’s stunning soloists

"The stuff that dreams are made of"
Stoke Centinel
22 February 2005

ACT ONE

The Living Room, Christmas Eve
Dr. Silbergaus has prepared a Christmas Eve party for his daughter Clara. The guest-of-honour is Clara’s Godfather, Drosselmeyer, who arrives with many gifts for the young girl, amongst which is a book entitled The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. More guests arrive and admire the Christmas tree, which dominates the room. Drosselmeyer appears as Santa Claus, with toys for the children and carnival masks for the adults. Later, Drosselmeyer surprises everyone by appearing as a magician. He orders some mechanical toys to be brought into the room. At a wave of his wand three puppets appear - a Nutcracker, a Doll and a Mouse King. The Nutcracker begins his performance - dancing, and telling all that he could gain victory over everyone. Gradually everyone becomes involved in the dancing; everyone but Clara, who sits watching as the Mouse King comes to life and challenges the Nutcracker for the right to dance with the Doll. Before long the Nutcracker and the Mouse King are fighting. Clara remembers that this is just what she read in the book. The Doll throws her slipper at the fighters, who cease as Drosselmeyer appears from under the clock. The guests congratulate him on such a wonderful show. Then Clara’s brother Fritz challenges the Nutcracker to a duel. In the flooding fight, the toys are covered up. Clara is comforted by her Godfather, who tells her that she will see more that night. The guests depart, thanking Silbergaus for his kindness. Clara slips in her darkened room and sits with the damaged Nutcracker. She wonders what her Godfather had meant... what surprises would be in store for her, but soon she is awakened by a strange rattling. "Mice" - thinks Clara. But these are not ordinary mice, they are too dressed to celebrate Christmas! She tries in vain to escape and, as the clock strikes midnight, the mice stand still and Clara notices her Godfather sitting on top of the clock! She begs him to help her. Surrounded by the mice, Drosselmeyer takes her into his arms. As the Christmas tree begins to grow, the Nutcracker comes back to life. He leaps to his feet and calls upon his friends to help. An army of toy soldiers appears and goes to battle. At the height of the battle, Clara takes off her slipper and hurls it at the Mouse-King who is knocked down. Clara faints. Drosselmeyer covers her and the Nutcracker with a shawl as darkness returns, minutes later, Clara reawakens to find she has become a beautiful princess and, as her Godfather lifts the shawl, she sees that the Nutcracker has turned into a handsome prince. She is overcome with joy and hugs her Godfather as the prince beckons to follow him.

The Forest.
As Clara sleeps, Drosselmeyer appears and changes the room into a pine-forest. It begins to snow, and Clara wakes and stares in amazement at the sight.

ACT TWO

The Kingdom of Flowers.
Drosselmeyer appears and completes the transformation - flowers appear everywhere. Clara arrives with the Nutcracker. She is delighted with everything but fails to notice that Drosselmeyer has changed himself into a young man. The Flower Fairy emerges and listens as the Nutcracker boasts about his defeat of the Mouse King. Drosselmeyer is upset by this and, once again, conjures up the Mouse King. The fight resumes and the nutcracker faces defeat. Clara begs her Godfather to help and with final wave of his wand, a crown of flowers appears on the Mouse King’s head! The Nutcracker thanks Drosselmeyer for his help and they both ask Clara to dance. Clara is amazed to see how similar they now look, but she chooses to dance with the Nutcracker. Her Godfather feels rejected and turns himself back into the Magician. Dawn breaks and as the Kingdom of Flowers fades, Clara finds herself back in the living room. She rushes to uncover the Nutcracker, but under the clock finds only a basket of flowers.

Music For Ballets Fragment 1 Fragment 2

Schedule for The Nutcracker. Moscow City Ballet 2022