THE NUTCRACKER

THE NUTCRACKER tells the famous story of a very special Christmas. Hungarian choreographer Youri Vámos has combined E.T.A. Hoffmann’s text with Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to create a unique experience.

London in the 19th century: Clara and the Prince encounter the rude moneylender Scrooge, a heartless eccentric who hates and despises Christmas. Scrooge even takes it one step further by firing his employee Bob Cratchit on Christmas Eve. Bob can’t even afford to buy his young daughter Clara the nutcracker doll she’s been longing for. That same night, Scrooge is plagued by nightmares and is given one last chance to change his behavior. And since this is a Christmas story, the grouch transforms into a kind, generous, and compassionate man—the very embodiment of the spirit of Christmas.

The Moravian-Silesian National Theater, based in Ostrava, is the largest and oldest professional theater in the Moravian-Silesian Region. It is a prominent center of cultural, spiritual, intellectual, and social life for the citizens of Ostrava and the surrounding area. It is the only theater in Moravia to have four artistic ensembles—opera, drama, ballet, and operetta/musical—which perform regularly on its two stages: the Antonín Dvořák Theater and the Jiří Myron Theater. Each year, the theater presents 16 to 19 premieres and nearly 500 performances. The broad and ambitious repertoire of all four artistic ensembles is guided by a systematic effort to appeal to the widest possible audience across all generations and interests. Ranging from classic Czech and international repertoire to exploratory dramaturgy and contemporary works, and extending to experimental plays and projects, the performances often cross genre boundaries. With its high standards, the Moravian-Silesian National Theater ranks among the very best in Czech theater, as evidenced not only by recognition at theater festivals but also by the interest shown by domestic and foreign directors, choreographers, and soloists who perform here as guests.

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Cast:

Choreography and libretto: Youri Vámos

Musical director: Marek Šedivý

Set design: Daniel Dvořák

Costumes: Roman Šolc

Lighting: Klaus Günter Gärditz

Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Children’s and youth choir: Theater Bonn, conducted by Ekaterina Klewitz