Galina Vishnevskaya Opera Center
| 26 December |
| 19:00 |
| 2025 | Friday |
|
Russian Classical Ballet Stars at the Galina Vishnevskaya Opera Center
Peter Tchaikovsky "The Nutcracker" (ballet in two acts). Performance by the Kasatkina and Vasiliev Ballet Theater Ballet in 2 acts |
|
Running time: 1 hour 55 minutes
“The Nutcracker” by the Kasatkina and Vasilyov Theatre: a thrilling new story. From December 25, 2025 to January 4, 2026, the State Academic Classical Ballet Theatre under the direction of Natalia Kasatkina and Vladimir Vasilyov will present The Nutcracker on the stage of the Galina Vishnevskaya Opera Centre. The stage regularly features leading dancers and guest soloists who have performed at the Bolshoi Theatre or trained in the same prestigious academies, bringing a high level of classical tradition and artistry to every performance. This is the most captivating version among all ballet interpretations of Hoffmann’s tale. Here, the story takes center stage: Natalia Kasatkina and Vladimir Vasilyov have transformed Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece into a performance that grips the audience from the very first scene and doesn’t let go until the final moment. As children, the future choreographers regretted that the classical Nutcracker lacked many important details from Hoffmann’s fascinating fairy tale and, most importantly, that its dance version did not include the signature humor of the German classic.
When working on the new production of The Nutcracker, Kasatkina and Vasilyov made the plot as dynamic as possible, populated it with characters from the original story as well as their own, and developed each personality in detail. Humor returned to the fairy tale — in all its Hoffmann-style grotesque charm. In short, this familiar story doesn’t let the audience get bored for a single moment: adults are surprised by the new plot twists, and children simply follow the adventures of their favorite characters. Immersion into Hoffmann’s world is ensured not least by the sets, costumes, and props: in Kasatkina and Vasilyov’s Nutcracker, the scenography is a special kind of theatrical magic. The offspring of Queen Mouserink with his seven heads invariably delights the youngest spectators.
But above all, the choreographers aimed — and succeeded brilliantly — to imbue the performance with love. And not only through the dramatic concept: here, more than one happy couple is shown. Kasatkina and Vasilyov’s version features brotherly and sisterly love, parental love, the devotion of a mentor to their students — and even Queen Mouserink loves her awkward little son! Marie is surrounded by love; she lives and grows in its atmosphere. This is what makes the fairy-tale world closer to the real one — the way it should ideally be. A performance with such a message, of course, cannot end with Marie simply waking up. Whom will she meet in the living room after her wondrous dream? Come and see. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without The Bolshoi Ballet's The Nutcracker. Come and enjoy Mary and Franz's wonderful adventures as they meet a magician with strange secrets, join an army of valiant toy soldiers to fight a villainous Mouse King and take a trip to a land where everything is made of sweets. This really is an evening of magic: classical ballet at its most visually entrancing, with something to appeal to everyone, young and old.
Tchaikovsky's sparkling, effervescent score contains a wealth of famous melodies, and the production is a visual delight from start to finish. Come and experience some special magic this Christmas and into the New Year. SynopsisAct I
Guests are gathering for a Christmas party at the Stahlbaum home. Among them are Drosselmeyer, godfather to Marie and Fritz, the Stahlbaums’ children. He has brought them a wonderful present: a funny Nutcracker.
The children wait with impatience for when at long last they will be shown the Christmas tree and the presents. The long awaited moment comes: the handsomely adorned Christmas tree is presented to the assembled company.
Drosselmeyer suddenly appears disguised as a magician: he is not recognized by the children. Their unknown guest’s ability to make their toys come alive delights the children but, as everything that is clad in mystery, it involuntarily arouses their fear. In order to calm them down, Drosselmeyer takes off his mask and the children now recognize their beloved godfather. Marie wants to play with the wonderful dolls which have come alive, but they have already been tidied away. To comfort Marie, Drosselmeyer gives her the Nutcracker-Doll. Marie takes a great liking to this awkward, funny creature.
Marie’s brother Fritz, who is a great tease and very naughty, accidentally breaks the doll. With great tenderness, Marie comforts her injured Nutcracker and rocks it backwards and forwards. Fritz and his friends now put on mouse masks and tease poor Marie.
The guests appear from an adjoining room. After the final, ceremonial Grossvater dance, they all leave.
At night the room where the Christmas tree stands is bathed in moonlight. It looks mysterious and full of magical secrets. Overcoming her fears, Marie has come to the room to visit her ‘sick’ Nutcracker-Doll. She kisses the doll and rocks it.
Drosselmeyer now appears. But instead of her kind godfather, he has turned into a wizard. At a wave of his hand everything around them is transformed: the walls of the room slide back, the Christmas tree starts to grow. And all the toys come alive and grow together with the tree.
Suddenly, mice creep out from under the floorboards, led by the Mouse King. The dolls are panic-stricken and thrown into confusion. The Nutcracker’s quick wits and bravery save the day: lining up the lead soldiers, he boldly leads them out to do battle with the mice forces.
However, the forces are unequal, the advantage is on the side of the evil mice. The Nutcracker is left alone to face the Mouse King and his suite. Marie is out of her mind with worry over the danger that threatens her doll. At this very moment, Drosselmeyer hands her a lighted candle and she throws it at the mice who scurry away helter-skelter.
The battle field empties. The only person left here is the Nutcracker who lies without moving on the floor. Marie, together with the dolls, hurries to his rescue. And now a miracle occurs...Before Marie stands a handsome youth, the Nutcracker-Prince. He walks forward to meet her.
The walls of the house disappear. Marie and her friends are standing under a star-studded sky, by a fairy-tale Christmas tree. Snowflakes go round in a magical dance. Marie and her Nutcracker-Prince, beckon, as if to a beautiful dream, to the twinkling star at the top of the Christmas tree. They climb into a magic boat and set off for the top of the tree. The dolls follow behind them.
Act II
Marie and Nutcracker-Prince are sailing in their magic boat through the Christmas tree kingdom. There are their friends, the dolls with them. The shining star is getting closer and closer. They are just about to reach the top of the tree when they are suddenly attacked by the mice and the Mouse King who have crept up behind them. Once again, the Nutcracker-Prince goes boldly into battle. Horribly frightened, Marie and the dolls watch the fight. The Nutcracker-Prince vanquishes the enemy. Joyous victory celebrations are underway. The dolls dance, the candles burn even brighter, the Christmas tree comes alive. The evil mice have been defeated. Marie and the Nutcracker-Prince are radiant with happiness — they have reached the kingdom of their dreams! But it appears all this was just a dream. Christmas Eve is over and with it all wonderful reveries. Marie, still in the thrall of the fabulous dream, is sitting at home by the Christmas tree, with the Nutcracker-Doll on her lap.
|
|
Main Stage
Teatralnaya ploschad, 1 (Theatre Square, 1), Moscow, Russia
New Stage
Bol'shaya Dmitrovka Street, 4/2, Moscow, Russia
|
