Nutcracker History

1802: Alexander Dumas Pere was born in Villers-Cotterêts 40 km NE of Paris, France. A French writer, he wrote a revised vision of ETA Hoffman's The Nutcracker and the Mouse King titled "L'Histoire d'un Casse Noisette (The Story of a Hazelnut-cracker). It was from these reviesed versions of the story that Marius Petipa (choreographer of the Nutcracker) got his ideas for the story of the Nutcracker Ballet.


1816: E. T. A. Hoffman published his book "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". This work was a morbid story never intended for children which intended to show the depraved and desperate side of mankind.

1818: Marius Petipa, choreographer of the Nutcracker, is born in Marseilles, France. ---- First ballet master to the Tzar of Russia was Marius Petipa. He is credited with ushering in the golden age of Classical Ballet. His ballets included Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, La Bayadere, Don Quoxite and the Nutcracker.

1834: Lev Ivanov is born in Russia. A Russian dancer, teacher, choreographer, and ballet-master. Ivanov was assistant to chief ballet-master Marius Petipa at the Imperial St. Petersburg Theatres, St Petersburg, Russia. He was instrumental in the development of the classic romantic ballet in Russia. When Petipa fell ill, Ivanov created the choreography for The Nutcracker.   (reference: Electric Library)

1840: Peter I Tchaikovsky, composer of the Nutcracker, is born in Russia.

1890: A. Vsevolozsky, director of Imperial Theaters in Russia, planned to produce a new ballet, "The Nutcracker". This came about because of the success which the ballet "Sleeping Beauty" recieved.  He also planned to use the same choreographer (Marius Petipa) and composer (Peter Tchaikovsky) which collaborated to produce "Sleeping Beauty":

1891: Choreographer Marius Petipa commissioned composer Peter I. Tchaikovsky to compose the musis for the Nutcracker.

Early 1892: Tchaikovsky begins work on the music for the Nutcracker. Upon completion of the score in the summer of 1892 Tchaikovsky wrote that the music he composed was "infinitely poorer than The Sleeping Beauty" (which he had composed and premiered in 1890.

Footnote: An interesting footnote to the score of The Nutcracker is the famous use of the celesta in the Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy. The celesta was a new musical instrument which had just been created by Auguste Mustel. Tchaikovsky had discovered the newly-invented instrument just before departing for the U.S., and was immediately captivated by its ``divinely beautiful tone.'' He arranged to have one sent to Russia secretly, because he was ``afraid Rimsky-Korsakov and Glazunov may get hold of it and use the unusual effect before me.''   (reference: Tchaikovsky: "Nutcracker" Suite)

March 1892: Tchaikovsky premiered the music for The Nutcracker Ballet Suite before was ballet was even produced. This eight-part concert version of the ballet music was a success. At least six times, the audience demanded immediate encores of specific music selections. Because of the Suite's instant success, the score was published even before the ballet premiered.    (reference: The History of the Nutcracker)

           Footnote: The Nutcracker, Op. 71a was scored for 3 flutes (3rd doubling piccolo, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, bass trombone, tuba, cymbals, triangle, tambourine, glockenspiel, tympani, harp, celesta, and strings. (reference: Tchaikovsky: "Nutcracker" Suite)


September, 1892: Rehearsals begin for the Nutcracker. Choreographer Marius Petipa is taken ill and replaced by Lev Ivanov.   Although Petipa worked with Tchaikovsky to create the story, the story, Ivanov is also generally credited with choreographing the Nutcracker.   (reference: The History of the Nutcracker)

World Premiere

December 18, 1892: Nutcracker World Premiere was at the Maryinsky Theater in St Petersbury, Russia with choreography by Petipa/Ivanov, music by Tchaikovsky and decor by Botcharov..    Sugar Plum Fairy: Antoinette dell'era, Prince: Paul Gerdt

The First Reveiw

December 1892: The first reveiw of the Nutcracker did not look to favorably on what would become the most attended holiday ballet ever produced. "For dancers there is rather little in it, for art absolutely nothing, and for the artistic fate of our ballet, one more step downward". (reference: ballet.context)    Agrippina Vaganova, the famous Russian ballet teacher, said "Connoisseurs of ballet purposely took seats in the upper tier to admire the beautiful patterns [of the] waltz of the Snowflakes" performed by sixty dancers.   (reference: The History of the Nutcracker)

       1919: The Bolshoi Ballet performed the first Nutcracker in Moscow. The little girl, Masha, was played by an adult ballerina who performed the Sugar Plum Fairy pas de deux with the Nutcracker. The Nutcracker was then transformed into a prince who danced the dances originally given to the Cavalier (the Sugar Plum Fairy's partner) (reference: The History of the Nutcracker)

        1934: The first production of the Nutcracker presented outside of Russia was restaged by Nicholas Sergeyev for the Vic-Wells Ballet, and performed at the Sadler's Wells Theatre in London, England. The title of the ballet was changed to "Casse-Noisette".
Sugar Plum Fairy: Alicia Markova, Prince: Harold Turner

        1940: Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo was the first to present a shortened version of the Nutcracker in the United States. The choreography was by Alexandra Fedorova (a former Maryinsky dancer, who restaged the Nutcracker after Petipa) with sets by Alexander Benois.



  February 1954: George Balanchine choreographs a full length version of the Nutcracker. Perfromed by New York City Ballet and presented at the New York City Center, the Balanchine production inspired many other productions throughout the world. decor: Horace Armistead; costumes: Barbara Karinska.
Sugar Plum Fairy: Maria Tallchief, Prince: Nicholas Magallanes

        1989: Andrew Rist choreographs the Nutcracker in St Paul, Minnesota

       1996: Ballet Minnesota moves production to The O'Shaughnessy, St Paul, Minnesota

Nutcracker LInks

The Nutcracker ***   (This provides an excellent history of the Nutcracker)
Alexander Benois (Ballet Russe set design):
Nutcracker story and the legend:
The History of the Nutcracker

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: composer of Nutcracker.  Kirov
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: composer of Nutcracker. Encatra

Marius Petipa: Russian Ballet 1855-1881
The Petipa Dynasty   (This traces Marius Petipa's family tree which was filled      out in great part by dancers begining in 1796 with his grandfather)

Mauriece Sendak's introduction to the ETA Hoffman Nutcracker
Nutcracker resource guide for Teachers (NYCB website)

Performance for School Groups Coordinator: Ellen Cochran Contact: EMAIL BMN: 651-222-7919 CBA: 651-290-0513 249 East Fourth Street, St Paul, Minnesota, 55101 MISSION: Ballet Minnesota is dedicated to creating and sharing artistry in dance through public presentations and education. BMN Executive Director: Cynthia Betz 651-222-7919 BMN Artistic Director CBA Co-director Andrew Rist Email 651-290-0513 CBA School Director: Cheryl Rist Grant Writer: Art Penfield Production Manager: Jim Arnold Board President: Lisa Gray Volunteer Coordinator: Mary Klein 20th Anniversary Ball Chairperson: Julia Lauwagie Consultant Physical Therapist : Maryann Johnson Corporate Sponsors Allied Vaughan Barsuhn Cynthia Betz - Edina Realty Fratallone's Ace Hardware Jerry's Printing Grand Jete Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Minnesota State Arts Board Minneapolis / St Paul Magazine Minnesota Public Radio Nordstrom Parallel Technologies, Inc Pioneer Press Roger Beck Florist St Paul Cultural STAR Program St Paul Hotel Target UBS Dain Rauscher Absolute Trailer Sales .	NUTCRACKER HISTORY
	1802: Alexander Dumas Pere was born in Villers-Cotterêts 40 km NE of Paris, France. A French writer, he wrote a revised vision of ETA Hoffman's The Nutcracker and the Mouse King titled "L'Histoire d'un Casse Noisette (The Story of a Hazelnut-cracker). It was from these reviesed versions of the story that Marius Petipa (choreographer of the Nutcracker) got his ideas for the story of the Nutcracker Ballet. 1816: E. T. A. Hoffman published his book "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". This work was a morbid story never intended for children which intended to show the depraved and desperate side of mankind. 1818: Marius Petipa, choreographer of the Nutcracker, is born in Marseilles, France. ---- First ballet master to the Tzar of Russia was Marius Petipa. He is credited with ushering in the golden age of Classical Ballet. His ballets included Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, La Bayadere, Don Quoxite and the Nutcracker. 1834: Lev Ivanov is born in Russia. A Russian dancer, teacher, choreographer, and ballet-master. Ivanov was assistant to chief ballet-master Marius Petipa at the Imperial St. Petersburg Theatres, St Petersburg, Russia. He was instrumental in the development of the classic romantic ballet in Russia. When Petipa fell ill, Ivanov created the choreography for The Nutcracker. (reference: Electric Library) 1840: Peter I Tchaikovsky, composer of the Nutcracker, is born in Russia. 1890: A. Vsevolozsky, director of Imperial Theaters in Russia, planned to produce a new ballet, "The Nutcracker". This came about because of the success which the ballet "Sleeping Beauty" recieved. He also planned to use the same choreographer (Marius Petipa) and composer (Peter Tchaikovsky) which collaborated to produce "Sleeping Beauty": 1891: Choreographer Marius Petipa commissioned composer Peter I. Tchaikovsky to compose the musis for the Nutcracker. Early 1892: Tchaikovsky begins work on the music for the Nutcracker. Upon completion of the score in the summer of 1892 Tchaikovsky wrote that the music he composed was "infinitely poorer than The Sleeping Beauty" (which he had composed and premiered in 1890. *Footnote:* An interesting footnote to the score of The Nutcracker is the famous use of the celesta in the Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy. The celesta was a new musical instrument which had just been created by Auguste Mustel. Tchaikovsky had discovered the newly-invented instrument just before departing for the U.S., and was immediately captivated by its ``divinely beautiful tone.'' He arranged to have one sent to Russia secretly, because he was ``afraid Rimsky-Korsakov and Glazunov may get hold of it and use the unusual effect before me.'' (reference: Tchaikovsky: "Nutcracker" Suite) March 1892: Tchaikovsky premiered the music for The Nutcracker Ballet Suite before was ballet was even produced. This eight-part concert version of the ballet music was a success. At least six times, the audience demanded immediate encores of specific music selections. Because of the Suite's instant success, the score was published even before the ballet premiered. (reference: The History of the Nutcracker) *Footnote:* The Nutcracker, Op. 71a was scored for 3 flutes (3rd doubling piccolo, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, bass trombone, tuba, cymbals, triangle, tambourine, glockenspiel, tympani, harp, celesta, and strings. (reference: Tchaikovsky: "Nutcracker" Suite) September, 1892: Rehearsals begin for the Nutcracker. Choreographer Marius Petipa is taken ill and replaced by Lev Ivanov. Although Petipa worked with Tchaikovsky to create the story, the story, Ivanov is also generally credited with choreographing the Nutcracker. (reference: The History of the Nutcracker) World Premiere December 18, 1892: Nutcracker World Premiere was at the Maryinsky Theater in St Petersbury, Russia with choreography by Petipa/Ivanov, music by Tchaikovsky and decor by Botcharov.. Sugar Plum Fairy: Antoinette dell'era, Prince: Paul Gerdt The First Reveiw December 1892: The first reveiw of the Nutcracker did not look to favorably on what would become the most attended holiday ballet ever produced. "For dancers there is rather little in it, for art absolutely nothing, and for the artistic fate of our ballet, one more step downward". (reference: ballet.context) Agrippina Vaganova, the famous Russian ballet teacher, said "Connoisseurs of ballet purposely took seats in the upper tier to admire the beautiful patterns [of the] waltz of the Snowflakes" performed by sixty dancers. (reference: The History of the Nutcracker) 1919: The Bolshoi Ballet performed the first Nutcracker in Moscow. The little girl, Masha, was played by an adult ballerina who performed the Sugar Plum Fairy pas de deux with the Nutcracker. The Nutcracker was then transformed into a prince who danced the dances originally given to the Cavalier (the Sugar Plum Fairy's partner) (reference: The History of the Nutcracker) 1934: The first production of the Nutcracker presented outside of Russia was restaged by Nicholas Sergeyev for the Vic-Wells Ballet, and performed at the Sadler's Wells Theatre in London, England. The title of the ballet was changed to "Casse-Noisette". Sugar Plum Fairy: Alicia Markova, Prince: Harold Turner 1940: Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo was the first to present a shortened version of the Nutcracker in the United States. The choreography was by Alexandra Fedorova (a former Maryinsky dancer, who restaged the Nutcracker after Petipa) with sets by Alexander Benois. February 1954: George Balanchine choreographs a full length version of the Nutcracker. Perfromed by New York City Ballet and presented at the New York City Center, the Balanchine production inspired many other productions throughout the world. decor: Horace Armistead; costumes: Barbara Karinska. Sugar Plum Fairy: Maria Tallchief, Prince: Nicholas Magallanes 1989: Andrew Rist choreographs the Nutcracker in St Paul, Minnesota 1996: Ballet Minnesota moves production to The O'Shaughnessy, St Paul, Minnesota Nutcracker LInks The Nutcracker *** (This provides an excellent history of the Nutcracker) Alexander Benois (Ballet Russe set design): Nutcracker story and the legend: The History of the Nutcracker Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: composer of Nutcracker. Kirov Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky: composer of Nutcracker. Encatra Marius Petipa: Russian Ballet 1855-1881 The Petipa Dynasty (This traces Marius Petipa's family tree which was filled out in great part by dancers begining in 1796 with his grandfather) Mauriece Sendak's introduction to the ETA Hoffman Nutcracker Nutcracker resource guide for Teachers (NYCB website)