A New Year's classic: The Nutcracker ballet returns to the stage

THE NUTCRACKER BALLET RETURNS TO THE STAGE

The Istanbul State Opera and Ballet will bring the Nutcracker ballet—a fairytale New Year's classic based on the dreams of a young German girl, Clara Stahlbaum, regarding the nutcracker toy she received as a New Year's gift, and the final work composed by Russian composer P. I. Tchaikovsky in 1891—back to art lovers with 11 performances in December and January at the Atatürk Cultural Center – Türk Telekom Opera Hall.

THE STORY OF THE NUTCRACKER BALLET

The Nutcracker ballet is inspired by the story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," written in 1816 by German author E. T. A. Hoffmann, based on similar folk tales from different countries. The famous French author Alexandre Dumas (père) published an adaptation and translation in 1844, softening the gloomy atmosphere of the story and turning it into a fairytale. Although the plot remains the same, the details in the Nutcracker ballet differ slightly from the original story. The Nutcracker ballet, whose choreography was adapted for the stage by French ballet master Marius Petipa, revolves around the story of a German girl, the Nutcracker Prince, and the Mouse King.

AN UNFORGETTABLE WORK BY TCHAIKOVSKY

Ivan Vsevolozhsky, director of the Imperial Theatres in St. Petersburg in the 1890s, thought that Dumas's Nutcracker story could make a good ballet and asked Tchaikovsky to compose a ballet on this subject. The Russian composer Tchaikovsky composed the music for the Nutcracker ballet in 1891. The Nutcracker ballet score holds the distinction of being the last ballet composed by Tchaikovsky. As one of the most performed ballet shows in the world, the Nutcracker ballet holds an indispensable place in the repertoire of all ballet companies worldwide, especially as a New Year's classic, and is sold out whenever it is performed.

WHAT IS THE PLOT OF THE NUTCRACKER BALLET?

The work, consisting of 2 acts, tells the story of Clara, who falls asleep while celebrating Christmas and travels to a magical world in her dream, where she meets the love of her life. Performed in all ballet schools around the world, this work has become a staple for ballet artists. The choreography for the Nutcracker ballet, which the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet will stage this year, belongs to Mehmet Balkan (after M. Petipa – L. Ivanov). Lale Balkan is directing the two-act work.

WHEN ARE THE PERFORMANCE DATES?

The Nutcracker will continue to meet ballet lovers on December 14 - 18 - 19 - 23 - 26, 2024 and January 3 - 4 - 9 - 11 - 15 - 16, 2025.