Ballets
With Peggy Reynolds.
4: The Nutcracker. The story of Tchaikovsky's ballet was suggested to him by the choreographer Marius Petipa and based on a story by ETA Hoffmann. The action takes place at a party on Christmas Eve, where the mysterious Herr Drosselmayer arrives with presents for the children Clara and Fritz. Clara is given the Nutcracker, who comes alive in her dreams, defeats the Mouse King in battle and sweeps her off to his magic Kingdom of Sweets ruled over by the Sugar Plum Fairy. There she and the Nutcracker (now a handsome pnnce) are lavishly entertained. Music is performed by the LSO, conductor Charles Mackerras.