The Nutcracker ballet is one of the most beloved ballets in the world, and its music is perhaps even more well-known than the production itself. But did you know that the music was written specifically for the ballet?
The answer is yes – the Nutcracker music was in fact written for the ballet. In 1891, Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was commissioned by Imperial Theatres director Ivan Vsevolozhsky to create a new ballet based on E.T.A.
Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. Tchaikovsky accepted the commission and began work on what would become one of his most beloved works.
Tchaikovsky composed much of The Nutcracker before he had even seen a draft of Marius Petipa’s choreography for the production. He wrote much of the score in just four months, from August to December 1891, with some revisions being made as late as 1893. For example, he added a final waltz to act two at Vsevolozhsky’s suggestion; this waltz is now known as “The Grand Pas de Deux” and is one of the most famous pieces from The Nutcracker suite.
The score draws heavily on traditional Russian folk themes and includes several popular melodies such as “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” and “Waltz of the Flowers” that have become iconic pieces in their own right. In addition, Tchaikovsky also wrote some original pieces for the ballet, such as “The Trepak”, which has also gone on to become one of The Nutcracker’s best-known tunes.
Tchaikovsky’s music was an immediate success when The Nutcracker premiered at St Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre in December 1892 – it has since been performed countless times all over the world and has become one of ballet’s most beloved works.
Conclusion: Yes, the Nutcracker music was written specifically for its accompanying ballet. Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky between August and December 1891 with some revisions made until 1893, it immediately became a hit upon its premiere at St Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre in 1892 – it has since been performed countless times all over the world and has become one of ballet’s most beloved works.