Boston Symphony Orchestra

Composition date: 1891-92.

Libretto by Ivan Vsevolozhsky and Marius Petipa after E. T. A. Hoffmann’s story as adapted by Alexandre Dumas. Composed in February 1891–April 1892 and first staged at...Read more

Composition date: 1891-92.

Libretto by Ivan Vsevolozhsky and Marius Petipa after E. T. A. Hoffmann’s story as adapted by Alexandre Dumas. Composed in February 1891–April 1892 and first staged at the Mariinsky Theatre in 1892. The celesta in the Sugar-Plum Fairy’s dance is a characteristic colour of the score.

Synopsis. At a Christmas party Drosselmeyer gives a girl the Nutcracker. At night the toys come alive; the Nutcracker defeats the mice and becomes a prince. The pair pass through a winter forest to the kingdom of sweets, with character dances and a grand divertissement. The heroine’s name and details of the ending vary between productions.

Score numbers:
Overture Allegro giusto
No. 1 (Act I, Scene 1) Scene: Decoration and Lighting of the Christmas Tree Allegro non troppo — Allegro vivace
No. 2 (Act I, Scene 1) March Tempo di Marcia viva
No. 3 (Act I, Scene 1) Children's Galop and Entry of the Parents Presto — Andante — Allegro
No. 4 (Act I, Scene 1) Dancing Scene Andantino — Allegro vivo — Andantino sostenuto — Allegro molto vivace — Tempo di Valse — Presto
No. 5 (Act I, Scene 1) Scene and Grandfather Dance Andante (Tempo di Valse) — Andantino — Moderato Assai — Andante — Tempo di Grossvater — Allegro vivacissimo
No. 6 (Act I, Scene 1) Scene: Departure of the guests. Night Allegro semplice — Moderato con moto — Allegro giusto — Moderato assai
No. 7 (Act I, Scene 1) Scene: The Battle Allegro vivo
No. 8 (Act I, Scene 2) Scene: A Fir Forest in Winter Andante
No. 9 (Act I, Scene 2) Waltz of the Snowflakes Tempo di Valse, ma con moto — Presto
No. 10 (Act II) Scene: The Magical Palace of Confiturenburg Andante
No. 11 (Act II) Scene: Arrival of the Nutcracker and Clara Andante con moto — Moderato — Allegro agitato
No. 12 (Act II) Divertissement; Chocolate: Spanish Dance Allegro brillante; Coffee: Arabian Dance Comodo; Tea: Chinese Dance Allegro moderato; Trepak: Russian Dance Tempo di Trepak, molto vivace — Prestissimo; Dance of the Reed-Flutes Andantino; Mother Gigogne and the Clowns Allegro giocoso — Andantino — Allegro vivo
No. 13 (Act II) Waltz of the Flowers Tempo di Valse
No. 14 (Act II) Pas de deux; Andante maestoso; Var. I. [ Tarantella ] . Tempo di Tarantella; Var. II. [ Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy ]. Andante ma non troppo — Presto; Coda Vivace assai
No. 15 (Act II) Final Waltz and Apotheosis Tempo di Valse – Molto meno

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