Kremlin Ballet Theatre
| 19 December |
| 18:00 |
| 2026 | Saturday |
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Russian Classical Ballet Stars at the Kremlin Ballet Theatre
Peter Tchaikovsky "The Nutcracker" Ballet in 2 acts Ballet in 2 acts |
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The performance has 1 intermission Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes
In the heart of the Kremlin, the State Kremlin Palace hosts the timeless holiday classic The Nutcracker. Featuring dancers who trained alongside and perform with the stars of the Bolshoi Theatre, this production combines technical brilliance with enchanting storytelling, creating a magical experience for audiences of all ages. From the glittering Christmas party to the dazzling Land of Sweets, The Nutcracker brings Tchaikovsky’s music to life through intricate choreography, sparkling sets, and captivating character portrayals. It’s a festive journey into a world of wonder, perfect for families and lovers of classical ballet.
Libretto by M. Petipa, new edition by Andrey Petrov, based on the fairy tale by Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann
Choreographer–Director: People's Artist of the Russian Federation, Moscow Prize laureate Andrey Petrov
Scenographer: Honored Art Worker of the Russian Federation Anatoly Nezhny
Costume Designer: Olga Polyanskaya
The ballet The Nutcracker did not immediately acquire its current status as a masterpiece of Russian classical ballet — over time, new meanings continue to emerge both in its music and in its literary foundation, as evidenced by the abundance of existing productions and editions. Andrey Petrov’s The Nutcracker, staged in 1993, continues one of the main artistic policies of the Kremlin Ballet — the preservation and careful creative reinterpretation of classical ballet heritage.
The choreographer’s concept, according to his own words, “…was based on Hoffmann’s fairy tale as a fantastic foundation for Tchaikovsky’s music” — philosophical and infinitely human. By combining the language of classical dance with elements of the grotesque, Andrey Petrov was able to recreate the fantastical and gracefully playful world of the German writer, composer, and artist Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann.
Petrov’s The Nutcracker is not only about the magical battles of domestic mice with dolls that come to life under the Christmas tree — battles that delight children — but is also a humanistic tale about the hopes of a growing soul, the anticipation of first love, and the desperate readiness to defend one’s happiness by confronting and overcoming the forces of evil.
To date, The Nutcracker by the Kremlin Ballet has been performed over 300 times. 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.
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Peter Tchaikovsky "The Nutcracker" Ballet in 2 acts
on the playbill |
Main Stage
Teatralnaya ploschad, 1 (Theatre Square, 1), Moscow, Russia
New Stage
Bol'shaya Dmitrovka Street, 4/2, Moscow, Russia
RAMT
Teatralnaya ploschad, 2 (Theatre Square, 2), Moscow, Russia
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