n Russia, a wooden toy for chopping nuts from the fairy tale by Hoffmann became famous precisely thanks to the ballet of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. From 1982 to the present time, “The Nutcracker” has turned into the most popular Pre-New Year production. Today everyone knows the plot and characters of this performance from childhood. Especially valuable and "elite" became the opportunity to attend this ballet by Tchaikovsky at the Bolshoi Theater or the Mariinsky Theater on the New Year Eve.

For the first time, the Russian audience saw the production of “The Nutcracker” in St. Petersburg at the Mariinsky Theater. In the 19^th century, this theatre was considered the country "cultural center". The two-act ballet-extravaganza was based on the fairy tale “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King”, and the legendary ballet soloist, choreographer and teacher Marius Petipa (1818–1910) wrote the libretto. It is an amazing fact that children danced the characters of the little ones, Klara and Fritz at that time, nowadays those roles are performed by adult artists. Those children were the students of the St. Petersburg Imperial Theater School.

On the day of the premiere, Pyotr Ilyich prepared surprise for the public. During the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, an incredibly beautiful “crystal” melody was heard from the orchestra, similar to the sound of water drops in a fountain. The music, like the magic of snow tracery on thin glass, was bewitching and impressed the audience. Where did the unfamiliar but so beautiful sound come from? It was incomprehensible even to professional musicians. It turned out to be the sound of a celesta. The instrument was unknown in Russia; Pyotr Tchaikovsky brought it from France and kept it secret until the premier in order to give the audience a surprise. Outwardly, the rarity resembled a small piano, but had a special timbre and sound reminiscent of the sound of bells.
In “The Nutcracker”, his last ballet, Tchaikovsky addresses the same theme that was embodied in “The Swan Lake” and “The Sleeping Beauty” – overcoming evil spells by the power of love. The composer passed even further along the path of symphonizing music, enriching it with all possible expressive means. Surprisingly naturally, the fusion of expressive and pictorial issues, theatricality and deepest psychologism were realised in his music.

We have prepared a musical selection for the premiere of the ballet “The Nutcracker” at the Mariinsky Theater. The pieces were digitized from Audio-technica vinyl record player, from phonograph records “Introduction” and “March” to the ballet “The Nutcracker” (Aprelevka Plant); “The Waltz of the Flowers” (Parts I and II) (His Masters Voice).

The story of the ballet creation is in the section "Reviews".