The Nutcracker. Kyiv Ballet P.I. Tchaikovsky

Description

The Nutcracker. Kiev Ballet
P.I. Tchaikovsky

kyiv Ballet, dancing from the heart
Following the resounding success of the kyiv Ballet's first tour of Spain, a tour etched in our collective memory with the stark red ink that so vividly depicts the tragedy unfolding, the Kiev Ballet will once again grace Spain's most prestigious stages in 2025. The Kiev Ballet brings us back to the tradition of enjoying The Nutcracker during the Christmas season. In a vibrant and deeply moving version, it transports us to the magic and spirit of Christmas.

About the Kyiv Ballet
It was 2017 when Viktor Ishchuk, the renowned soloist of the Kyiv Opera House, realized a long-held dream: the creation of a stable, young company that would bring together the most prominent stars from across Ukraine and showcase the talent, mastery, and professionalism of the country's artists to the world. The Kyiv Ballet boasts several soloists from the Kyiv Opera and Ballet House among its members.

Their first performances garnered the support of leading figures in the Ukrainian arts scene, and they were immediately invited to perform at the world's most prestigious theaters. Since then, they have given over 500 performances. Numerous tours have taken them to the finest stages in Switzerland, Germany, France, Spain, Poland, Croatia, China, Ukraine, Mexico, and many other countries.

The Kyiv Ballet maintains among its main objectives the preservation of the traditions and essence of the purest classical ballet. Each performance is a feast for the senses, thanks to the understated elegance of the choreography, the perfection of each and every line, the virtuosity of its soloists, and the splendor and grandeur of its sets and costumes, all designed exclusively by the finest masters in Kyiv's workshops.

The Kyiv Ballet is based at the International Center for Culture and Arts in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Synopsis
The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is an adaptation of Hoffmann's tale "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King." It premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg on December 18, 1892, as part of a double bill with Tchaikovsky's opera.

Act One

In an old German town, at the beginning of the 19th century, on Christmas Eve, people are preparing for the festivities. Among the guests at the Stalbaum home is a eccentric old man, toy inventor and friend of the children, Drosselmeyer. The living room is decorated for the party. Drosselmeyer arrives with the gifts. The children run inside and begin playing blind man's bluff. Drosselmeyer joins in the game and is blindfolded. After the game, the dancing begins. Drosselmeyer, disguised as a magician, puts on a short theatrical performance in which the Mouse King tries to kidnap the Princess, but the brave Nutcracker defeats him and saves her. Drosselmeyer has many surprises prepared for the children: he shows them a wind-up clown, a doll... But what Masha likes most of all is the Nutcracker. Franz tries to take it from her and accidentally breaks it.

The night. The Christmas tree room is bathed in moonlight, evoking a mysterious atmosphere, brimming with magical secrets. Overcoming her fear, Masha visits the ailing Nutcracker, hugs him, and falls asleep. In her dream, Masha sees mice filling the room, led by their King. The brave Nutcracker calls the toy soldiers to war with the mice, but the mice's forces are superior, and in the end, the Nutcracker must face the Mouse King and his army alone. When all seems lost, Masha, overcoming her fear, strikes the King with her shoe, thus saving the Nutcracker, who ultimately defeats the Mouse King. The mice flee, and Drosselmeyer transforms the Nutcracker into a handsome Prince.

Act Two

Masha and the Prince are happy: they have arrived in the Kingdom of their dreams. Drosselmeyer appears, holding the Nutcracker. It can't all have been just a dream!... With his magic wand, Drosselmeyer turns the dream into reality.

Music
Pyotr Tchaikovsky

Choreography
Marius Petipa

Libretto
Vladimir Beghitchev
Vasili Geletzer