P.I. Tchaikovsky "The Nutcracker". Mariinsky Theatre Ballet

The music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was first performed on staged by Lev Ivanov in 1892 to a libretto by Marius Petipa based on the fairy tale by Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". In 1934, a new "Nutcracker" staged by Vasily Vainonen appeared on the playbill of the Kirov Opera and Ballet Theatre (now the Mariinsky Theatre). The performance has been on stage for ninety years. Today, it is performed by both the Mariinsky Theatre ballet dancers and students of the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet.

The main character, Masha, receives a Nutcracker as a gift from her godfather Drosselmeyer, who, at nightfall, together with the tin soldiers, fights against mice led by the Mouse King. The girl saves Nutcracker from death, and he turns into a handsome prince and leads the girl to a fairytale land. Everyone dances, has fun and celebrates the victory over the mouse army. The Spanish, Arabian, Chinese and Russian dolls thank Marie for saving their lives. Beautiful fairies and pages dance around. Drosselmeyer appears and changes everything again. Everyone is preparing for the wedding of Masha and the Prince. Masha wakes up, and the Nutcracker is still in her hands. She is sitting in a familiar room. Alas, it was just a fairytale dream...

PERFORMERS:

Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra

Conductor - Valery Gergiev

Mariinsky Theatre Ballet

Masha - Alina Somova

Prince - Vladimir Shklyarov

Libretto - Marius Petipa

Choreographer - Vasily Vaionen

Artist - Simon Virsaladze

Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, 2012