DER NUSSKNACKER

»Every year The Nutcracker casts its spell again« – Bonnfm, 2023

THE NUTCRACKER has always been the ultimate ballet for Christmas time. And who could fail to be enchanted by the tale of Drosselmeyer and Marie?

It’s the night before Christmas and godfather Drosselmeyer gives Marie a gift – a nutcracker doll. When everyone is asleep, Drosselmeyer brings the doll to life together with the toys under the Christmas tree. They begin celebrating, but suddenly they are attacked by mice led by the Mouse King. Marie drives the attackers away. Suddenly the Nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince, who does battle against the Mouse King with his tin soldiers. Marie and the remaining living dolls find themselves under a fantastically beautiful fir tree on a starry night amid dancing snowflakes. Preparations are underway for the royal wedding of Marie and the Prince. Then Marie wakes up. The nutcracker doll is still in her hands, and she is still in the familiar room. Alas, everything was just a fairy-tale dream…

The Stara Zagora State Ballet and State Orchestra last visited Bonn in December 2023. Stara Zagora lies in the heart of Bulgaria, 230 km from Sofia and 180 km from Burgas. With a population of 160,500, it is one of the country’s biggest cities. A dynamic university city, it is home to many research institutes and cultural facilities. It can also look back on a rich and varied history, with cultural heritage dating back 8,000 years.

The city is home to the oldest opera house in the Balkans. The Stara Zagora State Opera was the first building in Bulgaria specially constructed for opera. The building was inaugurated in 1971, was partly destroyed in a fire in 1991, and reopened after renovation in 2010.

Stara Zagora’s first orchestra was founded in the middle of the 19th century and a regional opera company followed in 1928. After the Second World War, the theatre was re-established as a state cultural institute. Today, Stara Zagora State Opera is a theatre with a wide repertoire in opera, operetta, ballet, performances for children, and symphony concerts.

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