Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker, Russian

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The Nutcracker (Russian: Щелкунчик, Shchelkunchik) Op. 71, is a fairy tale-ballet in two acts, three scenes, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, composed in 1891--92. Alexandre Dumas père's adaptation of the story by E. T. A. Hoffmann was set to music by Tchaikovsky (written by Marius Petipa and commissioned by the director of the Imperial Theatres Ivan Vsevolozhsky in 1891). In Western countries, this ballet has become perhaps the most popular ballet performed, primarily around Christmas time.

The composer made a selection of eight of the more popular numbers from the ballet before the ballet's December 1892 premiere, forming The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a, intended for concert performance. The suite was first performed, under the composer's direction, on 19 March 1892 at an assembly of the St. Petersburg branch of the Musical Society[1]. The suite became instantly popular; the complete ballet did not achieve its great popularity until around the mid-1960s.

Among other things, the score of The Nutcracker is noted for its use of the celesta, an instrument that the composer had already employed in his much lesser known symphonic poem The Voyevoda (premiered 1891).^ Although well-known in The Nutcracker as the featured solo instrument in the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" from Act II, it is employed elsewhere in the same act.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nutcracker

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Pyotr
• Ilyich
• Tchaikovsky
• Nutcracker
• Russian
• classical
• music

[screamingnightmares]

=x What have you against Russians? I am Russian and I find all cultures exceedingly interesting. There is no reason to harbor such venehmence for my people...

[xHilaryDuff]

this song is so beautiful

and i like the picture OoxD

[jburnham93]

Russians song is the best! XD

[InsaneJediGirl]

@TheKuroiInabikari Wodka? I'm not even Russian and I know its called Vodka

[TheKuroiInabikari]

what is so bad about russian? the mafia *laughs* i´m sorry that and wodka (how is it written??) were the first things that came to my head when i heard "russian". my aunt is russian. her german is really cute. ^^ (yeah i´m german^^)

[daughterofthemoon2]

i love the ballet i have never had formal lessons but when i was a kid i used to mimic the dancers i have this on vhs lol and i love it

[azugirl111]

No they don't. What?

[maygirlyish65346533]

this is fast!!!!!!111

[violatione]

The Flint Symphony does a nutcracker every year with blacks and asians in the leads. It's simply spectacular what they can do.

[remnock]

out of the three cultural dances in the nutcracker, this is the best, perhaps since tchaikovsky is russian

[garciagar64]

Well, we have a black President, don't we?

Get use to it brother!

[MamaKnowsThangs]

a black nutcracker? I wish I saw that one...