Nutcracker | Classical Russian Ballet by Khasan Usmanov

Nutcracker

About

The Nutcracker is performed on the New Year Eve all round the world. A growing Christmas Tree, dolls and toys that come to life, courageous nutcracker that conquers the Mouse King and turns into a handsome young Prince and the waltz of snowflakes carry the audience away to magic and mysterious world of fairytales. The choreography being in a perfect harmony with the music by Tchaikovsky visualizes its poetical half-tones. The ballet is a celebration of ethereal love that brings delight and excitement to people’s hearts.

Act I

Guests are gathering for a Christmas party at the Stahlbaum home. Among them are Drosselmeyer, godfather to Marie and Fritz, the Stahlbaums’ children. He has brought them a wonderful present: a funny Nutcracker.

The children wait with impatience for when at long last they will be shown the Christmas tree and the presents. The long awaited moment comes: the handsomely adorned Christmas tree is presented tothe assembled company.

Drosselmeyer suddenly appears disguised as a magician: he is not recognized by the children. Their unknown guest’s ability to make their toys come alive delights the children but, as everything that is clad in mystery, it involuntarily arouses their fear. In order to calm them down, Drosselmeyer takes off his mask and the chil¬dren now recognize their beloved godfather. Marie wants to play with the wonderful dolls which have come alive, but they have already been tidied away. Drosselmeyer gives her the Nutcracker-Doll. Marie takes a great liking to this awkward, funny creature.

Marie’s brother Fritz, who is a great tease and very naughty, acci¬dentally breaks the doll. With great tenderness, Marie comforts her injured Nutcracker and rocks it backwards and forwards. Fritz and his friends now put on mouse masks and tease poor Marie.

The guests began to go home. At night the room where the Christmas tree stands is bathed in moonlight. It looks mysterious and full of magical secrets. Drosselmeyer now appears. But instead of her kind godfather, he has turned into a wizard. Suddenly, mice creep out from under the floor¬boards, led by the Mouse King. The Nutcracker’s quick wits and bravery save the day: lining up the lead soldiers, he boldly leads them out to do battle with the mice forces.

However, the forces are unequal, the advantage is on the side of the evil mice. The Nutcracker is left alone to face the Mouse King and his suite. Marie is out of her mind with worry over the danger that threatens her doll. At this very moment, Marie taked a toy and she throws it at the mice who scurry away helter-skelter.

The battle field empties. The only person left here is the Nutcracker who lies without moving on the floor. Mariehurries to his rescue. And now a miracle occurs… Before Marie stands a handsome youth, the Nutcracker-Prince. He walks forward to meet her.

The walls of the house disappear. Marie and are standing under a star-studded sky, by a fairy-tale Christmas tree. Snowflakes go round in a magical dance. Marie and Nutcracker-Prince danced together.

Act II

Marie and Nutcracker-Prince are coming to the Christmas tree kingdom. There are Drosselmeyer and the alive dolls . The Drosselmeyer gives to Marie a magic wand, she turned into a Sugar Plum Fairy. Suddenly they attacked by the mice and the Mouse King who have crept up behind them. Once again, the Nutcracker-Prince goes boldly into battle. Horribly frightened, Marie and the dolls watch the fight. The Nutcracker-Prince vanquishes the enemy. Joyous victory celebrations are underway. The dolls dance, the evil mice have been defeated.

Marie and the Nutcracker-Prince are radiant with happiness — they have reached the kingdom of their dreams! But it appears all this was just a dream. Christmas Eve is over and with it all wonderful reveries. Marie, still in the thrall of the fabulous dream, is sitting at home by the Christmas tree, with the Nutcracker-Doll on her lap.