The Nutcracker

Audiences throughout the world have long associated the fantasy féerie that is The Nutcracker with the magic of Christmas and New Year holidays. At any season, however, this ballet draws millions of admirers of the art of composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreographer Marius Ivanovich Petipa, thanks to whose collaboration we owe the existence of this renowned stage masterpiece. It is based on Hoffmann's German tale Nußknacker und Mausekönig, which details the victory of love over the powers of Evil. The choreographer Vasily Vainonen, who created his own version of The Nutcracker, conceived an ideal production for children, although adults, too, enjoy watching the story unfold. Tchaikovsky's enchanting music, the subtle psychology and the bold theatre directing together with the beautiful costumes and original pas performed by virtuoso dancers render this ballet one of the most well-loved and eagerly-anticipated productions of the theatre season.

The St Petersburg State Academic Leonid Yacobson Ballet Theatre directed by Honoured Artist of Russia Andrian Fadeyev is a unique dance company. The theatre can take pride in its fifty-year history and is privileged to bear the name of one of the 20^th century’s most outstanding Russian choreographers. Today, the St Petersburg State Academic Leonid Yacobson Ballet Theatre is one of the country’s greatest ballet companies and it has been a recipient of St Petersburg’s loftiest theatre award the Golden Sofit, Russia’s national theatre prize the Golden Mask and the prestigious Taglioni European Ballet Award.