The Nutcracker Act1. - 1. (Royal Ballet -2008)

[Xanthera]

Just sitting here watching the show for a lark, when suddenly, at 9:20, the friggin' Krampus shows up with St. Nicholas. I think this is the first version of the story that I've seen where they paid that much attention to detail in keeping with Christmas Eve traditions in that era. I'm very much enjoying this version.

[MultiLily123456789]

I love the Nutcracker!! its so beautiful ;)

[avienda101]

If all the nutcrackers in my town looked like this I would see every.damn.show

[bigbandsrock1]

The Nutcracker DOES have a story line! The little girl's name is Clara. Her family is having a Christmas Eve party at their home, and a dear friend, Herr Drosselmeier, comes, along with his nephew, (who becomes the Nutcracker). Herr Drosselmeier gives Clara a Nutcracker, and after she falls asleep with her beloved Nutcracker in her arms. Herr Drosselmeier magically helps Clara have an amazing dream, with lot's of action & ballet performers to entertain them! I am a HUGE Nutcracker fan!!!

[HectorJW2007]

Where's the rest of the overture?

[TZEITEL10]

@HectorJW2007 They have played by this stage,the curtain opens towards the end and the scene is Drosselmeyers shop.

[mizuki19911]

I watched this every year since I was a little girl. I could never not watch it. Hopefully I get to see it live one day.

[xBellatrixLestrangex]

I'm going back to London this Christmas...I hope they're going to perform this again! I'll definitely try and see it :)

[arminedancer456]

its always a dream of mine to go to the royal ballet <3

[ordjay]

@arminedancer456 you can get cheap sets there honey. About £10. best wishes.

[TheNobiling]

i love the nutcraker and i am dancing!

[Twiggymoon]

I LOVE THIS!!! this is what christmas really means to me!

[This1sS0Stup1d]

Ugh, there would be someone coughing in the background noise. An excellent performance, all the same.

[wizpopstars]

why does droselmyers helper wear that mask

[666NedFlanders]

@wizpopstars There is no actual set story line... it doesn't matter.So, why not? The main character does not even have an official name. Honestly the entire thing makes one wonder if sparks are genius are often set off by oppiates.

[hlkmac]

@666NedFlanders umm ya im a dancer and there is a story line and the characters have names so does the main character

[Dancergirl9084]

@hlkmac the main character name is differnt in differnet countrys clara in the germany where this takes place and in russia her name is usally marie

[MsDatsaspicymeatball]

and people say white men can't jump 

[Ryrygal]

I watched this today with a couple of class mates at the real royal opera house as a trip with class mtes

[doctorfuse007]

What sublimely ridiculous and pseudo-psychological choreography!

[spartanswimmer00912]

can you imagine the years of training, the hours a day, and the repetition of every single little detail to get something as absolutely beautiful as this?

[LittleHannahStudios]

I used to go see this every year with my gramma and sister :]

[kewlkat8208]

I've seen the Nutcracker performed live a few times in Sacramento, CA a few times when I was younger with my grandma. I'd love to see it again now that I'm older, and see if it is still just as I remember.

[queenme222]

The guy in the green jacket Clara's partner who is he?

[TheEnglishRedRose]

can't wait to see this tomorrow evening!! Hall for Cornwall Theatre in Truro, Cornwall. Can't believe the Moscow C.B are coming to the quietest place in England.

My life is complete ^^

[Callethiel]

Ah.... wonderful memories, this brings back. I went to see the San Francisco Nutcracker when I was five.... And then I started taking ballet myself and the dance company put on a production every Christmas. The funnest part I probably got was being one of the girls at the party. We were always short on boys, so I was a boy too at some point. I do wish I got to be Clara at some point though.... *sighs* Stupid teacher favoritism.

[92bagder]

good memories 

[dancergl89]

@Thefangirl101 its about clara and she get this nutcracker hen her uncle the migitian (when she is sleeping) makes her house grow then the mouse king comes and he is about to kill the nutcracker, clara then throws her shoe at him to distract him and he nutcracker kill the mouse king and takes clara to his kingdom of sweets

[Kats987124]

On this occasion ballets are so much better than films!

[town774]

When I was like 4 my mom took me and my brothers to see the nutcracker live. Since we were so young we got bored like half way through. She took us one more time but we got bored at the same part again. I wish I sat through the whole thing.

[TheFangirl101]

The story line is kind of a blur to me.Can anyone explain it with some detail please? <:)

[MononokeLynn]

Only 1 minute in, and I am hooked. Rates right up there with the Pacific Northwest Ballet production.

[TheVaughan5]

The Mariinski has an excellent production of the Nutcracker but I think the Royal Ballet's is probably the best ever, has more magic and makes more sense of the confused story.

[fantaisiesombre]

I have very fond memories of going to see The Nutcracker as a little girl, and I can't wait to take my lover with me :)

[JamesBond00005]

it was amazing!!!

[Squirrelflight5678]

I play in this song O.M.G!!!! At my dance class!

[Squirrelflight5678]

I play in this song OMG!!!! :))

[dhaniashl]

in my ballet company there are children dance on act 1 scene 1 and i'm a part of it and it's really FUN!

[jgodyssey]

I've always had the music but never have seen the show as of yet. So I don't know how the music cordinates with the show. This helps!

[1awareness]

( my feelings about the nutcracker; from my childhood to adulthood " Bravo!!")

[VietnameseGirl98]

I know the story :D This is the first time I see the ballet.

[xXXjessicawarwickXXx]

Im going in this, this year but northern ballets one! :D

[ssezer08]

Mükemmel bir baleydi... Biz ankarada bu oyuna vokal yapmıştık 2. perdede. Her temsilde nasıl da heycanlanırdık.. Muhteşem..

[rockinamber18]

i remember seeing this when i was in 5th grade. still love this around the holidys. it's on my list along with swan lake.

[momo4895]

every year our ballet school does the Nutcracker, although we aren't as good as these dancers, we still do a really good job :)

[ghostgirlXmcr]

Enchanting. I'm mesmerized! <3

[nikonf4929]

I remember how in 3rd grade I went to see The Nutcracker. The memories. I loved the performance and I still love The Nutcracker.

[LucyLovettLestrange]

I've seen quite a few versions of The Nutcracker Ballet but this is seriously my favorite one!

[bluchismoon]

I think I've gone to the ballet once in my life and this is what I watched, I love this!

[xBellatrixLestrangex]

Are you sure this is 2008?

Because I think I remember watching this exact version in childhood...

[amac4165]

@xBellatrixLestrangex - yes - the production was first staged in the 1980s or possible the late 1970s - so quite likely you have seen it already. It is back this Christmas again !

[xBellatrixLestrangex]

@amac4165 yeahh it was probably that =) it's back this christmas??? omgg i live in london so ill definitley see it!!

[amac4165]

@xBellatrixLestrangex -  there are quite a few performances - but the cheaper seats do sell out quite quickly.

anyway they have released the last Harry Potter film - so you should be dead by now ?!

[Msbritcouture]

I remember seeing this about 5 times when i was younger, so magical!

[xxMariczkaxx]

fantastyczne... uwielbiam balet ;-*

[ilovesparky13]

i actually got to be in the nutcracker twice! :D

[chesykin97]

I LOVE THE COSTUMES AND THE ENTIRE BALLET. :D

in short, I LOVE THE NUTCRACKER.

i'd burn my house to see this live. :D

[TheFangirl101]

BEST....BALLET...EVA!!! xDDDD The music makes me wanna cry.Its pure poetry.Its heavenly!!!!

[lelismosella]

you know the song from the beginning of this video? :) is beautiful!

[chohashi]

lovely interpretion of the music, conveying the soul of the magician parted from his beloved! absolutely touching!!!

[munk4sale]

i can hear coughing in the background.

[maishizzleohshiz]

The Nutcracker was the first ballet I've ever seen and it was at the kodak theatre. it made me love ballet forever <3

[classicaladm]

hi, whose choreography is this production based on?

[mrlopez2681]

@classicaladm - this production is based on the Stepanov choreographic notation of the Imperial Ballet's original production of 1892. The choreography was by either Petipa &/or Ivanov (sources disagree). Unfortunately, Anthony Dowell changed the second act in in the late 1990's to have Clara prancing around during the national dances.

[NewRedNinja]

3 words: best ballet ever.

[LucyLovettLestrange]

@NewRedNinja I agree! I've seen all sorts of versions but this one is the most beautiful and wondrous!

[fredericapaprika]

That was gorgeous! We played the Nutcracker in orchestra. :)

And pardon my ignorance, but who is the boy who dances with Clara during the Nutcracker March and Trepak?

[kelsiegirl19]

i used to perform this at my school and i remember one year, we had the maids assemble the presents under the Christmas tree, drop them, make a mess, and get beat up by other maids.

it was immensely enjoyable to watch

[DODODADATUMTEETAAA]

I saw this live, Royal Ballet are incredible! The whole cast was sublime and the music gave you goosebumps. I've been seeing the Nutcracker every year since I was 4 years old and I have to say this one was the best I've ever seen. Sorry to gush but it was brilliant!

[Kalirus1234567]

Thank you for posting this! I am required to watch it for a dance class assignment. It's really nice, though.

[TheDaisygirl70]

er... was the whole "nutcracker as the toymakers nephew" story in the original? I wasnt aware it was but ready to be corrected!

[NewRedNinja]

@TheDaisygirl70 No, that's in the animated film "The Nutcracker Prince".

[mrlopez2681]

this production was hands down the greatest in the world until Dowell ruined it by having Clara hop around during all the dances in the divertissement of the 2nd act

[kkiimmiissiipp]

wow thank you for this one. i love the clara-hans peter here more than the prince-sugar plum fairy.

[julios24]

Everything is beautiful and perfect in this Nutcracker but this Clara... I don't know... I don't like the way she do it...

[aagnes2]

I've seen it last year. It's was magical

[the13thfreak]

clara is the only one wearing point! i just realized

[beccaotaku]

Why did a bishop bring little monsters w/ him?

[Angelwing1138]

@beccaotaku Whyyyy not.

[beccaotaku]

@Angelwing1138 What are they suppose to be?

[aubreynicole22]

Thank you so much for posting this! I like to watch different versions of The Nutcracker to compare them. Each one is interesting in its own way. I've never seen this version before. Again, thank you!

[gradusm]

this has changed a lot since i was in it many years ago

[dittesk]

I'm going to see this live tomorrow! :D

[zinndi]

Anyone know where to get this DVD???

[broadwayjunkie123]

i saw this live but its half the actual feeling of being there. :(

[miniaturesinger]

I love this. The children really capture that Christmas spirit. The set... it's gorgeous. Iohna Loots is also really pretty :)

[melodystarable]

magical!

[acegangxox]

I love the nutcracker. :)

I would kill to see this  live

[peanut3ossie2]

@acegangxox I would DIE to see this live:D

[Auz18]

@acegangxox

I work in a theatre I seen it twice already this week, and gonna have to see it again today. You can swap places with me if you like :) PLEASE I cant take it anymore! haha

[LucyLovettLestrange]

@acegangxox Same here! It's is usually traditional for me and my family to go and see this every year!

[guyvergoddess]

@acegangxox

most cities have a show a few times a year, try to find a listing the closest big city (and it really is good live, except for the part between the acts...)

[KLO201090]

this is my favorite one. when ovation has its battle of the nutcrackers. but to see the moscow ballet's the great russian nutcracker live, pure and beautiful art!

[KLO201090]

franz always pissed me off.

[KLO201090]

this one is my favorite during the battle of the nutcraker on ovation during christmas i always vote for this one. other versions they play aren't as good. but nothing compares to the moscow ballet's "the Great russian nutcracker" i saw it live and it was beautiful. the best i have yet to see live

[sluttyfrogmagician]

Is that the pope?! wtf?!

[KLO201090]

@sluttyfrogmagician ha haha

[themoonstar007]

@sluttyfrogmagician

it is actually st. nicholas

its a tradition that is held in Europe, that instead of Santa Claus, there was a saint that gave presidents on Christmas Eve

so basically they are showing him giving candy meaning the children have been good

[al1936ful]

'Still photos' of videos aren't loading up. Are they making some adjustments to YouTube?

[tutus4life]

what's with the animals?

[jhlxixi]

I have an older version with Anthony Dowell as drosselmyer- I can't remember which year. I think the music was a bit slower too...

[zehsounddude]

Can I get this on DVD? I'm interested in getting it...

[Fuzooky]

@zehsounddude you can get the 2000 verson with anthony Dowell, Alina Cojuaru, Johnothan Cope and some others in , on the Royal Opera House website

[AriaInTheSky]

@Fuzooky Ah, Alina and Ivan.... They're fabulous, aren't they?

[al1936ful]

@zehsounddude It hasn't been released on DVD yet. It was presumably shown in hi-def movie theatres last year.

[al1936ful]

@zehsounddude You can get a DVD of this production, but the DVD has Miyoko Yoshida as the Sugar Plum Fairy (it was shown on Ovation last week, and is due to be shown again tomorrow, December 13, 2010). The sugar Plum Fairy's dancing partner is also different; I think it's Steven Macrae.There are other differences between the DVD and this production on YouTube other than Yoshida; for one thing, Clara and the Nutcracker Prince are more lovey-dovey here than in the version they showed on Ovation.

[fairytalefreak1]

I love this performance. Where did you get?

[al1936ful]

@fairytalefreak1 Whoever uploaded this must have had some special access to it, because this latest filming hasn't been released on DVD, and the picture is especially clear.

[JantyTopaz]

Really loved all your videos thanks

[katykakei]

luv it! :)

[xXBobtheBuild3rXx]

whopper?

[Operomania]

Fantastic!