Nutcracker
About the Nutcracker Suite
The Story Of The Nutcracker
Once upon a time on a certain Christmas night, a little girl named Clara had a wonderful dream in which all her dolls and toys came to life, including her favorite toy--an ordinary wooden nutcracker. In Clara's dream the nutcracker is changed into a handsome prince who, with the help of the toy soldiers, defeats the fierce Mouse King and prevents him from eating up the gingerbread men who hang on the Christmas tree. After his victory, Prince Nutcracker carries Clara away to a wonderful place, Jam Mountain, a land that is ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy. While the Prince and Clara are visiting the Sugar Plum Fairy, they are entertained by dolls and toys dancing to the most wonderful music. At the end of the entertainment, all the guests join in a graceful waltz.
About The Music
Tchaikovsky was asked to write a ballet for the christmas season of the Russian Imperial theater. He chose for the story one of the E.T.A. Hoffman's Christmas tales called The Nutcracker and wrote 15 dances for this fairy-tale ballet. Nutcracker Suite is a collection of pieces taken from the complete ballet score. Each piece is separate from the others, but all are held together by the interest of the story.
About The Composer
Peter Illitch Tchaikovsky (1840-1893). Peter Illitch Tchaikovsky was born in Votkinsk, a little village in eastern Russia. From his earliest childhood Peter's main interest was music. But there were no concerts in Votkinsk, so most of Peter's music came from a music box that his father had brought from St. Petersburg. Peter would sit for hours listening to its tunes. As soon as he was big enough to sit at the piano, he began to make up tunes of his own.
Tchaikovsky composed a great deal of music. Today his beautiful melodies are heard in concert halls all over the world.
2009 - 2010 Performances
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
For class activity suggestions refer to Young People's Concerts
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