The newly reimagined holiday classic, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of this beloved production, Alberta Ballet will premiere new choreography in Act 2 of The Nutcracker, featuring new highlights in Klara’s adventure. So, grab some tickets and come celebrate the holiday season with this long-standing Alberta tradition set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless score and featuring a huge cast of 120 performers, including live orchestra.
Its Christmas time again and the Stahlbaum family are hosting the elegant holiday party, when the mysterious Herr Drosselmeier makes a dramatic entrance and presents the family with fantastic gifts, including an extra special gift for Klara Stahlbaum: A Nutcracker. Later that night, at midnight, Klara sneaks back to look for her Nutcracker, she discovers a battle unfolding. The evil Mouse King is about to defeat the Nutcracker and his army, until Klara throws her slipper, distracting the Mouse King and allowing the Nutcracker to land the final blow. The Nutcracker Prince leads Klara on a fateful journey over the Land of Snow and across the treacherous Lemonade Sea, as she finally enters the Kingdom of Sweets, where the Sugar Plum Fairy reigns. So, join Klara on her magical journey, filled with daring and wonder.
“This tale of adventure has been reimagined and reconceived in a million different ways since Tchaikovsky premiered it in 1892, and Alberta Ballet is proud to steward this tradition to continue to resonate with Alberta audiences.” — Christopher Anderson, Artistic Director for Alberta Ballet.
The Nutcracker by the Alberta Ballet is Choreographed by Edmund Stripe, with music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Lighting Design by Pierre Lavoie, fantastic Set and Costume Design by Zack Brown and featuring the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Conducted by Peter Dala. The Nutcracker ballet was written during the classical period of ballet, a time when many famous ballets were being written and performed. “The Nutcracker” is based on the book “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” by E.T.A. Hoffmann, and an interpretation of Hoffman’s story written by Alexandre Dumas.
Alberta Ballet School is the home of Alberta Ballet where students connect with Alberta Ballet’s artistic team and with international dance talent that Alberta Ballet presents as part of the season, and students get to fill supporting cast roles when Alberta Ballet performs large cast productions such as Giselle and The Nutcracker. The school has been offering professional ballet training since 1991 and provides professional dancers to world-class companies such as Hong Kong Ballet, Moscow Ballet, Kiev Ballet, and the National Ballet of Japan.
Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born on May 7, 1840, in Kamsko-Votkinsk, Vyatka, Russia. Tchaikovsky’s work was first publicly performed in 1865, in 1868, his First Symphony was well-received, and by 1874, he had established himself a master with Piano Concerto No.1 in B-flat Minor. Tchaikovsky resigned from the Moscow Conservatory in 1878 and spent the rest of his career composing yet more prolifically. He is most celebrated for his ballets, specifically Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker. Tchaikovsky wrote the music for the ballet during the early 1890s, and Hoffman’s original story was modified quite a bit in order for the ballet to be suitable for children. The first performance of “The Nutcracker” took place in Russia in 1892 and was regarded as a failure. Pyotr Tchaikovsky died in St. Petersburg only a year after the premier, in November 1893.