Is viewing The Nutcracker ballet a part of your holiday tradition? Or, perhaps going to the ballet to see it once, even a long time ago, is a colorful memory that comes up at this time of the year? As an artist inspired by the artistry and athleticism of dancers, it is no surprise that The Nutcracker ballet specifically motivated several of my sculptures.
Even if attending the ballet in December is an annual event for you, perhaps you are not familiar with trivia and history associated with this famous and often performed ballet.
The National Ballet of Canada shared some insights on their blog recently. They noted that the story told in The Nutcracker is “a sanitized translation of the original fairy tale, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King (1816), by the German Romantic author E.T.A. Hoffmann, famous purveyor of gothic horror.” As the ballet’s story does have some odd elements, it may not be surprising to learn that the original was a tale infused with “the fantasies of childhood blended with the dark side of the unconscious” (Mario Pasi). National Ballet of Canada’s blog further explains that Vsevolozhsky was drawn to this story because he wanted to ride the coattails of another successful ballet, The Sleeping Beauty (1890).
Wikipedia says the first performance was performed in Saint Petersburg, Russia in December of 1892, but it was not considered a success. Critics disliked the “confusing” and “disorderly” choreography. Audiences did enjoyTchaikovsky’s score, though. Clearly, the ballet caught on! However, it wasn’t until 1934 that the first performance took place outside of Russia, when it was staged in England. The ballet did not make it to the U.S. until 1940, when it was performed by a Russian group in New York. In the 1960s, performing the complete ballet became a Christmastime tradition in the U.S.
Many of my sculptures were inspired by watching The Nutcracker performed by the Boston Ballet. Enjoy the 3D view of this pieces, available for purchase. This bronze work of art, and other pieces featured on my site, are available for purchase. Contact me to discuss ordering or visit one of my affiliated galleries.
Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year!
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