Paris Opera Ballet: THE NUTCRACKER

Ballet in three acts (1985) On Christmas Eve, young Clara receives a nutcracker puppet and dreams of a fantasy world where toys and fears come alive. Hoffmann’s 1816 tale inspired Petipa’s 1892 ballet, where childhood dreams unfold amid tin soldiers, rats, and oversized dolls, brought to life by Tchaikovsky’s vibrant score. In 1985, Rudolf Nureyev restaged the ballet at the Paris Opera, with sets and costumes emphasising the tale's uncanny nature. With the wooden puppet turned Prince Charming as her guide, Clara bravely confronts her desires and fears in a tale of self-discovery.