The nutcracker ballet is based on the story the nutcracker and the king of mice written by e. He added some music as well, explaining, when i did the nutcracker in new york, i needed an entracte. Dec 24, 2014 reutersfabrizio bensch the nutcracker s disturbing origin story. Read this christmas story and find out why it has charmed generations of people. Nutcracker dolls originate from late17th century germany, particularly the ore mountains german. The story of the original nutcracker a mothers random thoughts. His original story was much darker than the version we now know. The nutcracker turns into a prince and takes clara on a journey to the land of snow, an enchanted forest wonderland where they are welcomed by dancing snowflakes.
The original nutcracker prince, sergei legat, fell out with authorities and slit his throat. With her fathers threat before herthat he would destroy all her toys and the christmas nutcrackerwhat should marie do. It has retained its freshness because it appeals to the sense of wonder we all share. That night, she experiences the nutcrackers battle with an army of mice and his transformation into a handsome prince. Peter tchaikovsky, the famous russian composer, was commissioned by mastermind choreographer marius petipa to compose the ballet, score based on.
His voice and the sound of the mortar were like a lovely, low chant, which grew fainter. 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. Hoffmann in 1816, has fascinated and inspired artists, composers, and audiences for almost two hundred years. The nutcracker is based on the book the nutcracker and the mouse king, by e. Its his fantastic imagination that made his novella, the nutcracker and the mouse king, so very memorable. The music is based on tchaikovsky and we just bought what are called royalty free tracks which is basically music you can use for film, theatre, and of course stories. The nutcracker ballet article about the nutcracker. The nutcracker leaves and the bed finds its way into a snowcovered forest. Her brother frederick cant miss a moment to tease her and is only stopped by the arrival of their beautiful older sister louise. Why this was once the worlds creepiest ballet from pedophilic godfathers to gruesome sevenheaded mice, the first versions of. What is so valuable here is one of the few film recordings of edward villella performing at his peak. The nutcracker is often performed during the christmas season due to its content, and many families make it an annual tradition to. Aug 29, 2018 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.
Bertalls original french illustrations were also used in chapman and halls 1847 edition of the history of a. Stahlbaums children were not allowed to set foot in the family parlor. Hoffmanns 1816 fairy tale the nutcracker and the mouse king. But few have had the opportunity to revel in the richly detailed original tale.
The mice are led by the mouse king, who fights the nutcracker. Dec 19, 2012 the original nutcracker play was written by e. The nutcracker was first presented 123 years ago at the mariinsky theatre in st. The nutcracker ballet article about the nutcracker ballet. Dumas story was an adaptation of the dark fairytale the nutcracker and the mouse king, written by e. Reutersfabrizio bensch the nutcracker s disturbing origin story. This is one of the earliest known english translation of e. Just when it looks like the mouse king will defeat the nutcracker, clara knocks the mouse king down with her shoe, saving her nutcracker s life. Read on to find out about the legend of the nutcracker. Hoffmanns classic childrens tale, nutcracker and mouseking, which was penned in german in 1816. The original ballet was created by marius petipa and lev inavov with an original music score composed by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky. 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 nutcracker was first developed around 1870 and is nowadays one of the most famous representatives of the erzgebirge. He was a germanborn in prussia, which is now russia, and he was a lawyer and judge. Dumas simplified the original story, which was multilayered with a story within the story within the story, kind of like a gobstopper. Nutcracker story the nutcracker the nutcracker san jose. The origin of the nutcracker, a classic christmas story, is a fairy tale ballet in two acts centered on a familys christmas eve celebration. Suddenly, a silver mist descended like clouds in which the pages and the. The nutcracker is the story of clara, a little girl who is given a wooden nutcracker as a christmas gift by the mysterious dr. This is one of the earliest known english translations of e. Maurice sendak designed brilliant sets and costumes for the pacific northwest ballets christmas production of nutcracker and has created. Many stores in germany put nutcrackers into their store not for sale and display windows to increase christmas sales. The story centers on a young girls christmas eve and her awakening to the wider world and romantic love. Just as the mouse king is about to overpower the nutcracker doll, clara distracts him, allowing the nutcracker to strike the winning blow. Marie started grinding the candy while nutcracker told the whole story of the battle with the mouse king.
The nutcracker is often performed during the christmas season due to its content, and many families make it an annual tradition to attend a performance. Hoffmann s 1816 fairy tale the nutcracker and the mouse king. The original story, the nutcracker and the mouse king, was written by german author e. The dark, romantic roots of the nutcracker few people today remember e. Hoffmann in 1816 and then adapted into pyotr ilyich tchaikovskys famous ballet in 1892. With the nutcracker, he referred back to the original hoffman tale, adding herr drosselmeiers nephew, the keyhole scene, in which clara and fritz eagerly anticipate seeing the family christmas tree, and claras wandering bed. He had been turned into a nutcracker by the evil mouse king, and only by the kings death. History of nutcracker moscow ballets great russian nutcracker. As the edwards family prepare for their christmas party, clara imagines the wonderful things that might happen. What would erzgebirge folkart be without its nutcrackers.
Below is a synopsis based on the original 1892 libretto by marius petipa. The nutcracker doll itself is a legend of its own which dates back to the 1700s. History of the nutcracker pacific northwest ballet. How tchaikovskys nutcracker became a christmas classic. Alexandre dumas peres adaptation of the story by e. The nutcracker ballet was written during the classical period of ballet, a time when many famous ballets were being written and performed. It was a tradition for uncle peter to give marie presents the night before christmas. The famed christmas toy heritage the nutcracker s origin comes from the erzgebirge region of germany. It was a christmas eve and marie was waiting for uncle peter. The nutcracker and its many mysteries the new york times. Ivan vsevolozhsky and marius petipa adapted hoffmanns story for the ballet.
The story of a young german girl who dreams of a nutcracker prince and a fierce battle against a mouse king with. One origin story attributes the creation of the first nutcracker doll to a craftsman from seiffen. The original 1853 edition with illustrations hoffmann, e. A hoffman with beautiful illustrations by valeria docampo, rediscover this and many other traditional tales in a treasury of christmas stories and songs. Then with a great flash, the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince. This is quite a wonderful version of the tchaikovsky ballet.
Published in 1816, the original story was a complex world of intrigue, adventure, and true love between a girl and her nutcracker doll. Hoffmann was set to music by tchaikovsky and originally choreographed by. Nprs robert siegel traces the history of everyones favorite christmas ballet all the way back to its much darker original version. Nov 06, 2018 the original story, the nutcracker and the mouse king, was written by german author e. Hoffmanns original story, the nutcracker and mouse king, maries claras, journey becomes a fevered delirium that transports her to a land where she sees sparkling christmas forests and marzipan castles, but in a world populated with dolls. The original clara was the 12 year old stanislava belinskaya and the original nutcrackerprince was the 17 year old sergei legat. It tells the story of a little girl who goes to the land of sweets on christmas eve.
However, what you probably dont know is that the original nutcracker story was written years early in 1816. They were often given as gifts, and at some point they became associated with christmas season. Hoffmann 17761822 wrote the original story on which the ballet is based. The nutcracker and the mouse king was a story by e. Christmas nutcrackers made in germany wooden nutcracker. The dumas adaptation is also most like the childrens tale we see performed nutcracker ballets of today. Hoffmanns original story, nutcracker and mouse king, is. Feb 26, 2020 the nutcracker, ballet by pyotr tchaikovsky. The story varies from production to production, though most follow the. Many people think of the wonderful christmas time when they see a nutcracker. Russian composer pyotr ilich tchaikovsky 18401893 set the tale to music. Much of the pantomimed story is condensed so that most of the movie is dancing. The dark, cocainefueled history of the nutcracker ballet. The famed christmas toy heritage the nutcrackers origin comes from the erzgebirge region of germany.
Why this was once the worlds creepiest ballet from pedophilic godfathers to gruesome seven. 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. The nutcracker one of the bestloved and most widely known ballets of our time, the nutcracker, tells the story of a young girls enchanted christmas eve. If shes not dreaming, how could such an other world really exist. These dolls were first made in the 1700s, due to the ample supply of wood and depleting supply of metal. Learn the origins of the nutcracker and about the many famous hands that helped make it the christmas tradition it is today. The story of a young german girl who dreams of a nutcracker prince and a fierce battle against a mouse king with seven heads. Dec 09, 2018 it was in this early victorian period, when the gaze of the middle classes turned from politics to the ordered pleasures of family life, that eta hoffmanns original nutcracker story was set. 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. Dec 15, 2008 hi sabz, im really glad you like a christmas nutcracker. Dec 24, 2015 the story of the nutcracker in pictures. The nutcracker simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. One of the bestloved and most widely known ballets of our time, the nutcracker, tells the story of a young girls enchanted christmas eve. Suddenly the nutcracker reappears, alive, and ready to lead the soldiers into battle against the mice.
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. If shes just dreaming, why would she risk such a loss. Hoffmann was set to music by tchaikovsky and originally choreographed by marius petipa. Apr 29, 2016 this is the nutcracker story for kids. The last of his three ballets, it was first performed in december 1892. She awakens in bed and is saluted by the nutcracker prince. It was translated into many other languages, spreading widely throughout europe. Hoffmann, but most everyone is familiar with his most famous creation. In 1892 the story was turned into a ballet by alexandre dumas that is based on the original story the nutcracker and mouse king. Especially kings, soldiers and gendarmes are often used as a model. Its an irresistible tale of a toy soldier that turns into a prince.
The story of the nutcracker in pictures books the guardian. Nov 27, 2015 with the nutcracker, he referred back to the original hoffman tale, adding herr drosselmeiers nephew, the keyhole scene, in which clara and fritz eagerly anticipate seeing the family christmas tree, and claras wandering bed. Since premiering in western countries in the 1940s, this ballet has become perhaps the most popular to be performed around christmas time. Although what is seen on the stage today is different in. Hoffmanns tales were so bizarre, sigmund freud wrote about them in the uncanny. In 1892 the story was turned into a ballet by alexandre dumas that is based on. Each december, generations of children delight in the ballet version of the quintessential christmas story the nutcracker.
The prince escorts clara to the land of sweets where they are greeted by the sugar plum fairy. Just when it looks like the mouse king will defeat the nutcracker, clara knocks the mouse king down with her shoe, saving her nutcrackers life. An original erzgebirge nutcracker is a beautiful decorative item for all seasons. Hi sabz, im really glad you like a christmas nutcracker. There are some interesting adaptations made to the traditional presentation. A story that spawned a thousand childrens books and countless adaptations for the stage, and then eventually made it to the silver screen. The composer made a selection of eight of the more popular pieces before the ballets december 1892 premiere, forming what is currently known as the nutcracker suite, op.
In 1892, the story premiered on the russian ballet stage as the nutcracker by tchaikovsky. Hoffmann, and an interpretation of hoffmans story written by alexandre dumas. Clemency burtonhill goes in search of the nutcrackers universal appeal. Although what is seen on the stage today is different in detail from the original story, the basic plot remains the same. 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. The nutcracker on the twentyfourth of december, dr. 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. It was first performed in at the marinsky theatre in st petersburg in 1892. Hoffmann, a german romantic author of fantasy and horror, composer, music critic, and caricaturist. The nutcracker returns and suddenly turns into a prince, who looks just like drosselmeyers nephew. Often the nutcracker is the image of authorities from the past. A story that spawned a thousand childrens books and countless adaptations for the stage, and then eventually made it to the. It was in this early victorian period, when the gaze of the middle classes turned from politics to the ordered pleasures of family life, that eta hoffmanns original nutcracker story was set.
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