Programme for 31st December 

Tchaikovsky 
Nutcracker Act I

- intermission -

Tchaikovsky 
Nutcracker Act II

Humperdinck 
Hansel & Gretel overture

Ravel 
Mother Goose Suite

- intermission -

Tchaikovsky 
Nutcracker

 

 

The "The Nutcracker" performed by the Septura Brass Ensemble is a unique rendition of the music from Tchaikovsky's classic ballet. It was released by Naxos Records in 2019.

 

This work was adapted by Matthew Knight and Simon Cox. It presents Tchaikovsky's classic melodies in the form of a brass septet and percussion, giving the piece a completely new color and texture. British actor Derek Jacobi narrates for the album, telling the story outline while enjoying the music, enabling the audience to better understand the plot, as if they were in the magical world of The Nutcracker.

The album fully includes the classic pieces from The Nutcracker, such as "Overture", "March", "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy", and others. Through the playing of brass instruments, it showcases the both ecstatic and dreamlike atmosphere in the music of The Nutcracker, allowing the audience to experience a different kind of festive joy.

 

 

The Nutcracker
At the end of the 19th century, under the support of the Russian royal family for the development of ballet, Russian classical ballet transitioned to neoclassical ballet. In 1890, the director of the Imperial Theatre, Ivan Feskovolysky, commissioned Tchaikovsky to compose music for a ballet. Tchaikovsky selected the fairy tale "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" by the German writer Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann and based his creation on the script adapted by the French writer Alexandre Dumas. On March 19, 1892, Tchaikovsky selected 8 pieces of music to form a suite and performed it at a concert organized by the Russian Music Society in St. Petersburg, receiving a favorable response. On December 18 of the same year, the ballet "The Nutcracker" premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, and Lev Ivanovich Ivanov choreographed it based on the script and detailed instructions provided by Pishipai.

Act 1

On Christmas Eve, Dr. Schuttalbaum's house in Nuremberg, Germany held a Christmas party. The daughter of the city mayor, Clara, received a nutcracker doll as a gift from the godfather, Droselmeia. Her brother Fritz accidentally broke it. Clara was heartbroken and took care of it. At night, Clara discovered that the nutcracker had turned into a prince and was fighting against the Rat King. She hit the Rat King with her slippers and saved the nutcracker. Then, the nutcracker took Clara to the Candy Kingdom.

 

Act 2

Clara followed the prince to the night forest. The Snow Elves led the way with torches and danced for them. They arrived at the Candy Kingdom and were welcomed by the Candy Fairy. The prince recounted the battle with the Rat. The nutcracker prince used a large performance stage to repay Clara. Actors from China, Arabia, Spain, etc. brought wonderful dances. Finally, Clara received the blessings of the people of the Candy Kingdom.

 

 

"The Nutcracker" is one of Tchaikovsky's representative works among his three ballets. Along with "Swan Lake" and "The Sleeping Beauty", it is known as "the three most brilliant diamonds on the ballet crown". It has remained popular on the world's dance stage for a long time and is a staple repertoire for major ballet companies worldwide. In many Western countries, it is also a traditional annual Christmas program, holding significant cultural status and exerting profound influence.

 

 

“dazzlingly polished” (BBC Music Magazine)