From London’s beautifully refurbished Covent Garden Opera House comes this elegant new production with one of Tchaikovsky’s most enduring scores for the ballet. Generations of audiences have enjoyed this perennial Christmas favorite, a charming tale of holiday adventure that follows a little girl’s journey through a fantasy world of fairies, princes, toy soldiers, and an army of mice. Revised by Sir Peter Wright with sets designed by Julia Trevelyan Oman, the new Royal Ballet production features an acclaimed cast, including Ivan Putrov as the Nutcracker, Alina Cojocaru as Clara, Miyako Yoshida as the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Sir Anthony Dowell as the toy- and clockmaker Herr Drosselmeyer. Conductor Evgenii Svetlanov leads the Royal Opera Orchestra through some of Tchaikovsky’s most beloved music, including “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and “Waltz of the Snowflakes.”
The two-act ballet had its premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, on December 17, 1892. It was based on Alexander Dumas père’s THE NUTCRACKER OF NUREMBERG, which was an adaptation of an earlier story by E.T.A. Hoffmann called THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING. Read a synopsis of “The Nutcracker” to become more familiar with the holiday classic. You can also print a set and a variety of character cutouts from “The Nutcracker,” which can then be colored and assembled in order to stage your own version of the ballet.
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Is the cutout download no longer available?
i am looking for future showes on p b s of the san fransisco ballet the original of 1923 on channel 8 in houston tx.
The original of 1923?
“The Nutcracker” wasn’t staged in the U.S. until 1944, and it premiered in Russia in 1892.
Will this be shown again before the end of 2008..?? PLEASE..?? My family & I really like this ballet – we LOVE the music especially.
I just watched the movie and I thought it was very good. The dances were beautiful and extremely elegant. Thumbs up to all the cast members!
SHES AWSOME!!!!!!!!!
Bravo. This has to be one of the best versions of the Nutcracker I’ve ever seen
Will this be shown during the 2009 Christmas season?
I’m looking for the version of the Nutcracker PBS showed about 10-15 years ago. It was my favorite. Can you help?
That’s the Baryshnikov version. It’s available on DVD, and on DVD the picture and sound are much better than on the PBS telecasts.
What is the answer to questions #7 and #8. Last showed 16
Dec.2008 San Francisco ballet When will it be again
Please, when will the Great Performances – The nutcracker suite by the Royal Ballet with Baryshnikov be on for the 2009 season? I grew up watching it and want my children to enjoy it as well.
It’s “The Nutcracker”, not “The Nutcracker Suite”. The Nutcracker Suite is a group of eight selections from the ballet.
And Baryshnikov danced it with the American Ballet Theatre, not the Royal Ballet. The Royal Ballet is a British company.
I Like Geroge Balanchine The Ntucracker So Good Movies & Books Please Thanks So Much
when will the nutcracker be on pbs this christmas. i live in harrisburg pa.
The Best Nutcracker I have seen, the pas de deux was breathtaking!
Please, also when will the Nutcracker Suite by the Royal Ballet be televised for this Christmas 2009 season. Thank you and Happy Holidays
When will the Nutcracker Suite be televised in the 2009
When will the Nutcracker Suite be televised in the 2009 Christmas season? I live in the 46750 zip code area.
How can I obtain the copy of the San Francisco performance of The Nutcracker, 12/21/09.
Who were the lead dancers in it?
It should be available at Amazon.
Is there a copy available somewhere of the 1944 ballet? What is the earliest version of the Russian ballet available. I had access to a copy made off someone’s TV of it but don’t know the year, I think it was in the 60’s, and loved to share clips with my music students. I do not know who was in it, but I remember there was a couple in bright costumes for the chinese dance and three characters (snowman, father winter, and ice princess) for the trepak or russian dance. And the dance of the toy flutes was done by three people, two girls and a young man who seemed to be the best of the male dancers in the troope. He was slightly shorter with darker hair, and very good technique. This is the version I am ideally looking for. If it helps, in the waltz of the flowers there was a troope within the ensemble that did a join pax de deux.
I really like this version of the ballet. I’ve been watching it for 3 Christmases now. Anyone who enjoys this baller should watch this rendition at least once. One question: Where do I find these “character cutouts from “The Nutcracker,” which can then be colored and assembled in order to stage your own version of the ballet.” that were mentioned. I’ve been searching all over for the link.
I’ve been looking for a specific Nutcracker ballet for years. We video taped it off of PBS back in early 90s in Chicago. (It got taped over by mistake years ago and we’ve been searching since) This version had a tree that grew out of the ground very large when the dream started, and the little girl left the stage at the end, I believe by flying (possibly on a bed, it’s hard to remember). I’ve checked all the versions listed here and none of them seem to be it. If anyone has any suggestions please post them. I’d really love to find my favorite nutcracker of all times.
The one you are looking for sounds like the one with mikhail Baryshnikov. He performed it with the American ballet, and I ave only seen it available to buy on DVD.
I’m afraid Liz may be mistaken. Clara does not grow into an adult in Baryshnikov’s version released in 1977 with ABT. The character is danced by Gelsey Kirkland throughout that entire production. She was in her mid-20s at the time.
Nutcracker Lover, while you may be referencing George Balanchine’s version released in 1993 with Macaulay Culkin and dancers from New York City Ballet, you’re most likely thinking of Pacific Northwest Ballet’s version released in 1986. In that version, the Nutcracker (grown, but not transformed into a prince) has very thick and somewhat shaggy black hair. Also, Clara is transformed into an adult shortly after the battle scene. Lastly, Clara falls out of the sky at the end, and her juvenile self is seen waking up in her own bed.
Does the image of a solo female peacock-like creature dancing to the Arabian dance jog your memory? If so, PNB’s is the way to go … I think that’s unique to their production. (Baryshnikov’s doesn’t even have an Arabian dance. I read once he omitted it because he thought it slowed the pace too much.)
I hope this helps. PNB’s production is one of my favorites. It is still performed in Seattle.
Nope it’s not George Balanchine’s version released in 1993 because they stay kids, and it’s not Pacific Northwest Ballet’s version released in 1986 I’ve checked that, and your right, it turns into a large nutcracker. The version I want, he turns into a human adult. I really cannot find the version I remember. I wish it hadn’t been taped over.
I forgot to mention, this nutcracker toy, I believe in this version, has black hair and a sword.
One more thing, this nutcracker both the nutcracker and Clara grow into adults during most of it.
I’m looking for the same version that the nutcracker lover is looking for. And you are right Clara and the Nutcracker turn into adults in the second act and at the very end she wakes up and it was a dream I believe…
This one is also my favorite. To my knowledge PBS no longer shows it, but it is available in the shop on dvd
Hi ! I think the nutcracker is such a priceless , authentic musical that many people will treasure year after year and for generation after generations ! I am curious , what is the name of the Bear , in the nutcracker ?
This version is one of my favorites. The Ovation channel is showing several versions on Sundays and some other times. Just check and this one is also being shown. I have watched it several times. The Bolshoi one is excellent also.
Is the 2003 DVD (London Royal Ballet) version of the Nutcracker still available for purchase?