Pjotr I. Petersburg in , is a Christmas classic as popular with Semperoper audiences as Dresden Stollen or the famous Striezelmarkt.
In their interpretation, Aaron S. Watkin and Jason Beechey have drawn on the stories of E. Hoffmann to create a fairy-tale classical ballet set in Dresden during the festive period: On Christmas Eve, Marie is given a nutcracker that immediately becomes her prized possession.
Soon, however, danger appears in the form a horde of belligerent mice. Then the nutcracker springs to life and does battle with the enemy army. Accompanied by her new protector, the girl embarks on a journey through a land of sweet dreams, and into adulthood. Magical Powers The Christmas Market Night falls on wintery Dresden where the hustle and bustle of the Christmas market slowly dies down. While the marketeers put their exotic goods away and the last visitors stroll across the square in joyful anticipation of Christmas, mysterious Drosselmeier appears and introduces his magic world β¦.
Fantastic Presents The Party The Stahlbaum family is busy decorating their Christmas tree, in preparation for the festivities. The children of the family - Luise, Fritz and Marie - are excited beyond all bounds. Showered with presents, the children begin to play; the girls cuddle their dolls, the boys try out their new musical instruments β until suddenly the last guest appears: Drosselmeier.
The gentleman is beset with something weird, something that awes the children and at the same time arouses their curiosity, because Drosselmeier always gives them the most wonderful presents.
