The Nutcracker ballet and the Sugar Plum Fairy
Since I've decided to use Sugar Plum Fairy as the title of my blog! I would like to blog about Sugar Plum Fairies today :)
Sugar Plum fairies were the inspiration for Peter Tchaikovsky and his Nutcracker Suite when the famous Sugar Plum Fairy and her attendants welcomed Clara at her court in the Kingdom of Sweets. Beautiful costumes from Spain, Arabia and China worn by delicate dancers representing coffee, tea, chocolate and sugar candy with clowns and toy flutes dance delightfully as The Sugar Plum Fairy and toy maker Drosselmeyer grant Clara a Christmas wish to dance with the Prince.
As for The Nutcracker ballet, based on the story "The Nutcracker and the King of mice" which is written by E.T.A Hoffman. The story is about a young German girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King with seven heads.
The Nutcracker ballet consists of 5 scenes which include The Party Scene, The Fight Scene, The Land of Snow, The Land of Sweets, and when the Dream Ends.
Following are the scenes :
The Party Scene
It is Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum house, it is a large and grand house with the most beautiful Christmas tree imaginable. The Stahlbaums are hosting their annual Christmas party
, welcoming the arrival of their family and friends. The children, Clara and Fritz, are dancing and playing as they welcome their friends too.
The party grows festive with music and dance as Godfather Drosselmeyer arrives. He is a skilled clock and toy maker and always full of surprises. Drosselmeyer draws everyone's attention as he presents two life-size dolls. They are the delight of the party, each taking a turn to dance.
The children begin to open gifts when Drosselmeyer presents his to Clara and Fritz. Although his gift to Fritz is quite nice, he gives Clara a beautiful Nutcracker that becomes the hit of the party. Fritz becomes jealous and, having a bit more spunk than a boy should have, grabs the nutcracker from Clara and promptly breaks it. Clara is heartbroken looking on as Drosselmeyer quickly repairs the Nutcracker with a handkerchief he magically draws from the air.
As the evening grows late, the guests depart and the Stahlbaum family retires for the evening. Clara, worried about her beloved Nutcracker, sneaks back to the tree to check on him, falling asleep with him in her arms.
The Fight Scene
As the clock striks midnight strange things begin to happen. Clara begins shrinking as her beautiful Christmas tree grows high above her. The toys around the tree come to life while the room fills with an army of mice, lead by the fierce Mouse King. As the Nutcracker awakens, he leads his army of toy soldiers into battle with the mice. The Mouse King corners the Nutcracker and battles him one-on-one. The Nutcracker seems to be no match for the Mouse King.
The Nutcracker and his army can go on no longer and are captured by the mice and their King. Clara makes a final daring charge throwing her slipper at the Mouse King, hitting him square on the head. The Mouse King drops to the floor and the mice run away carrying off their leader's lifeless body.
The Land of Snow
The Nutcracker turns into a Prince and takes Clara on a journey to the Land of Snow, an enchanted forest wonderland where they are welcomed by dancing snowflakes.
The Land of Sweet
The Prince escorts Clara to the Land of Sweets where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy. The Prince tells her about their daring battle with the army of mice and the rewards them with a celebration of dances.
The Spanish Dance
The Arabian Dance
The Russian Dance
The Chinese Dance
The Mirliton Dance
The Watlz of Flowers
As a finale, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier dance a beautiful Pas De Deux. *This is the most beautiful dance of the entire opera :) :) :)* I love this part very much !!!
The Dream Ends
Clara awakens from her dream and finds herself by her Christmas tree with her beloved Nutcracker.
**Since small, I've always loved the character of Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker ballet :) I remember that I was still attending ballet class when I first watched it. It was my ballet teacher who recommended it when I was in Grade 5. I watched it again and again !!! so many many times !!!! I have even influenced my younger sisters to watch and they love it too ! we all still watch together until now :) :) :) It's really beautiful and one of the BESTS !!! :D
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