All language subtitles for The Nutcracker And The Mouse King (2011)_en

HI, I'M JOHN MAUCERI.

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YTS.MX

AND WELCOME TO "THE NUTCRACKER
AND THE MOUSE KING."

I SUPPOSED EVERY ONE OF YOU
KNOWS "THE NUTCRACKER" BALLET

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YTS.MX

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.