DER NUSSKNACKER (THE NUTCRACKER)

Is The Nutcracker merely a Christmas tale? No, not necessarily - A winter tale, perhaps. Most of all, the nutcracker is a birthday present for Marie! John Neumeier chooses to tell the poetic fairy tale The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffmann in a different way. “A new classic was born”, said Dorion Weickmann, “an everlasting staple of ballet repertory full of insights on human relationships that were, and are still, highly relevant in society.” Neumeier said in 1975, only four years after giving this all-time favorite family classic a fresh face. The American choreographer, then and now artistic director of the Hamburg Ballet, reduced the old-fashioned tale to its essential message: Marie is growing up - with all the emotions, conflicts and feelings that this laborious process entails. With innate drama, baroque elegance and clever humor, Neumeier created a tableau that is far from Hoffmann’s original tale. His The Nutcracker boldly comments on the state of our society, it is a family portrait and a story of the rite of passage. Moreover, it’s a deep bow of respect to the high art of classical ballet. None other than Petipa himself whisks away Marie to the foreign (dream-) world of the theater. There, she encounters and surrenders to the charm of famous ballets characters – but rest assured: the audience is right with her on that.

Act I

1st Scene: Marie's Birthday
Marie turns 12 years old – an age where playing with dolls is no longer of interest. Her brother Fritz, a cadet, brings his comrades while Marie´s sister Louise, a prima ballerina of the court theatre, is accompanied by ballet master Mr. Drosselmeier.
Cadet Günther, the spokesman of the regiment and a dear friend of Fritz, gives Marie a nutcracker doll for her birthday, while Mr. Drosselmeier hands Marie a pair of pointe shoes as a present. She is mesmerized by the ballet master, and has a secret crush on the handsome Günther.

2nd Scene: Marie's Dream – The Rehearsal
Once the party guests have left the house, Marie returns to the living room with her nutcracker doll in hands to secretly try on the pointe shoes. She is startled by a vision of Mr. Drosselmeier. In her dream, he introduces her to the magical and mysterious world of the theatre. Marie is enchanted by this environment. She is rejoined by Günther, who is a soloist at the court theatre ballet and dances with him on pointe. Marie becomes part of an ensemble rehearsal.

Act II

3rd Scene: Marie's Dream – The Performance
Drosselmeier shows Marie how a performance is created: The empty stage fills with settings and people preparing to perform. Drosselmeier demonstrates different divertissements and occasionally joins the ensemble. Even Marie´s brother Fritz appears as a dancer. The performance culminates in a grand finale after which the theatre world suddenly disappears – Marie is awakened and has to part with her dream.