About Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker
Behind the scenes
Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker, now in its 32nd annual tour, has established itself as a cherished Christmas tradition for families throughout North America. In 2024, the production returns to over 100 cities, bringing the wonder and enchantment that audiences have treasured for over three decades.
Starring acclaimed dancers from premier international opera houses, breathtaking Broadway-style sets and costumes, and fresh choreography blending classical ballet with acrobatics and puppetry, Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker is a holiday spectacle that has earned widespread praise from critics and spectators alike.
This celebrated ballet production continues to break attendance records, captivating audiences from New York to Los Angeles, Puerto Rico to Calgary. With a repertoire that includes beloved classics such as The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake, Talmi Entertainment’s productions consistently sell out, reinforcing their enduring appeal.
Critics consistently recognize the artistic excellence of the production: the LA Times describes it as “Disarmingly poetic…bravura expertise,” while the Minneapolis Pioneer Press notes that it “Sweeps you up in the bliss of beauty.” The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette praises its “Stunning visuals, effortless dancing…full of joyful energy.”
Professional inquiries
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History of Moscow Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker
The timeless story of Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker originated as a fairy tale ballet in two acts, centered around the Stahlbaum family’s festive Christmas Eve gathering. French writer Alexandre Dumas Père adapted E.T.A. Hoffmann’s tale, which was then set to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s iconic score and choreographed by Marius Petipa. Commissioned in 1891 by Ivan Vsevolozhsky, director of Moscow’s Imperial Theatres, the ballet made its debut just before Christmas in 1892.
Since its Western premiere in the 1940s, The Nutcracker has become the most frequently performed ballet of the holiday season. The narrative follows a young girl on Christmas Eve as she embarks on an extraordinary journey, witnessing toys come to life, magical creatures, and a wondrous adventure to the Land of Peace and Harmony in Act II. Before the full ballet’s debut in December 1892, Tchaikovsky curated eight of its most memorable pieces into the Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a, which is featured in Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker productions. While the suite gained immediate popularity, the complete ballet did not reach its now-iconic status—with millions of tickets sold annually—until nearly a century later.
Repertory
Talmi Entertainment presents a selection of world-class ballet performances, including Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker, the dramatic romance of Swan Lake, the enchanting tale of Sleeping Beauty, the heartwarming Cinderella, and the premiere of a newly choreographed Romeo and Juliet.
These spectacular productions feature lavish sets, exquisite costumes, and accomplished dancers, all performed to the timeless compositions of Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky. Witness the unparalleled grace and precision of Vaganova ballet through Talmi Entertainment’s unforgettable performances.
"Hot Ticket...Knockout... Kids wide-eyed with delight"
- New York Times