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Choreography John Neumeier. Music Pjotr Iljitsch Tschaikowski.
Duration est. 2 hours 20 minutes
In his atmospheric, poetic ballet, which he created in 1971 during his time as Ballet Director in Frankfurt, John Neumeier recounts E.T.A. Hoffmann’s fairytale of The Nutcracker and The Mouse King somewhat differently. Marie is still a child, but having to be an adult has already arrived for her. And so she begins to explore the possibilities life has in store for her. Throughout the piece Marie begins to realise that in dreams at least, everything is possible and that we can also take a lot for our life from our dreams. Mr Drosselmeier puts the key to this inspiration in her hand (or is it the great choreographer, Marius Petipa? Who knows!). He whisks Marie away to a fascinating world, where she meets the key figures of grand ballet and to whose charm and fascination she succumbs – as do all viewers along with her.
Act I
1st Scene: Marie's Birthday
It is Marie’s 12th birthday. Her brother Fritz, a cadet, has invited his regiment comrades, her sister Louise, ballerina at the court theatre, and the ballet master, Drosselmeier. The cadet Günther, a friend of Fritz’s and spokesman for his comrades, gives Marie a nutcracker as a present from the regiment, and ballet master Drosselmeier gifts her a pair of pointe shoes. Drosselmeier fascinates Marie, but she falls in love with Günther.
2nd Scene: Marie's Dream – The Rehearsal
When the guests have gone Marie enters the room again with the nutcracker in her arms and secretly puts the pointe shoes on. She is frightened by the appearance of Drosselmeier, who in the dream leads her into the mysterious world of the theatre. Marie is enchanted by this environment. The encounter with Günther returns in the dream. She meets him as the court ballet’s principal dancer and dances en pointe with him for the first time. She takes part in a big rehearsal.
Act II
3rd Scene: Marie's Dream – The Performance
Drosselmeier shows Marie how a performance comes together, the empty stage is transformed into a setting in which everything is prepared for it. Drosselmeier demonstrates various divertissements and also dances himself from time to time. Her brother Fritz also appears as a dancer to Marie. In the grand pas de deux, Louise dances with Günther. After a turbulent finale the theatre world disappears – Marie is woken by her mother. Wistfully she bids farewell to her dream.
