The Nutcracker ballet was created by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1890. The ballet is based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King”. At the age of 50 Tchaikovsky had completed his other famous ballets, “The Sleeping Beauty” and “Swan Lake”. Tchaikovsky was the leading composer of Russia by the late nineteenth century. He is known as the composition master of classical ballet.

Born on May 7, 1830 in Moscow, Tchaikovsky showed early talent in music. He was known for his over sensitive nature, and this quality has been credited to him for his compositions. Tchaikovsky’s version of The Nutcracker is slightly different from the original fairy tale. Although, Tchaikovsky liked The Nutcracker story very much, he was hesitant to make The Nutcracker into a ballet finding it unsuitable. Tchaikovsky spent a few years piecing together what has now become one of his most loved and celebrated ballets.

Since its success when it was first preformed in 1892, The Nutcracker ballet is frequently put on each year around Christmas. It is a classic Russian Christmas story focusing around a young brother and sister – Fritz and Clara. The children receive a nutcracker and during the night they are magically swept a way into a world of enchantment. The story is done so elegantly to the music and the dancing that you can’t help but watch in awe at the wonder that is brought before you on stage.