Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker [Mariinsky Theatre, Gergiev]

The famous ballet in two acts, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”, from the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, December 2012. Valery Gergiev: conductor, Vasily Vainonen: choreography, Benjamin Tyrrell: stage and costumes.

This successful production is recorded exclusively for EuroArts Music (see the sources). The film creates spectacular images of this great ballet production for the viewer. Under the direction of Andreas Morell, this historically unique Nutcracker promises to be a breathtaking experience.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”, from the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg, December 2012. Valery Gergiev: conductor, Vasily Vainonen: choreography, Benjamin Tyrrell: stage and costumes.

Programme

With starting times in the video:

  1. 0:00 Act I
  2. 29:39 Act II
  3. 52:08 (Prelude to) Act III
    Dances in Act III:
    1. 55:58 Spanish Dance
    2. 1:02:29 Eastern Dance
    3. 1:07:12 Chinese Dance
    4. 1:08:36 Trepak (Russian Dance)
    5. 1:09:59 Pas de trois (Dance of the reed pipes)
    6. 1:13:38 Waltz of the Flowers
    7. 1:21:05 Pas de deux – Intrada
    8. 1:27:57 Pas de deux – Tarantella
    9. 1:29:05 Pas de deux – Dance of the sugar plum fairy
    10. 1:31:31 Pas de deux – Coda
    11. 1:33:32 Final Waltz and Apotheosis

Cast

Masha the Princess: Alina Somova
The Nutcracker Prince: Vladimir Shklyarov
Masha: Alexandra Korshunova

Stahlbaum: Vladimir Ponomaryov
His wife: Alexandra Gronskaya
Luisa: Alena Mashintseva
Franz: Pavel Miheyev
Drosselmeyer: Fyodor Lopukhov
The Grandmother: Lira Khuslamova
The Grandfather: Stanislav Burov
The Nanny: Valeria Karpina

The Nutcracker: Pavel Miheyev
Clown: Konstantin Ivkin
Doll: Yana Selina
Blackamoor: Alexei Popov
The Mouse King: Soslan Kulaev

Waltz of the Snowflakes (Act II): Valeria Martynyuk, Yana Selina and artists of the ballet
Elegant Ladies and Gentlemen: Viktoria Brilyova, Ksenia Dubrovina, Boris Zhurilov, Konstantin Zverev

Dances in Act III:

  1. 55:58 Spanish Dance: Nadezhda Batoeva, Denis Zainetdinov
  2. 1:02:29 Eastern Dance: Elena Bazhenova and artists of the ballet
  3. 1:07:12 Chinese Dance: Valeria Martynyuk, Grigori Popov
  4. 1:08:36 Trepak (Russian Dance): Polina Rassadina, Ksenia Romashova, Mikhail Berdichevski
  5. 1:09:59 Pas de trois (Dance of the reed pipes): Eleonora Sevenard, Yulia Zolotykh, Roman Surkov
  6. 1:13:38 Waltz of the Flowers: Viktoria Brilyova, Ksenia Ostreikovskaya, Diana Smirnova, Yuliana Chereshkevich, Andrei Ermakov, Kirill Safin, Kamil Yangurazov, Konstantin Zverev and artists of the ballet
  7. 1:21:05 Pas de deux – Intrada
  8. 1:27:57 Pas de deux – Tarantella
  9. 1:29:05 Pas de deux – Dance of the sugar plum fairy
  10. 1:31:31 Pas de deux – Coda
  11. 1:33:32 Final Waltz and Apotheosis

Mariinsky Theatre Children´s Chorus
Chorus Coach: Dmitry Ralko

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”

The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (op. 71). The libretto is adapted from the German romantic author E.T.A. Hoffmann’s (24 January 1776 – 25 June 1822) story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (a story written in 1816, by E. T. A. Hoffmann in which young Marie Stahlbaum’s favorite 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). It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg on Sunday, December 18, 1892.

Synopsis

Below is a synopsis based on the original 1892 libretto by Marius Petipa. The story varies from production to production, though most follow the basic outline. The names of the characters also vary. In the original E.T.A. Hoffmann story, the young heroine is called Marie Stahlbaum and Clara (Klärchen) is her doll’s name. In the adaptation by Dumas on which Petipa based his libretto, her name is Marie Silberhaus. In still other productions, such as Baryshnikov’s, Clara is Clara Stahlbaum rather than Clara Silberhaus.

Act I

Scene 1: The Stahlbaum Home

It is Christmas Eve. Family and friends gathered in the parlor to decorate the beautiful Christmas tree in preparation for the night’s festivities. Once the tree is finished, the children are sent for. They stand in awe of the tree sparkling with candles and decorations.

The festivities begin. A march is played. Presents are given out to the children. Suddenly, as the owl-topped grandmother clock strikes eight, a mysterious figure enters the room. It is Drosselmeyer, a local councilman, magician, and Clara’s godfather. He is also a talented toymaker who has brought with him gifts for the children, including four lifelike dolls who dance to the delight of all. He then has them put away for safekeeping.

Clara and Fritz are sad to see the dolls being taken away, but Drosselmeyer has yet another toy for them: a wooden nutcracker carved in the shape of a little man, used for cracking nuts. The other children ignore it, but Clara immediately takes a liking to it. Fritz, however, purposely breaks it. Clara is heartbroken.

During the night, after everyone else has gone to bed, Clara returns to the parlor to check on her beloved Nutcracker. As she reaches the little bed, the clock strikes midnight and she looks up to see Drosselmeyer perched atop it. Suddenly, mice begin to fill the room and the Christmas tree begins to grow to dizzying heights. The nutcracker also grows to life-size. Clara finds herself in the midst of a battle between an army of gingerbread soldiers and the mice, led by the Mouse King. The mice begin to eat the gingerbread soldiers.

The nutcracker appears to lead the gingerbread soldiers, who are joined by tin soldiers and dolls who serve as doctors to carry away the wounded. As the Mouse King advances on the still-wounded nutcracker, Clara throws her slipper at him, distracting him long enough for the nutcracker to stab him.

Scene 2: A Pine Forest

The mice retreat and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome Prince. He leads Clara through the moonlit night to a pine forest in which the snowflakes dance around them, beckoning them to his kingdom as the first act ends.

Act II

Scene 1: The Land of Sweets

Clara and the Prince travel to the beautiful Land of Sweets, ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Prince’s place until his return. He recounts for her how he had been saved by Clara from the Mouse King and had been transformed back into a Prince.

In honor of the young heroine, a celebration of sweets from around the world is produced: chocolate from Spain, coffee from Arabia, and tea from China all dance for their amusement; candy canes from Russia; Danish shepherdesses perform on their flutes; Mother Ginger has her children, the Polichinelles, emerge from under her enormous skirt to dance; a string of beautiful flowers perform a waltz. To conclude the night, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier perform a dance.

A final waltz is performed by all the sweets, after which Clara and the Prince have crowned rulers of the Land of Sweets.

In the original libretto, the ballet’s apotheosis “represents a large beehive with flying bees, closely guarding their riches”. Just like Swan Lake, there have been various alternative endings created in productions subsequent to the original.

Sources

M. Özgür Nevres
M. Özgür Nevres

I am Özgür Nevres, a software engineer, a former road racing cyclist, and also an amateur musician. I opened andantemoderato.com to share my favorite music. I also take care of stray cats & dogs. This website's all income goes directly to our furry friends. Please consider supporting me on Patreon, so I can help more animals!

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