On December 18, 1892, the renownedRussian composerPyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky premiered a balletnamed The Nutcracker at the ImperialMariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg. After its initialrelease, the ballet was dismissedby many critics, who claimed that it lacked a storylineand contained few,if any, traditional ballet elements. However, The Nutcracker has since become world famous, and its music isnow synonymous withChristmas celebrations in most parts of the world.
In the story of The Nutcracker, a young girl named Clara receives a magnificentnutcracker as a Christmas gift from her godfather. It should be noted here that many nutcrackers, though practical devices for opening nuts, are in fact ornatewooden dolls. In German folklore, these dolls were believed to possess magical powers, such as bringing good luck and protecting one’s home. Clara’s nutcracker, a prince, comes to lifeon Christmas Eve and takes Clara on a journey to a fantasyland where battles involving mice and toy soldiers are fought.
