HI, I'M JOHN MAUCERI.
AND WELCOME TO "THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING."
I SUPPOSED EVERY ONE OF YOU KNOWS "THE NUTCRACKER" BALLET AND ITS MAGNIFICENT SCORE, COMPLETED IN 1892 BY PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY.
BUT THERE'S SOMETHING I LEARNED OVER THE YEARS.
TCHAIKOVSKY REALLY DIDN'T LIKE IT, AND I NEVER QUITE KNEW WHY.
IT TURNS OUT THAT THE STORY HE WAS GIVEN WAS A VERY SIMPLIFIED VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL BOOK WRITTEN IN 1816 BY THE GERMAN WRITER E.T.A.
HOFFMANN.
AND COME TO THINK OF IT, THE STORY OF THE BALLET NEVER REALLY COMES TO A SATISFACTORY END.
I MEAN, WHO WAS THE MYSTERIOUS CHARACTER CALLED GODFATHER DROSSELMEYER?
AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT, HOW DID THAT YOUNG MAN GET PUT INTO A NUTCRACKER IN THE FIRST PLACE?
THE ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS CAN BE FOUND IN THE STORY TCHAIKOVSKY LOVED.
AND SO I DECIDED TO GO BACK TO THE SOURCE, THE WONDERFUL HOFFMANN STORY, AND CREATE A SCORE BY TCHAIKOVSKY THAT PRESERVES THE MELODIES WE ALL LOVE, BUT ALSO INCLUDES MUSIC FROM HIS MANY LESSER-KNOWN WORKS.
HOFFMANN'S NUTCRACKER STORY IS IN 3 PARTS.
THE FIRST TAKES PLACE WHEN ALL GREAT FAIRYTALES BEGIN-- THE MIDDLE AGES.
BUT IT'S AN ANTI-FAIRYTALE, ONE THAT IS FUNNY AND FANTASTICAL, BUT DEFINITELY DOES NOT END HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
ALL RIGHT, THEN, LET'S GO BACK A BIT IN TIME TO DECEMBER 7, 2019, AND GLASGOW'S ROYAL CONCERT HALL IN SCOTLAND, THE LAND OF ANCIENT STANDING STONES, WHERE THE NATIONAL ANIMAL IS THE UNICORN AND THE ONE PLACE WHERE A DRAGON MIGHT STILL LURK IN THE BLACK WATERS OF LOCH NESS.
[APPLAUSE] THE ORCHESTRA HAS TUNED, AND APPLAUSE GREETS THE ENTRANCE OF THE CONDUCTOR.
AND THERE HE IS.
LOOKS FAMILIAR.
AND KNOWING HIM AS I DO, HE PROBABLY HAS SOMETHING TO SAY.
"THE NUTCRACKER."
I SUSPECT THAT THERE AREN'T MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO KNOW THE BEGINNING OF THE STORY.
WELL, HERE TO TELL THE GREAT EPIC STORY WRITTEN BY E.T.A.
HOFFMANN WITH MUSIC COMPILED BY ME OF THE MUSIC BY TCHAIKOVSKY, INCLUDING ALL THE TUNES YOU LOVE FROM THE BALLET, HERE TO TELL THAT STORY, THE REAL STORY, THE COMPLETE STORY, PLEASE WELCOME ALAN CUMMING.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] IF I MAY, I KNOW YOU'RE READY FOR THIS, BUT I'VE KNOWN ALAN SINCE THE MID-1980s WHEN I WAS MUSIC DIRECTOR OF SCOTTISH OPERA.
I WAS A CHILD.
HE WAS A CHILD.
HE WAS A WEE LAD.
AND WE BECAME FRIENDS IN THOSE YEARS, AND THEN HE CAME TO NEW YORK AND TOOK OVER THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHEN HE PLAYED IN "CABARET."
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] AND THEN, IF I MAY, WHEN I WAS DIRECTOR OF THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL ORCHESTRA, I INVITED HIM TO MAKE HIS ORCHESTRAL DEBUT ON THE WEEKEND IN WHICH WE PLAYED, AND HE SANG TO 54,000 PEOPLE IN LOS ANGELES.
THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO MAKE YOUR DEBUT.
ANYWAY, WHEN I GAVE HIM THIS SCRIPT, HE SAID, [SCOTTISH ACCENT] "IT'S A HOOT."
SO WE'RE SO-- I'M SO CHUFFED AS THEY SAY.
I'M SO PLEASED THAT ALAN WOULD PARTICIPATE IN WHAT IS ACTUALLY THE WORLD PREMIERE LAST NIGHT AND TONIGHT OF THIS NEW WORK.
SO NOW WE'LL PLAY IT FOR YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ONCE A VERY LONG TIME AGO, WHEN THE GREAT STORIES WERE FIRST BEING TOLD AND WHEN THE FLAP OF DRAGON WINGS COULD BE HEARD IN THE SKY AND TROLLS PROWLED THE FORESTS, RAINBOWS WERE SAID TO LEAD TO A KINGDOM BEYOND THE CLOUDS, AND THERE WAS TALK OF AN ALL-POWERFUL SWORD, OR PERHAPS IT WAS A RING.
SOME EVEN CLAIM TO UNDERSTAND THE LONG-FORGOTTEN LANGUAGE OF THE ANIMALS.
AND EVERY DAY, JUST AS THE EARTH TURNED ITS FACE TO THE SUN, AND THEN LIKE CLOCKWORK TURNED ITS BACK TO IT AT NIGHT, THERE WAS MAGIC BOTH FOR GOOD AND FOR EVIL.
IT WAS THEN THAT MANKIND FIRST LEARNED THAT THE STRONGEST POWER IN THE UNIVERSE WAS ALSO THE SIMPLEST.
♪ THIS IS WHERE WE BEGIN, ON A PARTICULAR MORNING WHEN THE QUEEN WAS IN THE KITCHEN.
SHE DIDN'T GO THERE VERY OFTEN.
BUT THIS WAS A SPECIAL OCCASION--THE KING'S BIRTHDAY.
AND EVERY YEAR THE QUEEN MADE THE KING'S FAVORITE DISH, SAUSAGE FROM A SECRET FAMILY RECIPE.
AS SHE WAS COOKING, THE SMELL OF BACON AND HERBS FILLED THE VAST ROOM.
THAT'S WHEN SHE HEARD A VOICE SHE PREFERRED NOT TO RECOGNIZE.
"SISTER, GIVE ME SOME OF THAT!
"I SMELL THE FAMILY SECRET.
I AM, AFTER ALL, A QUEEN, TOO."
IT WAS QUEEN MOUSERINK WHO LIVED UNDERNEATH THE HEARTH WHERE SHE RULED ANOTHER KINGDOM, THE MOUSE KINGDOM.
THE QUEEN KNEW THIS VOICE WELL, AND WANTING NO TROUBLE FROM HER HALF SISTER, OBLIGED.
SUDDENLY, MOUSERINK'S FAMILY, INDEED THE ENTIRE MOUSE KINGDOM, SEEMED TO ERUPT ALL AROUND HER, GORGING THEMSELVES ON THE BACON.
WHEN THEY WERE FINALLY DONE, THE QUEEN DID HER VERY BEST TO MAKE THE KING'S FAVORITE DISH AND PRESENT IT TO HIM AT HIS BIRTHDAY FEAST.
♪ ♪ UNFORTUNATELY, AT THE FIRST BITE OF SAUSAGE, THE KING BECAME PALE AND PRACTICALLY FAINTED FROM DISAPPOINTMENT.
"NOT ENOUGH BACON," HE BLUBBERED.
THE QUEEN EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED, AND THE KING CALLED FOR THE COURT CLOCKMAKER AND WIZARD CHRISTIAN ELIAS DROSSELMEYER.
♪ THE KING DEMANDED RETRIBUTION, AND SO THE WIZARD DROSSELMEYER INVENTED THE MOUSETRAP AND LURED QUEEN MOUSERINK'S FAMILY AND MUCH OF HER KINGDOM INTO THE TRAPS!
♪ ♪ QUEEN MOUSERINK, IN A FURY, APPEARED BEFORE THE QUEEN IN HER PRIVATE CHAMBERS.
HER RED EYES WERE GLOWING AND SHE HISSED.
♪ "SISTER, TAKE CARE!
"YOU HAVE DESTROYED MY FAMILY, "AND I WILL RETURN AND PAY A LITTLE VISIT "TO YOUR FIRST BORN.
TAKE CARE."
AND AT THAT, SHE DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE HEARTH.
♪ TIMED PASSED.
AND WITH THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING, THE CASTLE WAS FULL OF JOY.
NOT ONLY HAD THE GRAY WINTER SKIES DEPARTED AND THE LILACS AND WISTERIA WERE IN BLOOM, BUT A YOUNG PRINCESS HAD BEEN BORN TO THE KING AND QUEEN.
♪ THEY BELIEVED PRINCESS PIRLIPAT TO BE THE MOST PERFECTLY BEAUTIFUL BABY THEY HAD EVER SEEN.
♪ PERFECT SKIN, BRIGHT EYES, CURLY HAIR, AND, NOW THIS IS QUITE AMAZING, TWO ROWS OF PERFECTLY FORMED TEETH.
[LAUGHTER] AND WHILE THE KING WAS OVERJOYED, ONE COULD NOT HELP BUT NOTICE THAT THE QUEEN SEEMED TROUBLED.
AND YOU CERTAINLY CAN UNDERSTAND WHY.
♪ SHE REMEMBERED HER HALF SISTER'S THREAT.
♪ SHE POSTED SENTRIES AT THE DOORS TO THE BABY'S ROOM, TWO LADIES IN WAITING NEXT TO THE CRADLE, AND 6 NURSES IN ATTENDANCE.
AND NOT JUST 6 NURSES, BUT 6 TOMCATS SITTING ON THE LAPS OF THE 6 NURSES.
♪ SURELY ALL WOULD BE WELL.
♪ ONE NIGHT, JUST AS THE CLOCK STRUCK 12, THE 6 NURSES, THE TWO LADIES IN WAITING, THE GUARDS, AND EVEN THE TOMCATS DISAPPEARED.
NO, THEY DIDN'T.
THEY WERE CAST INTO A DEEP SLEEP.
IN A FLASH, QUEEN MOUSERINK APPEARED AND JUMPED INTO THE CRIB.
♪ THE CRY OF PRINCESS PIRLIPAT AWAKENED THE ROOM.
"THANK GOODNESS SHE'S ALIVE," THEY ALL SAID, AS QUEEN MOUSERINK LEAPT OUT OF THE CRADLE AND DISAPPEARED INTO A CRACK IN THE FLOOR.
WHAT HAD BEEN RELIEF TURNED INTO SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT WHEN THE QUEEN AND THE COURT LOOKED INTO THE CRIB.
♪ YES, PRINCESS PIRLIPAT WAS ALIVE, BUT SOME TERRIBLE CURSE HAD BEEN PLACED ON HER.
AND INSTEAD OF BEING THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BABY ANYONE HAD EVER SEEN, SHE HAD BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT.
SHE HAD AN ENORMOUS HEAD WITH GREEN EYES AND A MOUTH THAT STRETCHED FROM ONE SIDE OF HER FACE TO ANOTHER.
SHE ALSO HAD A LITTLE WHITE BEARD.
THE QUEEN FAINTED, AND THE KING DEMANDED THAT DROSSELMEYER, WHO HAD AFTER ALL INVENTED THE MOUSETRAP, BREAK THE CURSE OR FORFEIT HIS LIFE.
"CHRISTIAN ELIAS DROSSELMEYER, CURE THE PRINCESS OR YOU MUST DIE."
DROSSELMEYER SWOONED, BUT LITTLE PRINCESS PIRLIPAT JUST SMILED AND CRACKED NUTS.
[LAUGHTER] AND WHEN THE WIZARD REALIZED HER UNUSUAL APPETITE FOR NUTS, HE VISITED HIS FRIEND THE COURT ASTRONOMER WHO LIVED IN A GREAT TOWER.
AS HE SADLY CLIMBED THE STAIRCASE, HE WONDERED IF THE CURSE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PRINCESS' DESIRE TO CRACK NUTS.
PERHAPS HE AND THE ASTRONOMER COULD UNLOCK THE SECRET.
TOGETHER THEY CONSULTED ANCIENT BOOKS, FANTASTICAL MAPS, HOROSCOPES, AND STUDIED THE MOVEMENT OF THE STARS.
AND AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION, THEY BOTH SHOUTED, "EUREKA!"
THEY HAD DISCOVERED WHAT TO DO TO CRACK THE CASE AND RAN TO PRESENT THEIR FINDINGS TO THE KING.
"THE PRINCESS WOULD BE CURED AND THE CURSE LIFTED ONLY WHEN SHE EATS THE FRUIT OF THE HARDEST NUT IN THE WORLD," EXPLAINED DROSSELMEYER.
"THE KRAKATUK NUT," THE ASTRONOMER ADDED HELPFULLY.
"THE NUT MUST BE CRACKED IN THE PRINCESS' PRESENCE "BY THE TEETH OF A YOUNG MAN WHO HAS NEVER SHAVED "AND NEVER WORN BOOTS.
"HE MUST HAND HER THE KERNEL WITH HIS EYES CLOSED "AND NOT OPEN THEM AGAIN UNTIL HE HAS TAKEN 7 STEPS BACKWARDS BUT WITHOUT STUMBLING."
"ALL WELL AND GOOD," SAID THE DOWNCAST KING, "BUT WHO WILL FIND THIS KRAKATUK NUT AND THE YOUNG MAN TO CRACK IT?"
A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
DROSSELMEYER SUGGESTED THAT ALL HE NEEDED WAS 15 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS TO FIND BOTH THE KRAKATUK NUT AND THE YOUNG MAN, BY WHICH TIME THE PRINCESS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR MARRIAGE.
AND SO WITH A HEAVY HEART, THE KING SENT HIM ON HIS WAY TO FIND THE NUT AND A YOUNG CRACKER OF NUTS.
[LAUGHTER] FOR 15 YEARS AND 5 MONTHS AND 3 WEEKS, DROSSELMEYER TRAVELED THE WORLD.
HE WENT TO SPAIN.
♪ ♪ ♪ BUT IN SPAIN HE FOUND ONLY CHOCOLATE AND PEANUTS BROUGHT FROM A PLACE THAT WAS CALLED THE NEW WORLD.
IN THE CENTRAL KINGDOM, KNOWN AS CHINA, HE DRANK TEA WITH A GREAT EMPEROR.
♪ ♪ THE EMPEROR AND HIS COURT HAD HEARD OF THE KRAKATUK NUT, BUT COULD ONLY SERVE HIM THE LYCHEE NUT.
THEN IT WAS A MAD DASH THROUGH RUSSIA.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ BUT IN RUSSIA, HE ONLY FOUND SIBERIAN PINE NUTS.
IN ARABIA, HE DRANK COFFEE AND FOUND ONLY ALMONDS AND DATES.
AND SO IT WENT.
BREADNUTS, BRAZIL NUTS, HAZELNUTS, CASHEW NUTS, MACADAMIA NUTS, COCONUTS, AND THE RED BOBBLE NUT FROM AUSTRALIA.
BUT NO KRAKATUK NUT.
♪ ♪ DROSSELMEYER'S YELLOW CAPE HAD BEEN TORN TO SHREDS FROM THE JOURNEY.
HE LOST THE USE OF ONE EYE HAVING BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF AN ARROW FROM A CARIBBEAN CHIEFTAIN.
HIS HAIR HAD FALLEN OUT FROM TOO MUCH SUN IN THE SAHARA DESERT.
♪ AND NOW WITH NO KRAKATUK NUTS AND ONLY ONE WEEK TO GO, DROSSELMEYER THOUGHT TO SEE HIS HOMETOWN OF NUREMBERG ONE LAST TIME.
♪ THERE HE PAID A VISIT TO HIS BROTHER WHO WAS THE PROPRIETOR OF AN ENCHANTED TOY SHOP.
♪ BROTHER ZACHARIAS DROSSELMEYER HARDLY RECOGNIZED HIS BROTHER CHRISTIAN AFTER HIS LONG JOURNEY, BUT LISTENED INTENTLY TO THE ASTONISHING STORY OF PRINCESS PIRLIPAT, QUEEN MOUSERINK, AND THE HARD NUT.
♪ ZACHARIAS BROKE INTO A JIG WHEN HE HEARD ABOUT THE KRAKATUK NUT BECAUSE MANY YEARS BEFORE, ONCE UPON ANOTHER ONCE UPON A TIME, A VISITING NUT SALESMAN WAS KNOCKED DOWN IN THE STREET BY A CART THAT CRACKED HIS SACK OF NUTS.
ALL BUT ONE, THAT IS.
BROTHER ZACHARIAS HAD SAVED IT IN HIS TOY SHOP.
AND SURE ENOUGH, ENGRAVED ON ITS SHELL IN CHINESE WAS THE INSCRIPTION "KRAKATUK."
♪ THE JOY OF THE TWO DROSSELMEYERS WAS HEIGHTENED WHEN ZACHARIAS' SON ENTERED THE TOY SHOP.
HE WAS A NICE-LOOKING YOUNG MAN WHO HAD NEVER SHAVED AND NEVER WORN BOOTS.
HE HAD A HABIT OF GALLANTLY CRACKING NUTS WITH HIS TEETH, AND AS A RESULT, HIS FRIENDS CALLED HIM THE BOY NUTCRACKER.
"GOOD THINGS COME IN PAIRS," SHOUTED THE DROSSELMEYERS, AND THEY ALL QUICKLY SET OFF FOR THE PALACE, AND WITH NO TIME TO LOSE.
♪ ♪ DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
INDEED, THE YOUNG MAN, BLINDFOLDED, CRACKED THE KRAKATUK NUT BEFORE THE ALMOST 16-YEAR-OLD, AND STILL TERRIBLE LOOKING, PRINCESS AND GAVE HER THE KERNEL TO EAT.
AND YES, THE CURSE WAS LIFTED, AND SHE WAS RESTORED INTO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ALMOST 16-YEAR-OLD PRINCESS HER PARENTS HAD EVER SEEN.
BUT... AS YOUNG NATHANIEL TOOK 7 STEPS BACKWARDS, HE INADVERTENTLY STEPPED ON AN UNSEEN GUEST, QUEEN MOUSERINK.
THAT'S WHEN ANOTHER CRACK WAS HEARD, AND A TERRIBLE SQUEAL.
♪ "OOH, KRAKATUK NUT, BECAUSE OF YOU, "I DIE.
"BUT YOU, TOO, YOUNG CRACKER OF NUTS, "WILL PARISH BY AND BY.
"MY SON, THE 7-HEADED CROWNED PRINCE, "WILL BRING YOU DOWN.
SQUEAK!"
AND AS QUEEN MOUSERINK DIED, THE YOUNG MAN WAS INSTANTLY TURNED INTO A LITTLE DISFIGURED WOODEN NUTCRACKER WITH GREEN EYES, A MOUTH THAT WENT FROM EAR TO EAR, WEARING A MILITARY COAT AND BOOTS WITH AN ENORMOUS HEAD OVER A WITHERED BODY.
AND WHEN PRINCESS PIRLIPAT SAW HIM, SHE HAD HIM THROWN OUT OF THE PALACE.
SHE REIGNED UNHAPPILY EVER AFTER AND SPENT MUCH TIME CONSULTING HER MAGIC MIRROR AND INSISTING ON BEING THE FAIREST ONE OF ALL.
BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.
♪ THE DROSSELMEYER BROTHERS FOUND THE NUTCRACKER FLOATING IN THE MOAT OUTSIDE THE CASTLE.
AND ALTHOUGH THEY KNEW THE RISK THEY WERE TAKING, THEY TOOK TURNS HIDING THE WOODEN FIGURE AMONG THEIR INVENTIONS AND MAGICAL TOYS.
♪ THE DROSSELMEYERS WERE VERY ENCHANTED CREATURES THEMSELVES AND LIVED ONWARD THROUGH TIME, EVEN AS THE WORLD BEGAN TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS GIANTS, GLASS SLIPPERS, AND MAGICAL RINGS.
THE DRAGONS WERE LONG GONE FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH, THOUGH THERE WAS A PERSISTENT RUMOR OF UNHATCHED DRAGON EGGS SOMEWHERE TO THE WEST.
♪ BROTHER ZACHARIAS CLOSED HIS TOY SHOP, CONFIDENTLY ENTRUSTING THE NUTCRACKER TO HIS BROTHER.
WE KNOW NOTHING MORE OF HIM EXCEPT FOR A RUMOR THAT HE RETURNED TO ANOTHER KINGDOM FOUND ONLY ON WIZARDLY MAPS.
♪ CHRISTIAN DROSSELMEYER, HOWEVER, KEPT ON INVENTING MAGICAL TOYS AND GIZMOS AND APPEARED WHENEVER CHILDREN NEEDED HIM.
OF COURSE, HE WAS PARTICULARLY CAREFUL ABOUT LETTING ANYONE KNOW HIS MANY SECRETS.
AND ABOVE ALL, HE NEVER FORGOT HIS PART IN THE CURSE THAT TURNED HIS YOUNG AND HANDSOME NEPHEW INTO A VERY UGLY, CARVED, WOODEN CREATURE.
♪ YEARS PASSED, TURNING MEMORIES INTO FAIRYTALES.
THAT IS WHEN DROSSELMEYER CAME TO KNOW DR. AND MRS. STAHLBAUM AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN FRITZ AND MARIE.
HE REGULARLY VISITED THE STAHLBAUMS' HOUSE TO WIND THE CLOCKS AND FIX THEM IF ONE EVER BROKE.
♪ BUT THAT WASN'T THE REAL REASON HE WAS THERE.
OF COURSE HE LOVED TELLING THE CHILDREN FANTASTICAL STORIES, BRINGING THEM PUPPETS AND MECHANICAL ORCHESTRAS AND WINDUP DOLLS.
DROSSELMEYER HAD A FEELING THAT THESE TWO CHILDREN MIGHT BREAK THE CURSE, BUT IT WOULD NOT BE EASY.
FRITZ AND MARIE WERE GROWING UP FAST, AND THERE WAS LITTLE TIME TO SPARE BEFORE THEY WOULD LOSE THEIR BELIEF IN WHAT THEIR FATHER CALLED IMPOSSIBLE THINGS.
AND THEN DROSSELMEYER HAD AN IDEA.
IT WAS CHRISTMAS EVE.
AHH, IT WAS CHRISTMAS EVE.
YES, THAT CHRISTMAS EVE.
YOU KNOW, THE ONE THAT STARTS THE BALLET WE ALL KNOW SO WELL.
AND IN A MOMENT, YOU WILL HEAR HOW HOFFMANN ORIGINALLY TOLD THAT STORY.
NOW LET'S REMEMBER, WE HAVE JUST TRAVELED CENTURIES FROM A TIME WHEN MAGICAL FAIRYTALES TAKE PLACE TO A TIME WHEN NO ONE BELIEVED IN SO-CALLED IMPOSSIBLE THINGS.
NO MAGIC WANDS.
AT LEAST THAT'S HOW CHILDREN WERE BEING TAUGHT AND WHY HOFFMAN WROTE "THE NUTCRACKER" IN THE FIRST PLACE.
HIS BEST FRIEND, YOU SEE, HAD TWO CHILDREN, FRITZ AND MARIE.
AND HOFFMANN MADE UP THE STORY JUST FOR THEM.
AND SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO MEET THEM, FRITZ, WHO IS 10 YEARS OLD, AND HIS 8-YEAR-OLD SISTER MARIE, WHO IS SOMETIMES CALLED CLARA IN THE BALLET.
WE ALSO GET TO MEET THE RED MARZIPAN CASTLE WITH ITS WINDUP SOLDIERS.
THAT CASTLE WILL RETURN 3 MORE TIMES BEFORE THE END OF OUR STORY.
THE CONDUCTOR, WHO CALLS HIMSELF MAUCERI, HAS BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY, SAVING HIS UPBEAT TO RESTART "THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING."
AND EVEN THOUGH YOU THINK YOU KNOW THE STORY, YOU'LL BE SURPRISED AT WHAT REALLY HAPPENS WHEN MARIE FIRST TRIES TO SAVE THE NUTCRACKER FROM THE DREADFUL MOUSE KING AND HOW SHE SLOWLY BEGINS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT TOOK PLACE CENTURIES BEFORE THAT MAGICAL CHRISTMAS EVE.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, MARIE AND FRITZ WERE VERY EXCITED.
THERE WAS TO BE A GREAT CHRISTMAS TREE, OF COURSE, AND PRESENTS FROM THEIR PARENTS.
FRITZ WANTED A RED HOBBY HORSE AND MARIE HOPED FOR A DOLL THAT WAS EVEN BIGGER THAN SHE WAS.
BUT MOST OF ALL, THEY WERE ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT THEIR BELOVED GODFATHER DROSSELMEYER WOULD BRING THEM.
♪ WHEN THE FRONT DOOR OPENED AND SENT A GUST OF FROZEN AIR AND SNOWFLAKES INTO THE PARLOR, THEY KNEW THAT THE WAITING WAS ALMOST OVER.
YES, IT WAS HE, GODFATHER DROSSELMEYER.
♪ GODFATHER DROSSELMEYER WAS ANYTHING BUT HANDSOME.
HE HAD A WRINKLED FACE, LONG LEGS, AND BECAUSE HE HAD LITTLE HAIR ON HIS HEAD, WORE A WIG MADE OF SPUN GLASS.
HE ALSO WORE A PATCH OVER ONE EYE AND A YELLOW WAISTCOAT.
HE BROUGHT A MINIATURE CASTLE OF RED MARZIPAN CANDY WITH MECHANICAL SOLDIERS MADE OF METAL AND ALL WEARING MAGNIFICENT EMBROIDERED COATS AND SHINY BLACK BOOTS.
GODFATHER TURNED A BIG KEY IN THE BACK OF THE CASTLE.
♪ AND THE STAHLBAUMS WATCHED AS THE SOLDIERS MOVED IN FORMATION.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ "OH, THAT WAS WONDERFUL," SAID DR. AND MRS. STAHLBAUM.
BUT FRITZ PREFERRED HIS HOBBY HORSE.
AND HE RACED OFF AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE.
THAT'S WHEN MARIE SAW SOMETHING UNDER THE TREE SHE HAD NOT NOTICED BEFORE, A LITTLE WOODEN FIGURE WAITING TO BE SEEN.
♪ LIKE GODFATHER DROSSELMEYER, THIS SMALL WOODEN MAN WAS NOT HANDSOME.
TRUE, HE WAS DRESSED MAGNIFICENTLY IN A RED COAT WITH GOLDEN BUTTONS, AND HIS BOOTS WERE SO TIGHT THEY LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE PAINTED ON.
HE HAD A SWORD, TOO.
BUT HIS HEAD WAS FAR TOO BIG FOR HIS BODY.
MARIE TOOK AN INSTANT LIKING TO THIS LOVELY FIGURE WITH HIS BRIGHT GREEN EYES AND KINDLY FACE.
EVEN HIS WHITE COTTON BEARD ONLY MADE HIS STRANGE SMILE ALL THE MORE BEAUTIFUL TO HER.
"PAPA, WHO OWNS THAT WONDERFUL WOODEN MAN OVER THERE BY THE TREE?"
ASKED MARIE.
"HE WILL WORK HARD FOR ALL OF US," DR. STAHLBAUM ANSWERED.
"HE WILL CRACK THE HARDEST NUTS FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY."
AND WITH THAT, HE PULLED ON A WOODEN HANDLE IN THE BACK OF THE MANNEQUIN'S HEAD TO REVEAL TWO SETS OF WHITE TEETH.
♪ MARIE INSERTED A NUT, AND CRACK, THE SHELL DROPPED OUT, LEAVING THE DELICIOUS MEAT OF THE NUT FOR HER TO EAT.
♪ ♪ FRITZ DECIDED IT WAS HIS TURN, AND HE BEGAN SHOVING THE BIGGEST AND HARDEST OF THE NUTS IN THE NUTCRACKER'S MOUTH UNTIL THERE WAS A VERY BIG CRACK.
♪ AND 3 TEETH FELL OUT, AND THE LITTLE MAN'S LOWER JAW BECAME DETACHED.
♪ "OH, MY POOR NUTCRACKER," CRIED MARIE, WHO GRABBED IT FROM HER BROTHER'S HANDS.
AND WITH THAT, SHE BEGAN TO CRADLE THE LITTLE FELLOW IN HER ARMS WHILE SEARCHING FOR HIS LOST TEETH.
"DON'T WORRY, DEAR NUTCRACKER.
"I KNOW GODFATHER DROSSELMEYER WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU AND FIX YOU UP GOOD AS NEW."
THAT'S WHEN SOMETHING STRANGE HAPPENED.
♪ AT THE MOMENT SHE SAID, "GODFATHER DROSSELMEYER," SHE THOUGHT SHE SAW THE FACE OF THE NUTCRACKER CHANGE AND SPARKLES COME OUT OF HIS GREEN EYES.
♪ "OH, I AM A SILLY GIRL," SHE THOUGHT.
"HOW COULD A LITTLE WOODEN DOLL MAKE FACES?"
SHE CAREFULLY PLACED HIM IN THE BED RESERVED FOR HER FAVORITE DOLL IN THE GLASS CABINET WHERE ALL THE TOYS WERE KEPT.
IT WAS GETTING LATE, AND FRITZ HAD ALREADY PUT HIS TIN SOLDIERS ALL IN CAREFUL ROWS ON THE SHELF JUST ABOVE THE DOLLS AND THE WOUNDED NUTCRACKER.
♪ "TIME FOR BED, CHILDREN," SAID PAPA.
MAMA SMILED AS MARIE LOCKED THE CABINET AND WAS ABOUT TO GO INTO HER BEDROOM WHEN THE WALL CLOCK BEGAN TO MAKE STRANGE SOUNDS.
AND WHEN SHE LOOKED UP AT IT, SHE THOUGHT SHE SAW GODFATHER DROSSELMEYER SITTING ATOP THE CLOCK WHERE A CARVED OWL USUALLY RESIDED.
♪ THROUGH THE CRACKS IN THE FLOORBOARDS, MARIE COULD SEE A THOUSAND LITTLE FLICKERING CANDLES.
BUT NO, THEY WEREN'T CANDLES.
THEY WERE THE EYES OF MICE WHO SEEMED READY TO LAUNCH AN ATTACK.
MARIE WAS NOT SOMEONE WHO WAS AFRAID OF MICE, BUT AS IF DRIVEN BY SOME SUBTERRANEAN FORCE, THE GROUND SPURTED OUT SAND AND LIME, AND 7 MOUSE HEADS WITH 7 GOLDEN CROWNS APPEARED.
THEY WERE ATTACHED TO ONE BIG, NASTY BODY THAT WAS BRANDISHING A SWORD.
IT WAS THE MOUSE KING HIMSELF.
♪ THE MOUSE KING HEADED DIRECTLY TOWARD MARIE, AND SHE FELL BACK AGAINST THE GLASS DOOR OF THE TOY CABINET.
ALL AT ONCE, THE NUTCRACKER AWOKE AND CALLED FORTH FRITZ'S SOLDIERS IN A GREAT BATTLE TO SAVE THE DOLLS AGAINST THE ONSLAUGHTS OF THE LEGIONS OF MICE.
♪ ♪ ♪ AND JUST AS IT SEEMED ALL WAS LOST, MARIE COULD NO LONGER CONTAIN HERSELF.
SHE THREW HER LEFT SHOE AT THE MOUSE KING AS HE WAS ABOUT TO SLAY THE NUTCRACKER.
♪ AND AT THAT VERY MOMENT, MARIE FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HER ARM, AND SHE FAINTED.
WHEN SHE AWOKE, THE SUN WAS SHINING THROUGH THE ICY WINDOWS, AND DR. BINDLESTERN WAS SITTING BY HER SIDE.
"SHE'S AWAKE," HE SAID SOFTLY.
"OH, MAMA, ARE ALL THE UGLY MICE GONE?
AND IS FRIEND NUTCRACKER SAVED?"
"DON'T TALK NONSENSE, MARIE," SHE SCOLDED.
"YOU CAUSED US MUCH WORRY.
"YOU WERE PLAYING WITH YOUR DOLLS UNTIL VERY LATE, "AND PERHAPS YOU WERE STARTLED BY A MOUSE.
"WE DO HAVE A FEW, I KNOW.
"AND YOU PUT YOUR ARM THROUGH THE GLASS IN THE TOY CABINET AND CUT YOURSELF BADLY."
♪ "THANK GOODNESS I HEARD THE CRASH.
"AND THERE YOU WERE ON THE FLOOR "WITH ALL TOYS AND SOLDIERS ABOUT.
"AND THE NUTCRACKER LAY ON YOUR BLEEDING ARM "VERY NEAR YOUR LEFT SHOE.
I ALMOST FAINTED MYSELF."
DR. BINDLESTERN HAD A QUIET CONVERSATION WITH FATHER.
IT WAS CLEAR TO THEM THAT MARIE HAD SUFFERED A BIT OF DELIRIUM THAT REQUIRED HER TO STAY IN BED FOR SEVERAL DAYS.
♪ ♪ AT TIMES, WHEN SHE WAS HALF AWAKE, SHE THOUGHT SHE HEARD THE SAD VOICE OF THE NUTCRACKER.
♪ "MARIE, MY DEAR LADY, "I OWE YOU SO MUCH.
BUT YOU CAN DO EVEN MORE FOR ME."
♪ MARIE WONDERED WHAT THAT COULD MEAN.
AS THE SUN SET THAT EVENING, GODFATHER DROSSELMEYER PAID A VISIT TO MARIE'S BEDSIDE.
♪ "OH, GODFATHER, YOU WERE VERY UGLY SITTING ON TOP OF THE CLOCK.
AND WHY DID YOU NOT COME TO THE AID OF THE NUTCRACKER?"
ONCE AGAIN, MOTHER SCOLDED HER.
BUT GODFATHER JUST LAUGHED AND SANG A STRANGE SONG ABOUT A MOUSE KING AND CLOCKS GOING BRRR, BELLS GOING DING DONG, DING DONG, DING DONG, DING DONG.
HE CLAIMED IT WAS AN OLD DITTY HE SANG WHENEVER HE FIXED THE CLOCKS, BUT SHE DID NOT REMEMBER EVER HAVING HEARD IT BEFORE.
THEN GODFATHER DROSSELMEYER REACHED INTO HIS POCKET AND PRODUCED THE NUTCRACKER, HIS JAW FIXED AND ALL HIS TEETH PUT BACK GOOD AS NEW.
"DEAR, MARIE," GODFATHER SAID SUDDENLY, "IF YOU LIKE, I CAN TELL YOU HOW SUCH UGLINESS "CAME INTO THE NUTCRACKER FAMILY.
"UNLESS YOU ALREADY KNOW THE STORY OF PRINCESS PIRLIPAT, "THE WITCH QUEEN NAMED MOUSERINK, AND THE MYSTERIOUS CLOCKMAKER."
"OH, PLEASE," SHE SAID EXCITEDLY.
"I LOVE YOUR AMAZING STORIES."
"I HOPE," SAID MAMA, "THAT IS NOT ONE OF YOUR SCARY STORIES."
"ON THE CONTRARY, DEAR LADY," SAID DROSSELMEYER, "IT IS A FAIRY STORY AND TREMENDOUSLY FUNNY."
♪ ♪ AND SO, FOR THE NEXT 3 NIGHTS, GODFATHER CAME TO THE BEDSIDE OF MARIE AND TOLD THE FANTASTIC AND ANCIENT STORY OF A CRACKED NUT AND A CERTAIN WIZARD NAMED DROSSELMEYER.
BUT YOU ALREADY KNOW ALL ABOUT THAT.
MARIE WAS ENCHANTED BY THE STORY, THOUGH SHE SUSPECTED THAT GODFATHER WAS SOMEHOW IMPLYING THAT HE HAD INVENTED THE MOUSETRAP.
TO WHICH GODFATHER SAID, "CHILD, THIS IS A FAIRY STORY "THAT TOOK PLACE IN A KINGDOM A VERY LONG TIME AGO.
"DON'T BE SILLY.
"BUT AS A BRILLIANT CLOCKMAKER, OF COURSE I COULD HAVE INVENTED A MOUSETRAP."
FRITZ, WHO HAD BEEN LISTENING ALL ALONG, THOUGHT THE NUTCRACKER SIMPLY NEEDED TO FIGHT A DUEL WITH THIS HORRID 7-HEADED MOUSE KING AND BE DONE WITH IT.
MARIE STILL HAD TO SPEND THE WEEK IN BED RECOVERING FROM THE CUT IN HER ARM.
THAT GAVE HER TIME TO THINK.
♪ SHE NOW BELIEVED THAT THE NUTCRACKER, WHO WAS AT THAT VERY MOMENT IN THE TOY CABINET, WAS NONE OTHER THAN THE YOUNG DROSSELMEYER, GODFATHER'S NEPHEW, AND THAT THE FAIRY STORY HE HAD TOLD HER WAS NO FAIRY STORY AT ALL, OR MAYBE IT WAS A FAIRY STORY, BUT IT WAS ALSO TRUE.
SHE SNEAKED DOWNSTAIRS TO SEE ALL HER DOLLS AND THE YOUNG NUTCRACKER AND WONDERED HOW THEY COULD NOT MOVE OR SPEAK, AND YET SHE KNEW THAT THIS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CURSE OF QUEEN MOUSERINK.
"OH, IT DOES NOT MATTER," SHE SAID OUT LOUD TO THE TOY CABINET.
"EVEN IF YOU CANNOT SPEAK OR MOVE, NUTCRACKER DROSSELMEYER, "I AM DEVOTED TO YOU AND YOU CAN COUNT ON ME."
♪ THE NUTCRACKER DID NOT MOVE, BUT IT SEEMED TO MARIE THAT A SWEET BELL-LIKE VOICE SAID TO HER, "LITTLE MARIE, MY GUARDIAN ANGEL, YOURS I SHALL BE, MY SWEET MARIE."
COLD SHIVERS FLASHED THROUGH HER BODY AND SHE RETURNED TO HER BED BEFORE ANYONE NOTICED.
♪ THAT VERY NIGHT, MARIE WAS AWAKENED BY A STRANGE RUSTLING SOUND.
SHE FELT WARM FUR AND 7 COLD NOSES NEAR HER NECK.
"OH, DEAR, THE MICE ARE BACK," SHE THOUGHT.
EVEN WORSE.
SHE THEN HEARD A VOICE SHE HAD HEARD ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
"HEE HEE!
"GIVE ME ALL YOUR LITTLE CANDIES OR I SHALL BITE YOUR DEAR NUTCRACKER TO PIECES."
IT WAS THE MOUSE KING.
♪ SHE THOUGHT TO TELL HER BROTHER AND HER MAMA WHAT HAD HAPPENED, BUT SHE KNEW THEY WOULD NOT BELIEVE HER.
SO WHEN NO ONE WAS LOOKING, SHE PUT OUT HER CANDIES IN FRONT OF THE TOY CABINET.
THE NEXT MORNING, MARIE'S MOTHER SAID, "THAT'S VERY STRANGE.
POOR MARIE, THE MICE SEEM TO HAVE EATEN ALL YOUR SWEETS."
YES, THEY HAVE.
LATER THAT NIGHT, IT HAPPENED AGAIN.
THIS TIME THE VOICE SAID, "GIVE ME ALL YOUR SUGAR DOLLS OR I WILL BITE YOUR DEAR NUTCRACKER TO PIECES."
A HEARTBROKEN MARIE WENT INTO THE DOLL CABINET AND JUST BEFORE BEDTIME PUT HER SUGAR DOLLS OUT TO BE EATEN BY THE DREADFUL MOUSE KING.
♪ MARIE KNEW THERE WOULD BE NO END TO THIS, AND INDEED, ON THE THIRD NIGHT, THE SCRATCHING OF LITTLE MICE FEET AND COLD, WET NOSES ACCOMPANIED THAT VOICE ONCE AGAIN.
"GIVE ME ALL YOUR PICTURE BOOKS AND YOUR DOLL DRESSES "OR I WILL EAT YOUR DEAR NUTCRACKER.
HEE HEE HEE!"
SQUEAK.
MARIE HEADED FOR THE TOY CABINET AND SPOKE QUIETLY TO THE UNMOVING NUTCRACKER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLASS.
"POOR ME, MR. DROSSELMEYER.
"IF I GIVE UP MY PICTURE BOOKS AND DOLL DRESSES, "THE DREADFUL MOUSE KING WILL ONLY ASK FOR MORE.
WHATEVER SHALL I DO?"
♪ ALTHOUGH SHE HAD STOPPED KISSING THE LITTLE FIGURE AND FELT RATHER SHY ABOUT HOLDING HIM AT ALL, THIS TIME SHE TOOK HIM ABOUT OF THE CABINET TO WIPE OFF WHAT LOOKED LIKE A BLOOD STAIN ON HIS UNIFORM.
♪ SHE PUT HIM BACK ON THE SHELF, AND IMMEDIATELY, HIS LIPS MOVED, AND IN A WHISPER, HE SPOKE.
♪ "MY FRIEND, I OWE YOU SO MUCH ALREADY.
"BUT PLEASE GRANT ME ONE MORE FAVOR.
"FIND ME A SWORD.
THAT IS ALL I NEED.
I CAN MANAGE THE REST."
AND THEN HIS EYES WENT BLANK.
♪ OH, THE JOY MARIE FELT.
SHE KNEW WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.
HER OLDER BROTHER FRITZ HAD TO BE TAKEN INTO HER CONFIDENCE.
SHE TOLD HIM THE WHOLE STORY.
AND TO HIS IMMENSE CREDIT, HE BELIEVED HER.
♪ "ALL RIGHT," HE SAID, "I HAVE A NUMBER OF SOLDIERS WHO HAVE GOTTEN QUITE OLD, "AND I'VE SENT THEM INTO RETIREMENT.
I WILL GIVE YOU THE OLD COLONEL'S SWORD."
AND THERE, IN THE BACK OF THE THIRD SHELF WAS THE OLD COLONEL WHO HAD NO FURTHER USE FOR HIS SWORD.
FRITZ REMOVED HIS SILVER SABER AND SLUNG IT AROUND THE NUTCRACKER'S WAIST.
THAT NIGHT AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT, MARIE HEARD STRANGE SOUNDS COMING FROM THE LIVING ROOM-- CLANGING, CRASHING, AND THEN 7 GREAT SQUEAKS.
AND THEN THERE WAS SILENCE AND A KNOCK ON HER BEDROOM DOOR.
♪ A FAINT LITTLE VOICE SAID, "MOST ESTEEMED MRS. STAHLBAUM, HAVE NO FEAR.
I BRING GOOD NEWS."
♪ "MOST ESTEEMED MRS.
STAHLBAUM."
YES, MARIE RECOGNIZED HIS VOICE AND THREW OPEN HER BEDROOM DOOR.
♪ NUTCRACKER WAS STILL HOLDING A SWORD IN HIS RIGHT HAND AND A CANDLE IN HIS LEFT.
WHEN HE SAW MARIE, HE BENT DOWN ON ONE KNEE.
♪ "YOU ALONE, DEAR LADY, "GAVE ME THE COURAGE AND STRENGTH "TO FIGHT THE DREADFUL MOUSE KING.
I BEG YOU TO ACCEPT THIS TOKEN OF MY GRATITUDE."
AND WITH THAT, HE REMOVED FROM HIS WRIST THE 7 LITTLE CROWNS THAT HAD BEEN WORN BY THE DREADFUL MOUSE KING AND GAVE THEM TO MARIE.
♪ HE THEN SOLEMNLY ROSE TO HIS FEET.
♪ "AND MY DEAR MISS STAHLBAUM, "WHAT MAGICAL THINGS I CAN SHOW YOU "IN THIS HOUR OF VICTORY IF YOU WOULD BUT CONSENT TO FOLLOW ME FOR A WHILE."
"I'LL FOLLOW YOU, MY DEAR HERR DROSSELMEYER, "BUT JUST FOR A SHORT WHILE.
YOU SEE, I HAVEN'T BEEN SLEEPING VERY WELL THESE PAST NIGHTS."
"THEN," HE SAID WITH A FLOURISH, "WE SHALL TAKE A SHORTCUT."
♪ ♪ AND WITH THAT, THE TWO WALKED TO THE WARDROBE.
NUTCRACKER CLIMBED UP FATHER'S OVERCOAT AND PULLED A TASSEL AT THE BACK AND OUT POPPED A WOODEN STAIRCASE MADE OF CEDAR THAT WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR.
♪ ♪ "AND NOW, MY DEAR LADY, "PLEASE BE SO KIND AS TO GIVE ME YOUR HAND AND GO UP TOGETHER WITH ME."
THEY CLIMBED UP THE SLEEVE IN FATHER'S COAT.
AND AS THEY REACHED HIS COLLAR, A BLINDING LIGHT SHONE IN FRONT OF HER.
"OH, MY GOODNESS," EXCLAIMED MARIE.
"WHERE ARE WE?"
♪ ♪ NOW, THAT'S GOT TO BE SOME OF THE MOST EXCITING MUSIC TCHAIKOVSKY EVER COMPOSED.
WE HAVE NOW ARRIVED AT THE ASTONISHING THIRD PART OF THE STORY.
ASTONISHING BECAUSE HOFFMANN TAKES NUTCRACKER AND MARIE TO THE CAPITAL CITY KNOWN AS BONBONBURG.
ALAN CUMMING, BEING SCOTTISH, PRONOUNCES IT BONBON-BURRA, LIKE THE CAPITAL OF SCOTLAND, EDINBURGH.
BONBONBURG IS WHERE MARIE LEARNS THAT NUTCRACKER IS A PRINCE AND THAT HIS KINGDOM IS NOT JUST A LOT OF DANCING FLOWERS AND CANDY.
NOPE.
ITS ARCHITECTURE REPRESENTS ALL THE GREAT AND VARIED BUILDINGS FROM EVERYWHERE ON THE EARTH AND ITS POPULATION INCLUDES PEOPLE OF EVERY FAITH AND CULTURE LAUGHING AND JOKING AND SINGING AND ALL LIVING TOGETHER IN RUCKUS HARMONY.
SURELY THIS IS THE FIRST TIME AN IDEAL SOCIETY IS DESCRIBED LIKE THIS, ONE WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, RELIGION, OR ECONOMIC STATUS.
AND JUST WHEN WE THINK IT IS OVER, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE BALLET ENDS, HOFFMANN TAKES US BACK TO MARIE'S LITTLE BED ONE LAST TIME AND TO 3 DISBELIEVING ADULTS.
BUT HANG ON, HOFFMANN WAS HIMSELF A COMPOSER, AND LIKE A GREAT SYMPHONY BY HIS CONTEMPORARY BEETHOVEN, THERE WILL BE A THRILLING CLIMAX AND AN EPILOGUE THAT ENDS THE STORY RIGHT NOW.
OK, THEN, MARIE JUST ASKED, "WHERE ARE WE?"
AND HERE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION IS ALAN CUMMING WITH THE ROYAL SCOTTISH NATIONAL ORCHESTRA, THE CONDUCTOR WHO CALLS HIMSELF JOHN MAUCERI, AND THE MUSIC OF PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY.
"MY DEAR MISS STAHLBAUM, "THIS IS CANDY MEADOW.
"AND IN A MOMENT WE SHALL PASS THROUGH THE GREAT GATE UNDER THOSE ARCHES."
♪ THE GATE SEEMED TO BE OF WHITE, RED, AND BROWN MARBLE.
BUT AS THEY GOT NEARER, SHE REALIZED IT WAS MADE OF PRESERVED FRUIT AND SUGARED ALMONDS.
AND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GATE, 6 MONKEYS CLAD IN RED WERE PLAYING THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MUSIC.
♪ SHE HARDLY NOTICED THAT THE PAVEMENT SHE WAS WALKING ON WAS MADE OF PISTACHIOS AND MACAROONS AND GOLD AND SILVER FRUITS WERE HANGING FROM THE BOWS OF THE TREES.
♪ WHEN THE LEAVES RUSTLED IN THE WIND, THE TINSEL TINKLED LIKE CELESTIAL MUSIC.
♪ ♪ NUTCRACKER CLAPPED HIS HANDS AND SEVERAL LITTLE SHEPHERDS AND SHEPHERDESSES APPEARED LOOKING AS IF THEY'D BEEN MADE OF PURE SUGAR.
♪ ♪ ♪ THEY WERE JOINED BY A GROUP OF HUNTERS AND HUNTRESSES WHO BROUGHT HER A GOLDEN CHAIR AND A WHITE LICORICE CUSHION ON IT.
AND THEY ALL DANCED A SHORT AND CHARMING BALLET JUST FOR HER.
♪ ♪ "I'M SORRY IT WAS SO REPETITIVE, MISS STAHLBAUM," SAID THE NUTCRACKER.
"BUT THESE DANCERS ARE MEMBERS OF A MECHANICAL BALLET TROUPE."
"I THOUGHT IT WAS LOVELY," SAID MARIE, AS THEY CONTINUED THEIR JOURNEY ALONG A WHISPERING BROOK THAT LED TO THE EVEN MORE FRAGRANT LEMONADE RIVER.
♪ THEY CAME UPON A SEASHELL BOAT THAT WAS DRAWN BY GOLDEN DOLPHINS THAT TOOK THEM ACROSS A GREAT RIVER OR ROSE PETALS.
♪ THERE SHE SAW A FAMILY OF SILVER WHITE SWANS GENTLY GLIDE BY.
♪ ♪ AND THEN TINY DIAMOND FISH APPEARED AND DISAPPEARED, AND IT SEEMED AS IF THEY WERE DANCING A MERRY DANCE ON THE FRONT OF ROSES.
♪ ♪ MARIE LOOKED DOWN INTO THE WATER AND SAW THE IMAGE OF A BEAUTIFUL GIRL LOOKING UP AT HER.
"OH, MR. DROSSELMEYER, LOOK.
"IT MUST BE PRINCESS PIRLIPAT DOWN THERE.
SHE'S SMILING AT ME."
♪ "OH, MY DEAR MRS. STAHLBAUM, "THAT IS YOU, YOUR SWEET, SMILING FACE LOOKING AT YOU OUT OF THE WAVES."
♪ ♪ THE SPRAY FROM THE NOSTRILS OF THE DOLPHINS SENT BRILLIANT SHEATHS OF CRYSTALS INTO THE AIR THAT FELL BACK INTO THE WATER IN THE FORM OF SNOW.
♪ BUT INSTEAD OF BEING WHITE, THE LITTLE FLAKES WERE IN ALL THE COLORS OF THE RAINBOW.
♪ ♪ FASTER AND FASTER THEY SAILED ONWARD.
IT WAS ALMOST AS IF THEY WERE FLYING.
♪ ♪ AT THE SHORE, A DOZEN CHILDREN OF MANY COLORS DRESSED IN HUMMINGBIRD FEATHERS CARRIED THE BOAT WITH MARIE AND NUTCRACKER THROUGH THE CHRISTMAS FOREST.
AND SOON, MARIE SAW THE CAPITAL CITY IN THE DISTANCE.
AS THEY GOT CLOSER, MARIE COULD SEE THE ASTONISHING WALLS AND TOWERS OF THE CAPITAL.
IT WAS AS IF ONE FANTASTIC BUILDING FROM EVERY CITY IN THE WORLD WAS THERE, ONLY THEY WERE MADE OF CANDIED FRUITS AND CRYSTALIZED SUGAR.
THEY MERRY SOUNDS FROM WITHIN SUDDENLY BURST FORTH WHEN THE MACAROON GATES WERE OPENED FOR THEM.
♪ ♪ THE GREAT MARKETPLACE WAS TEEMING WITH THOUSANDS OF LITTLE PEOPLE, LAUGHING AND JOKING AND SINGING.
THERE WERE ELEGANT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GREEKS AND ARMENIANS, JEWS AND TYROLEANS, DERVISHES AND PRIESTS, SOLDIERS AND PREACHERS, SHEPHERDS AND BUFFOONS.
IN SHORT, EVERY KIND OF PERSON TO BE FOUND IN THE WORLD ALL LIVING TOGETHER.
♪ ♪ "MY," SAID MARIE, "WE CERTAINLY DON'T CARRY ON LIKE THAT WHERE I COME FROM."
THE SILVER SOLDIERS ALL STOOD AT ATTENTION WHEN THEY SAW THE NUTCRACKER.
THEIR CAPTAIN SALUTED AND SAID, "OH, DEAR PRINCE, YOU'VE COME AT LAST.
WELCOME TO BONBONBURG."
MARIE WAS ASTONISHED TO HEAR YOUNG DROSSELMEYER ADDRESSED AS A PRINCE.
THEN SHE LOOKED UP AND SAW THAT SHE WAS STANDING BEFORE THE MAGNIFICENT ROSE RED MARZIPAN CASTLE... ♪ WITH ITS HUNDRED TURRETS STREWN WITH VIOLETS AND TULIPS THAT WERE SO TALL THEY DISAPPEARED UP INTO THE CLOUDS.
♪ ♪ 4 YOUNG LADIES RAN TOWARDS HIM.
"OH, BROTHER, OUR DEAREST PRINCE.
YOU HAVE RETURNED."
AND AT THAT... ♪ EVERYONE IN THE TOWN SQUARE KNELT TO GREET THE RETURN OF THE PRINCE.
♪ ♪ NUTCRACKER WIPED A TEAR FROM HIS EYE, GRASPED MARIE'S HAND, AND RECOUNTED THE STORY OF HOW SHE HAD SAVED HIS LIFE.
NUTCRACKER'S WORDS SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM A FARTHER AND FARTHER DISTANCE.
CLOUDS AND SILVERY MIST SEEMED TO ENVELOPE MARIE AS SHE FELT LIKE SHE WAS FLOATING HIGHER AND HIGHER AND HIGHER AND... PLOP.
MARIE PLUNGED FROM AN ENORMOUS HEIGHT AND OPENED HER EYES ONLY TO FIND HERSELF IN HER LITTLE BED.
HER MOTHER WAS SAYING, "HOW CAN ANYONE SLEEP SO LONG?
BREAKFAST HAS BEEN READY FOR QUITE SOME TIME."
"OH, MOTHER, DEAR MOTHER, "WAIT UNTIL I TELL YOU WHERE YOUNG MR. DROSSELMEYER TOOK ME LAST NIGHT."
AND MARIE RECOUNTED THE ENTIRE STORY OF THE LAND OF CHRISTMAS TREES AND THE MARZIPAN CASTLE.
BUT ALL HER MOTHER COULD SAY WAS, "WHAT A LOVELY AND LONG DREAM YOU'VE HAD.
"BUT DON'T BE SILLY.
"THAT NUTCRACKER IS MADE OF WOOD AND IS IN THE GLASS CABINET DOWNSTAIRS."
THERE WAS LAUGHTER, NOT ONLY FROM MOTHER, BUT FROM FATHER, TOO, WHO WAS STANDING BEHIND HER.
"WELL, LOOK THEN.
"HERE ARE THE 7 LITTLE CROWNS THAT ONCE SAT ON THE HEAD "OF THE DREADFUL MOUSE KING.
EXPLAIN THAT IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME."
♪ AT THAT VERY MOMENT, GODFATHER DROSSELMEYER APPEARED AT THE DOORWAY, HAVING ARRIVED TO CHECK THE CLOCKS IN THE STAHLBAUM HOUSE.
HE LAUGHED, TOO.
"THAT'S JUST EMPTY TWADDLE.
NONSENSE, MARIE.
"DON'T YOU ALL REMEMBER "THOSE LITTLE CROWNS CAME FROM MY WATCH CHAIN?
I GAVE THEM TO YOU ON YOUR SECOND BIRTHDAY."
♪ TRUTH TO TELL, DR. AND MRS. STAHLBAUM DID NOT REMEMBER A THING ABOUT IT.
MARIE TRIED ONE MORE TIME.
"GODFATHER, YOU KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS.
"PLEASE TELL MAMA AND PAPA "THAT THE NUTCRACKER IS YOUR NEPHEW FROM NUREMBURG AND THAT HE GAVE ME THESE CROWNS."
DROSSELMEYER JUST SHOOK HIS HEAD AND MUTTERED SOMETHING ABOUT NONSENSE.
FATHER BECAME VERY STERN AND TOLD MARIE THAT HE HAD HAD ENOUGH OF HER FANTASTIC STORIES AND IF SHE DID NOT CEASE TELLING THEM, HE WOULD TAKE FROM THE GLASS CABINET ALL HER DOLLS AND THE NUTCRACKER AND THROW THEM OUT OF THE WINDOW.
♪ ♪ AS YOU CAN WELL IMAGINE, MARIE NEVER SAID ANOTHER WORD ABOUT HER ADVENTURES WITH THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING, NOT TO MENTION THE KRAKATUK NUT AND THE ENCHANTED KINGDOM.
NOR DID SHE EVER EXPRESS HER INTUITION ABOUT THE EXTRAORDINARY MAN WHO WOUND THE CLOCKS AND WAS KNOWN AS GODFATHER DROSSELMEYER.
AS THE YEARS WENT BY, MARIE WOULD FREQUENTLY SIT BEFORE THE GLASS CABINET LOOKING INTO THE EYES OF HER BELOVED NUTCRACKER.
SHE STOPPED PLAYING WITH HER FRIENDS AND BECAME KNOWN AS THE DREAMER.
ONE DAY WHILE GODFATHER WAS WINDING THE CLOCKS IN THE HOUSE AND MARIE WAS UNAWARE THAT SHE MIGHT BE OVERHEARD, SHE GAZED AT THE NUTCRACKER AND SAID ALOUD, "OH, DEAR MR. DROSSELMEYER, "IF YOU WERE TRULY ALIVE, "I WOULD NOT TREAT YOU THE WAY PRINCESS PIRLIPAT DID JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT A HANDSOME MAN."
♪ "HEY, HEY, NONSENSE!
ABSOLUTELY NONSENSE," SAID GODFATHER.
AND WITH THAT, THERE WAS AN ENORMOUS CRACK... [BANG] AND A BOOM.
[BOOM] MARIE FAINTED AND HAD FALLEN FROM HER CHAIR.
WHEN SHE AWOKE, HER MOTHER WAS HELPING HER UP.
"MARIE, YOU'RE ALL GROWN UP NOW.
"HOW COULD YOU FALL OFF YOUR CHAIR?
"GET YOURSELF READY.
"GODFATHER'S NEPHEW HAS JUST ARRIVED FROM NUREMBURG "FOR A VISIT.
NOW BE A GOOD GIRL."
♪ GODFATHER PUT ON HIS GLASS WIG, SLIPPED INTO A NEW YELLOW JACKET, AND SMILED AS MARIE WAS INTRODUCED TO YOUNG NATHANIEL DROSSELMEYER.
A SMALL AND WELL-BUILT MAN, HE WORE A SPLENDID RED COAT WITH GOLDEN BUTTONS AND BLACK BOOTS THAT WERE SO TIGHT THEY LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE PAINTED ON.
HE HAD A JEWELED SWORD AT HIS SIDE AND HIS HAIR WAS TIED IN A PONYTAIL AT THE BACK.
HE HAD BROUGHT WITH HIM SOME RED MARZIPAN ALONG WITH CANDIES AND DOLLS THAT MATCHED THE VERY CANDIES AND DOLLS THAT THE MOUSE KING HAD TAKEN FROM MARIE YEARS BEFORE.
THE YOUNG NATHANIEL HAD PERFECT MANNERS.
AND AFTER DINNER, HE ENTERTAINED THE STAHLBAUMS AND GODFATHER BY CRACKING NUTS IN HIS TEETH BY PULLING ON HIS PONYTAIL.
CRACK.
YES, EVEN THE HARDEST NUTS.
CRACK!
EVERYONE LAUGHED EXCEPT FOR MARIE WHO FOUND HERSELF BLUSHING.
♪ NATHANIEL AND MARIE THEN WALKED TO THE PARLOR.
AS THE TWO YOUNG PEOPLE PASSED THE OLD GLASS TOY CABINET, NATHANIEL TOOK MARIE'S HAND AND KNELT ON ONE KNEE.
♪ "OH, MY DEAR MISS STAHLBAUM, "BEHOLD AT YOUR FEET YOUR HAPPY DROSSELMEYER, "WHOSE LIFE YOU SAVED AT THIS VERY SPOT "ON THAT CHRISTMAS EVE WHEN YOU WERE JUST A LITTLE GIRL.
"YOU WERE KIND ENOUGH TO ACCEPT ME "EVEN AS I HAD TURNED UGLY "AND PROMISED THAT YOU WOULD NOT REJECT ME.
"NOW I HAVE RETURNED "AND I'M NO LONGER THE GROTESQUE NUTCRACKER AND HAVE REGAINED MY FORMER NOT UNPLEASANT LOOKS."
[LAUGHTER] "OH, MISS STAHLBAUM, "FAVOR ME WITH YOUR HAND "AND SHARE MY CROWN AND KINGDOM WITH ME, FOR I AM NOW THE KING OF MARZIPAN CASTLE."
♪ MARIE SMILED AND SAID QUIETLY... ♪ "DEAR HERR DROSSELMEYER, "YOU ARE KIND AND GENTLE, "AND SINCE YOU RULE A GRACEFUL AND CHARMING LAND "WITH VERY CHEERFUL AND VARIED PEOPLES, I ACCEPT YOU AS MY FIANCÉ."
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ A YEAR LATER, SO I'VE BEEN TOLD, HE CALLED FOR HER IN A GOLDEN CARRIAGE DRAWN BY SILVER HORSES.
22,000 OF THE MOST BRILLIANT FIGURINES ADORNED WITH PEARLS AND DIAMONDS DANCED AT THE WEDDING.
MARIE, THEY SAY, IS STILL THE QUEEN OF THE LAND OF CHRISTMAS FORESTS AND THE MAGNIFICENT MARZIPAN CASTLE.
♪ ♪ GODFATHER DROSSELMEYER WAS THERE, OF COURSE, TO WITNESS THE END OF THE STORY, A STORY HE LIKES TO TELL.
HE HAS CHANGED HIS NAME MANY TIMES.
SOMETIMES HE'S A GODFATHER, SOMETIMES SHE'S YOUR TEACHER, AND SOMETIMES DROSSELMEYER APPEARS AS AN ACTOR.
MOSTLY, THEY ARE STILL INVENTING GADGETS AND NEW WAYS TO TELL MAGICAL STORIES.
IN SHORT, THE MOST WONDERFUL THINGS IMAGINABLE CAN BE SEEN PROVIDED YOU HAVE THE RIGHT SORT OF EYES WITH WHICH TO SEE THEM AND BELIEVE.
AND THAT'S THE REAL STORY OF THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING.
ONLY A GREAT CLOCKMAKER COULD MAKE UP SUCH A TALE.
OF COURSE, IT'S JUST A FAIRY STORY.
BUT AS YOUNG MARIE ONCE SAID, "MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, IT'S ALSO TRUE."
♪ [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] MAUCERI: THE REAL STORY OF THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING WITH ALAN CUMMING, JOHN MAUCERI, AND THE ROYAL SCOTTISH NATIONAL ORCHESTRA.
PAUL PHILBERT APPLAUDING AS ONLY A TIMPANIST CAN.
AND MR. MAUCERI ASKS THE LEADER, MAYA IWABUCHI, TO STAND.
IT WAS WHILE HE WAS COMPOSING "THE NUTCRACKER" THAT TCHAIKOVSKY JOURNEYED TO NEW YORK CITY TO CONDUCT THE GRAND OPENING CONCERT OF CARNEGIE HALL IN 1891.
CARVED WOODEN NUTCRACKERS DRESSED AS SOLDIERS FIRST APPEARED IN GERMANY IN THE EARLY 1800s, INSPIRING HOFFMANN TO CREATE THE STORY YOU HAVE JUST HEARD.
HOFFMANN WAS A CONTEMPORARY OF MARY SHELLEY WHO WROTE "FRANKENSTEIN" IN 1816, THE SAME YEAR AS "THE NUTCRACKER."
HERE'S ALAN CUMMING RECEIVING A HERO'S WELCOME.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] ALAN GRADUATED FROM GLASGOW ROYAL CONSERVATOIRE OF MUSIC AND DRAMA IN 1985.
THIS WAS HIS DEBUT WITH THE RSNO AND THE WORLD PREMIERE OF "THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING."
YOU KNOW, E.T.A.
HOFFMANN HAD A PROFOUND PURPOSE IN WRITING HIS NUTCRACKER STORY.
FIRST OF ALL, HE WANTED TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO HOLD ON TO THEIR CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION.
HE ALSO TOLD A STORY IN WHICH A LITTLE GIRL SAVES THE PRINCE, WHICH IS THE VERY OPPOSITE OF "CINDERELLA," "SLEEPING BEAUTY," AND "SNOW WHITE."
NO WONDER ALEXANDRE DUMAS, THE MOST SUCCESSFUL FRENCH AUTHOR OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY, TRANSLATED IT IN 1845.
DUMAS WAS THE GRANDSON OF A FRENCH ARISTOCRAT AND AN AFRICAN HAITIAN SLAVE.
SURELY HE WANTED TO PROMOTE AN IMAGE OF A WORLD IN WHICH ALL RACES LIVED TOGETHER, A REASON MARIE AGREES TO MARRY KING NATHANIEL AT THE END OF THE STORY.
AND HOFFMANN'S NUTCRACKER CELEBRATES MENTORS AND TEACHERS.
FROM MERLIN TO MARY POPPINS TO AUNT ROSE AND GRANDMA BETTY, EVERYONE OF US IS THE RECIPIENT OF MANY DROSSELMEYERS, AND IF WE ARE VERY LUCKY, WE GET TO PLAY THAT ROLE IN OUR ADULT LIVES.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
A FEW THINGS BEFORE WE GO.
THE AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION WANTED ME TO TELL YOU NOT TO CRACK NUTS WITH YOUR TEETH.
USE A NUTCRACKER.
AND THE NEXT TIME YOU GO TO THE THEATER TO SEE OR DANCE "THE NUTCRACKER" BALLET, YOU WILL KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE CURTAIN GOES UP AND AFTER THE FINAL CURTAIN COMES DOWN.
THIS IS JOHN MAUCERI.
ON BEHALF OF ALAN CUMMING, THE ROYAL SCOTTISH NATIONAL ORCHESTRA, AND THE CONDUCTOR WHO CALLS HIMSELF JOHN MAUCERI, WE WISH YOU ALL LOVE AND JOY.
AND UNTIL NEXT TIME, TAKE GOOD CARE.
