George Balanchine's The Nutcracker

It is not really Christmas until the whole family has been to Det Kongelige Teater and seen the Christmas ballet above all others. Christmas trees shaped from ballet shoes out in the foyer. Tchaikovsky's iconic music. And plenty of ballet children on stage. It is almost impossible not to get into the Christmas spirit when The Nutcracker takes over Gamle Scene. It naturally does so again at the end of 2026, when the many recognisable melodies combined with elegant steps make both young and old Christmas hearts beat in time in the winter cold. The Nutcracker is a true family production. It is not only a merry ballet for children, but also an opportunity for their parents and grandparents to dream themselves back to the carefree wonder of childhood. In George Balanchine's masterly 1954 version the magic is turned all the way up, and he has created an imaginative story that is at the same time the best kick-off to the year's cosiest celebration. The story spans a single night. But not just any night. Little Marie receives the most fantastic nutcracker as a Christmas present from her godfather, and when the clock strikes midnight, it leads her out on a magical journey. She travels from the atmospheric Christmas party in the bosom of the family to the fairytale land of plenty, and on her way she meets dangerous mice, dancing snowflakes and waltzing flowers, sweet candy canes and a majestic Sugar Plum Fairy. Just to name a few. The strange fairy tale of the enigmatic nutcracker was originally written by the eccentric German author E.T.A. Hoffmann in 1816. In 1892 it was first made into a ballet. Tchaikovsky composed the music, which, with its many recognisable, catchy themes, is one of the most beloved works in music history. The Nutcracker is also going on tour to Musikhuset Aarhus. Read more here. Recommended from age 6

• Dirigent: Chanmin Chung

RECORDINGS OF THE WORKS

Pjotr Tsjajkovskij: Nøtteknekkeren, op. 71

Whole work

Watch on NRK TV (2001)All 2 parts on KulturbaseMore recordings on Kulturbase

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