A classic among classics, Tchaikovsky’s fantastical masterpiece is presented with Vainonen's choreography, the version most popular in Russia. The Étoile dancers Alina Somova and Vladimir Shklyarov light up a stage decked in scenery designed by Simon Virsaladze, accompanied the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra led by the legendary maestro Valery Gergiev. Petipa’s libretto was inspired by Alexandre Dumas’s French version of the tale by E.T.A. Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. In 1934, Vainonen created a new choreography that came to be considered the epitome of classical ballet. Vainonen's choreography is performed here by the prestigious Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra and Ballet. Watch this artistic spectacle with other patrons at Glen Oaks Library!