the nutcracker

Synopsis

Guests are invited to the Stahlbaums' house for the New Year's party. Among them is Drosselmeyer, a close friend of the hosts, a magician, and storyteller. The children are joyfully anticipating New Year's gifts. The Christmas tree is lit up with bright lights, and the festive ball has begun. As soon as Drosselmeyer leaves the guests for a moment, the children beg him to show them magic tricks and new toys. They are delighted with wind-up dolls. He gives Masha a new doll, a funny and awkward Nutcracker. Masha's brother plays with it and then breaks it. But Drosselmeyer fixes the Nutcracker, and it dances with Masha again. The party comes to an end. There's a farewell dance—and the guests leave, and the children go to bed.

Night. The room is illuminated by the mysterious light of the moon. Masha cradles a broken doll and falls asleep next to the Nutcracker. She dreams that the dolls come to life and the whole world is transformed: objects lose their familiar shapes, and a Christmas tree grows. Suddenly, a whole horde of mice appears, led by the Mouse King. The dolls and soldiers are in disarray. The brave Nutcracker, along with his army of dolls, engages in battle with the Mouse King and his retinue. The mice flee, and the battlefield is deserted. Suddenly, a miracle occurs: the funny doll becomes a handsome Prince, who takes Masha to a wondrous land of fairy tales. The room turns into a winter forest. A blizzard begins, swirling snowstorms, creating drifts of sparkling snowflakes!

Masha and the Nutcracker Prince travel through a fairytale kingdom. A celebration begins in honor of the winner, and its inhabitants greet the lovers. Masha and the Nutcracker Prince are overjoyed, realizing they love each other. And living dolls from all over the world perform their dances. Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and French dolls dance before them. New Year's Eve, the last night of Masha's childhood, ends. Waking up in her room, she finds her beloved Nutcracker doll and realizes it was all a wonderful dream.

Music by P. I. Tchaikovsky
Choreography by M. Rusu