Now young children can enjoy this beloved classic in a. The story of the original nutcracker a mothers random thoughts. It tells the story of a little girl who goes to the land of sweets on christmas eve. Nutcracker performance listings are provided by state and city and by the company performing the nutcracker ballet.
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. 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. Hi sabz, im really glad you like a christmas nutcracker. The legend says that a nutcracker represents power and strength and serves like a trusty watch dog guarding your family from evil spirits and danger. It was first performed in at the marinsky theatre in st petersburg in 1892. The nutcracker and the mouse king summary gradesaver. The story of the original nutcracker a mothers random. A hoffman with beautiful illustrations by valeria docampo, rediscover this and many other traditional tales in a treasury of christmas stories and songs. Bertalls original french illustrations were also used in chapman and halls 1847 edition of the history of a. Even though czar alexander iii was delighted with the ballet, the nutcracker was not an instant success. The first production of the nutcracker was a failure. 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.
Nov 06, 2018 the original story, the nutcracker and the mouse king, was written by german author e. Apr 29, 2016 this is the nutcracker story for kids. The nutcracker and the mouse king background gradesaver. A french writer, he wrote a revised vision of eta hoffmans the nutcracker and the mouse king titled lhistoire dun casse noisette the story of a hazelnutcracker. His story of the nutcracker and the mouse king is about marie stahlbaums favorite christmas toy, the nutcracker, which comes to life and, after defeating the evil mouse king in battle, takes her to a magical kingdom of dolls. The original story of the nutcracker, weird and wonderful by one of the masters of horror and weirdness. Nutcracker and mouse king and the tale of the nutcracker. As to the crown drosselmayer said that this was his gift for her and refused to admit the nutcracker to be his nephew toy stood in its place in the closet. 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.
Hoffmann, but most everyone is familiar with his most famous creation. Maurice sendak designed brilliant sets and costumes for the pacific northwest ballets christmas production of nutcracker and has created. One origin story attributes the creation of the first nutcracker doll to a craftsman from seiffen. Dec 15, 2008 hi sabz, im really glad you like a christmas nutcracker.
In 1892 the story was turned into a ballet by alexandre dumas that is based on the original story the nutcracker. According to german folklore, nutcrackers were given as keepsakes to bring good luck to your family and protect your home. This is one of the earliest known english translation of e. Peter wrights version of lev ivanovs original 1892 ballet has undergone changes since its debut in 1984 but it remains the one by which all others must be judged. 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. The nutcracker ballet is a holiday tradition, but how did it begin. Dance channel tv provides a colorful, detailed history of the origins of the nutcracker as we know it today. One of hoffmans bestloved tales, which he published in 1816, is about a young german girl, living in a straightlaced family, whose godfatherherr drosselmeier a name which, loosely translated, means someone who shakes things upcreates a special christmas present for maries family. Dec 24, 2015 the story of the nutcracker in pictures. The nutcracker ballet provides the history of the nutcracker ballet, nutcracker music, nutcrakcer links, nutcracker movies and information on nutcracker ballet performances in your area. The nutcracker and its many mysteries the new york times. They were often given as gifts, and at some point they became associated with christmas season. History of nutcracker moscow ballets great russian nutcracker.
The nutcracker ballet article about the nutcracker ballet. He was a germanborn in prussia, which is now russia, and he was a lawyer and judge. 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. The nutcracker ballet article about the nutcracker. Hoffmanns 1816 fairy tale the nutcracker and the mouse king. Hoffmans magical tale of an enchanted nutcracker, an evil mouse king, and a faithful young girl has been a holiday classic for generations. However, the complete nutcracker has enjoyed enormous popularity since the late 1960s and is now performed by countless ballet companies, primarily during the christmas season, especially in north america. The story begins on christmas eve in 19th century germany. Petipa had fallen ill, and the choreography was instead devised by his. Russian city where the first nutcracker ballet premiered. But the story itself is much older and its original intent more complex. Nutcracker dolls originate from late17th century germany, particularly the ore mountains german.
Combined here with the muchloved music of tchaikovskys nutcracker suite, the. The story varies from production to production, though most follow. Hoffmann in 1816, has fascinated and inspired artists, composers, and audiences for almost two hundred years. The dark, romantic roots of the nutcracker few people today remember e. The stage the royal ballets production of the nutcracker, always handsomely traditional, has become a tradition of its own. As the edwards family prepare for their christmas party, clara imagines the wonderful things that might happen. 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.
Hoffman german original of 1816, the nutcracker and the mouse king, but alexandre dumas 1844 french adaptation of hoffmans story, histoire dun cassenoisette the tale of the. Although the original production was not a success, the 20minute suite that tchaikovsky extracted from the ballet was. The last of his three ballets, it was first performed in december 1892. The nutcracker leaves and the bed finds its way into a snowcovered forest. Although what is seen on the stage today is different in detail from the original story, the basic plot remains the same. The scenario had been put together by ivan vsevolozhsky, director of the imperial theaters and a great francophile. The ballet version of the nutcracker wasnt directly based on the short story by eta hoffmann, but on a retelling called the story of a nutcracker. Hoffmann was set to music by tchaikovsky and originally choreographed by. Hoffmanns story began on christmas eve at the stahlbaum house. Her brother frederick cant miss a moment to tease her and is only stopped by the arrival of their beautiful older sister louise. The nutcracker histoire dun cassenoisette, 1844 is a retelling by alexandre dumas, pere of the hoffmann tale, nearly identical in plot. 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. Uncle peter got a funny looking nutcracker toy as her gift.
It was a christmas eve and marie was waiting for uncle peter. The story of a young german girl who dreams of a nutcracker prince and a fierce battle against a mouse king with seven heads. Helping nutcracker s sisters about the house marie suddenly woke up in her bed. Over 100 years old, the nutcracker ballet was first presented at the mariinsky theatre in st. Feb 26, 2020 the nutcracker, ballet by pyotr tchaikovsky. Yet responsibility for the failure was not, apparently, wholly the composers. Dumas story was an adaptation of the dark fairytale the nutcracker and the mouse king, written by e. Now young children can enjoy this beloved classic in a specially abridged version by bob blaisdell. The original clara was the 12 year old stanislava belinskaya and the original nutcrackerprince was the 17 year old sergei legat. The nutcracker site provides a central location for nutcracker ballet information. Imperial ballets original production of the nutcracker, circa 1900. If youre off to see graeme murphys moving reimagaination of the nutcracker, nows the time to get acquainted with the story, which follows a ballerina, clara, through the glamour and romance, tragedy and travels of her life.
The nutcracker prince musters his toy infantry and the cavalry. The nutcracker, and has worked on many other nonfiction titles from human bodies to dinosaurs. Why this was once the worlds creepiest ballet from pedophilic godfathers to gruesome sevenheaded mice, the first versions of. S the christmas ballet was first performed outside russia in england. About nutcracker and mouse king and the tale of the nutcracker. Year the story the nutcracker and the mouse king was written. It has retained its freshness because it appeals to the sense of wonder we all share. Published in 1816, the original story was a complex world of intrigue, adventure, and true love between a girl and her nutcracker doll. The story of the nutcracker in pictures books the guardian. The original stories behind everyones favorite christmas ballet it wasnt until the 1950s that seeing the nutcracker at christmastime became an american tradition. Be sure to check out the nutcracker site before you decide where you will see a holiday performance of the nutcracker. Suddenly, a silver mist descended like clouds in which the pages and the princesses and nutcracker.
A story that spawned a thousand childrens books and countless adaptations for the stage, and then eventually made it to the silver screen. The origin of the nutcracker, a classic christmas story, is a fairy tale ballet in two acts centered on a familys christmas eve celebration. However, the ballet gained popularity with future productions, especially in the united states. The original 1853 edition with illustrations hoffmann, e. Hoffmann 17761822 wrote the original story on which the ballet is based. Katy flint is an author, editor, and musician, based in london. This is designed to quickly educate the nondance oriented about this wonderful. Nutcracker and mouse king read book online for free. The original ballet was created by marius petipa and lev inavov with an original music score composed by pyotr ilyich tchaikovsky. Hoffmanns classic childrens tale, nutcracker and mouseking, which was penned in german in 1816. He had been turned into a nutcracker by the evil mouse king, and only by the kings death could the nutcracker. The dark, cocainefueled history of the nutcracker ballet. 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 darker and spookier than the ballet version most people know.
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. A story that spawned a thousand childrens books and countless adaptations for the stage, and then eventually made it to the. That inspiration is second hand, however, for the story told in the christmastime tradition, the nutcracker ballet suite, is not technically an adaptation of hoffmanns significantly different and darker original. Reutersfabrizio bensch the nutcrackers disturbing origin story. He added some music as well, explaining, when i did the nutcracker in new york, i needed an entracte. A christmas eve party at the stahlbaum house where clara is given the nutcracker as a christmas present. Hoffmann in 1816 and then adapted into pyotr ilyich tchaikovskys famous ballet in 1892. The original clara was the 12 year old stanislava belinskaya and the original nutcracker prince was the 17 year old sergei legat. His voice and the sound of the mortar were like a lovely, low chant, which grew fainter.
While the original story was centered around a girl named marie and was considered dark and scary, french writer alexandre dumas adapted it to be much lighter. The year alexander dumas adapted etas book for ballet. The narrated story of the nutcracker ballet in under 5 minutes. However, what you probably dont know is that the original nutcracker story was written years early in 1816. Dec 24, 2014 reutersfabrizio bensch the nutcracker s disturbing origin story. Russian composer pyotr ilich tchaikovsky 18401893 set the tale to music. The nutcracker ballet is derived from the story the nutcracker and the king of mice which was written e. She awakens in bed and is saluted by the nutcracker prince. Aug 29, 2018 tchaikovskys 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.
Hoffmanns tales were so bizarre, sigmund freud wrote about them in the uncanny. Learn the origins of the nutcracker and about the many famous hands that helped make it the christmas tradition it is today. Alexandre dumas peres adaptation of the story by e. Once again drosselmeyer calls upon his magic and the nutcracker is transformed into a handsome boy. Other articles where the nutcracker and the mouse king is discussed. That original story was first published in the authors native german as. 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. Tchaikovskys 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.
Originally written in the early twentieth century, the story of a little girls love for an enchanted nutcracker has delighted generations of readers, while the tchaikovsky ballet based on the tale has become a holiday tradition. It was translated into many other languages, spreading widely throughout europe. Why this was once the worlds creepiest ballet from pedophilic godfathers to gruesome seven. In 1892, the story premiered on the russian ballet stage as the nutcracker by tchaikovsky. Nprs robert siegel traces the history of everyones favorite christmas ballet all the way back to its much darker original version. It was a tradition for uncle peter to give marie presents the night before christmas. The nutcracker returns and suddenly turns into a prince, who looks just like drosselmeyers nephew. His original story was much darker than the version we now know.
The nutcracker simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 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. One of the bestloved and most widely known ballets of our time, the nutcracker, tells the story of a young girls enchanted christmas eve. Marie stahlbaum, seven years old, and her brother fritz, eight, sat outside the parlor speculating about what kind of present their godfather drosselmeier, who was a clockmaker and inventor, had made for them. Dumas simplified the original story, which was multilayered with a story within the story within the story, kind of like a gobstopper. A lavish, exciting and heartwarming celebration of dance, of music, and of life. Just as the mouse king is about to overpower the nutcracker doll, clara distracts him, allowing the nutcracker to strike the winning blow. This is one of the earliest known english translations of e. The original nutcracker prince, sergei legat, fell out with authorities and slit his throat. The nutcracker and the mouse king was a story by e. Hoffmann was set to music by tchaikovsky and originally choreographed by marius petipa. The colorful holiday classic is finally brought to the big screen, designed by famed childrens story author and artist maurice sendak, and written for the first time to be as close as possible to the original story. Hoffmann in which young marie stahlbaums favorite christmas toy, the nutcracker, comes alive and, after defeating the evil mouse king in battle, whisks her. Ivan vsevolozhsky and marius petipa adapted hoffmanns story for the ballet.