Kremlin Ballet Theatre
The performance has 1 intermission Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes Set within the very heart of Moscow, on the historic grounds of the Kremlin, the stage of the State Kremlin Palace is home to the distinguished Kremlin Ballet Theatre. Its company unites accomplished dancers, many of whom have performed on the stage of the legendary Bolshoi Theatre and trained at the same prestigious academies that shaped generations of Russia’s finest ballet artists. The ballet The Toy Seller invites audiences into a charming and imaginative world where toys come to life. Filled with playful choreography, colorful characters and lighthearted storytelling, the production delights with its warmth, humor and theatrical magic. A joyful and enchanting performance, perfect for audiences of all ages. Libretto by Viktor Dobrosotsky, based on his novel of the same name A Christmas fairy tale or a philosophical parable? A story about the nature of human happiness or a tale of selfless love? Can all of this be brought together in a ballet for the whole family? Without a doubt — yes. The profound text of Viktor Dobrosotsky, the evocative music of Alexey Shelygin, and the soaring language of choreography intertwine to create a remarkable story about a French toy seller who discovers happiness and the meaning of life in the land of his ancestors — Russia. A contemporary ballet destined to become a new symbol of New Year’s magic. Yes, miracles truly do happen. The adventures of Nicolas Bersky — a descendant of an ancient Russian noble family, living in Paris with his mother and working in a toy shop — captivate anyone drawn to the mysteries of the past. His journey leads him to distant Russia in search of his great-grandfather’s hidden treasure. An abandoned estate, a series of trials and riddles, secrets of the past, and, of course, a radiant, all-conquering love — all are woven into this enchanting tale of the toy seller. Translating Viktor Dobrosotsky’s novel The Toy Seller into the language of choreography is no simple task — yet an endlessly fascinating one. In approaching this production, and mindful of its philosophical depth, I focused on the central narrative threads. At its heart lies a love story unfolding in the present, while the figure of the Bersky ancestors forms a bridge between the past and the future of the characters. The Toy Seller belongs to a rare category of ballets that reflect contemporary life. Its characters live in Paris and St. Petersburg, work as shop assistants and tour guides, travel on Aeroflot planes — and yet, during the magical days of Christmas, from December 25 to January 7, they find themselves transported into a wondrous world of festive enchantment. Andrey Petrov, People’s Artist of Russia, Artistic Director and Chief Ballet Master of the Kremlin Ballet Where is the boundary between imagination and reality? Are we, perhaps, all like toys in the hands of fate? Light in tone yet profound in meaning, this ballet captivates both adults and young audiences alike, revealing the importance of family values, the memory of ancestors, and the invisible threads that bind generations together. For love and goodness to prevail, the heroes must come to understand much. The Toy Seller is a unique phenomenon in contemporary choreography — a true synthesis of the finest traditions of Russian classical ballet, the rare melodic beauty of modern music, and a compelling contemporary сюжет. It offers a deeply moving sense of harmony and joy, inviting the audience to touch the pure, luminous spirit of Christmas — a feeling that gently очищает the soul from the burdens of everyday life. SynopsisACT ONE Scene 1. Evening falls in Paris. Christmas is approaching, and then the New Year! Parisians, both adults and children, hurry home. Many carry gifts for their loved ones… Nicolas, the toy seller, continues working on his latest masterpiece. In Paris, he is also known as a skilled doll maker. Nicolas paints a doll he has grown especially fond of. He calls her Natalie. The young man is tired from working through the night, but he cannot stop—during the day, children will come to his shop to play with his dolls. Finishing his work, he falls asleep right at his desk… Darkness envelops every corner of the room… A beam of moonlight falls upon a large portrait of Nicolas’s grandfather—a once very wealthy man from St. Petersburg and the founder of the shop. The old man cherished his grandson and always wished for him to find his calling and love… Suddenly, the grandfather in the portrait begins to come alive. Moreover, he steps down into the room and brings the most beautiful dolls to life. The toys merrily begin to dance together with Nicolas. The grandfather reminds his grandson of his gift—a golden key in the shape of a swan—and asks him not to forget that he is now the head of the ancient noble Bérski family… A knock at the door—grandfather disappears back into the portrait, and Nicolas wakes up. Madame Bérski has come to hurry Nicolas—it is time to open the shop. Mother and son light the festive Christmas tree and welcome the arriving children and their parents. The celebration begins. Suddenly, a postman appears. He delivers an invitation for Nicolas to travel to Russia, to St. Petersburg, for the New Year! All expenses are already paid! His mother agrees to the trip. Nicolas is overjoyed! Scene 2. Pre-holiday bustle in St. Petersburg. Nicolas searches for the palace where the Bérski family museum is located. A charming young woman runs toward him and accidentally knocks him over. Nicolas falls. She apologizes—she is in a hurry and running late. Nicolas immediately likes her. They introduce themselves, and her name is Natasha. Nicolas asks for her help in finding the address. Natasha laughs—the place is familiar to her… Natasha leads Nicolas to a beautiful old mansion. The museum is empty—they are alone. In the grand hall hangs a portrait of Nicolas’s grandfather, just like the one in Paris. Nicolas confesses to Natasha that he is the grandson of Bérski and shows her the precious key. Natasha is astonished… A professor appears with his assistants. He looks grim, though he tries to smile. He harshly scolds Natasha for being late. Realizing that Nicolas speaks Russian fluently and does not need a translator, he dismisses her. The professor arranges a meeting with Nicolas for the next day. Natasha is deeply upset and begins to cry. Nicolas tries to comfort her… The young man and woman forget about the unpleasant professor, focusing instead on their feelings… As they are leaving, they notice an old clock. Natasha inserts Nicolas’s key into it. The clock begins to chime, and a letter falls out. It is a map of a country estate with instructions for Nicolas to go there. The lovers leave the palace, while the professor’s accomplices begin to follow them. Nicolas and Natasha admire the night view of St. Petersburg. On the Neva embankment, snowfall begins, and snowflakes draw them into a magical dance… ACT TWO Scene 3. Overcoming difficult roads, Nicolas and Natasha find a beautiful estate—the ancestral home of the Bérski family, now also a museum. They enter. There are no visitors. A guide, apparently also the caretaker, dozes in a chair. Nicolas and Natasha explore the small exhibition. Finally, the guide wakes up and enthusiastically begins telling them about the traditions of the house. In her excitement, she even taps their hands with a pointer when they reach for exhibits. But the museum is closing, and she ushers them out—an important guest is about to arrive! That guest turns out to be the professor, who immediately withdraws to speak privately with the guide. Meanwhile, Nicolas and Natasha search for another clue and find one in the fireplace. A new scroll points to a fountain—the place where the treasure is hidden. The professor and his accomplice watch them, but the young couple manages to slip away unnoticed. Soon they are in the park by the fountain. Scene 4. It is very cold. Sitting on a bench, Nicolas and Natasha try to warm themselves by embracing each other. Sleep overcomes them. They dream of summer—bright sunshine and beautiful weather. Guests arrive at the estate. Nicolas’s grandfather welcomes them and joyfully presents Nicolas and Natasha. He blesses them, and everyone greets the bride and groom… The dream ends. The lovers wake up, freezing. They run to a nearby village in search of warmth. Scene 5. They rush into a tea house and ask for hot tea. At a nearby table, a noisy feast is underway. Suddenly, a drunken young man invites Natasha to dance. When she refuses, he rudely grabs her and drags her into the center of the room. Nicolas stands up to him but receives a blow to the head. In the chaos, the professor’s accomplice steals the scroll left on the table. Scene 6. After the blow, Nicolas sees everything as if in a dream—Natasha’s tears, a doctor and nurse, and then Major Berezov, a police officer questioning witnesses… When he and Natasha are finally alone, Nicolas regains consciousness. He embraces her and urges her to go to the fountain—they must get there before the professor. But they do not know that the professor and his accomplices are already following them. Scene 7. At last, Nicolas and Natasha reach the snow-covered fountain. Nicolas inserts the key into a hidden slot, and the fountain begins to glow. A chest filled with treasure emerges! Suddenly, a beam of light falls upon it—the professor and his accomplices have arrived. The villains tie up Nicolas and Natasha and celebrate their victory! But Major Berezin’s task force intervenes—the criminals are captured, and the hostages are freed! The treasure becomes state property. Berezov thanks Nicolas and Natasha for helping catch a dangerous criminal… Left alone again, the lovers feel slightly saddened by the outcome, but they realize that their true treasure is their love. Yet the grandfather has one more surprise… Nicolas finds another keyhole. He inserts the key—and fireworks light up the sky! A small box falls into his hands along with a note. Inside is a diamond ring. The note explains that it is a family heirloom meant for Nicolas’s bride. Nicolas places the ring on Natasha’s finger… Scene 8. On Christmas Eve, Nicolas and Natasha organize a grand celebration for children. They open a new toy shop in Moscow. Nicolas’s mother helps distribute gifts. Children and dolls dance together in a round dance around the Christmas tree! The lovers are happy. And the grandfather is glad that he has fulfilled his mission. | |||||||||||
