TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2026
The Nutcracker Ballet
7:30 PM | MANSFIELD THEATER, GREAT FALLS
PRE-CONCERT TALK | 6:30 PM | FREE
SINGLE TICKETS AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
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CONCERT SPONSOR
WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS CONCERT
It has been many years since the Great Falls Symphony has performed The Nutcracker live alongside a full ballet production. This special collaboration brings dancers and musicians together again, giving audiences a rare opportunity to experience Tchaikovsky’s beloved holiday classic with the power and excitement of a live orchestra, just as it would have been in the 1800's.
With a live orchestra, no two performances of The Nutcracker are exactly alike. Every leap, turn, and dramatic moment unfolds in real time with Tchaikovsky’s iconic score, creating an energy and connection between the stage and orchestra that a recording simply can’t replicate.
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TUESDAY
24
NOVEMBER, 2026
CONCERT START 7:30
PRE-CONCERT TALK 6:30
DURATION
140 minutes
(includes 20-min. intermission)
EVERYONE BELONGS AT THE SYMPHONY
Clap when you feel it.
Pre-concert talk | 6:30 PM | Free
Enjoy your concession drink at your seat.
Phones on silent are welcome.
Concert Details
THE PROGRAM
Act I
The Nutcracker takes place on Christmas Eve at the home of young Clara and her family. During a festive Christmas party, Clara’s mysterious godfather, Drosselmeyer, arrives with gifts and magical toys. He gives Clara a wooden nutcracker in the shape of a soldier, which her brother Fritz accidentally breaks. Drosselmeyer repairs it, and Clara becomes especially attached to the toy.
After the guests have departed and the household has gone to sleep, Clara returns to the Christmas tree to check on her Nutcracker. At midnight, the room begins to transform: the Christmas tree grows to an enormous size, toys come to life, and an army of mice appears, led by the Mouse King. The Nutcracker leads a group of toy soldiers into battle against the mice. When the Nutcracker is threatened by the Mouse King, Clara intervenes, helping him defeat his enemy. The Nutcracker is then transformed into a handsome Prince.
Clara and the Prince journey through a magical winter landscape, where they are surrounded by dancing snowflakes.
Act II
Clara and the Prince arrive in the Kingdom of Sweets, where they are welcomed by the Sugar Plum Fairy. The Prince recounts their battle with the Mouse King and Clara’s bravery.
A celebration is held in Clara’s honor, with a series of dances representing delicacies and characters from around the world: Spanish Chocolate, Arabian Coffee, Chinese Tea, the Russian Trepak, the Dance of the Reed Flutes, and Mother Gigogne and her children. The festivities culminate in the Waltz of the Flowers and a grand pas de deux featuring the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.
The ballet concludes with a final waltz and apotheosis, bringing Clara’s extraordinary Christmas adventure to an end.
ABOUT THE MUSIC
PROGRAM NOTES WRITTEN BY ROBERT KAHN
One of today’s most beloved holiday traditions, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker started much less promising. Premiered in St. Petersburg in 1892, the ballet received a mixed reception, and few could have predicted that it would eventually become one the most frequently performed ballets in history. Its magical story, colorful characters, and unforgettable music have captivated generations of audiences.
Based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s fantastical tale, The Nutcracker follows young Clara on a Christmas Eve adventure that leads from a battle with the Mouse King to the enchanting Land of Sweets. Along the way, Tchaikovsky paints each scene with remarkable imagination. From the shimmering Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy with its groundbreaking use of the celesta, to the elegant Waltz of the Flowers and the majestic Pas de Deux, the score overflows with memorable melodies and vivid orchestral colors.
Nutcracker
1891
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
1840–1893
Arr. William McDermott
120 MINUTES
What makes The Nutcracker so enduring is its ability to recapture a sense of wonder. Beneath the festive setting lies a story about childhood imagination, transformation, and the magic
hidden in ordinary moments. Often presented in the shortened version through the Suite, the Great Falls Symphony is excited to present the ballet in its entirety, in collaboration with the Montana Ballet Company.