In 1891 Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky was commissioned by the Imperial Theaters of St. Petersburg to compose the music for a new ballet which, it was hoped, would repeat the great success of his Sleeping Beauty ballet. This new ballet was to be based on the scenario of Hoffmann's The Nutcracker and the King of the Mice and to be composed within the strict specifications of Marius Petipa, the choreographer. Tchaikovsky worked for a year on the music, plagued by self-doubt, and when the Nutcracker Ballet was premiered, it was met with mixed reviews. nevertheless the Nutcracker prevailed over the years - today there are productions around the world and the ballet is a firmly grounded tradition. The music has endured, but the ballet itself had been modified and adapted into both conventional and unconventional programs. the Nutcracker Ballet covers the complete history of the ballet from the story and Tchaikovsky's composition to the first performance in St. Petersburg in 1892. Jack Anderson analyzes the ballet by examining the various designs, sets and costumes used throughout the years, and by reviewing the interpretations of renowned choreographers and dancers. Such famous names as Vainonen and the Leningrad Kirov Ballet, the Pavlova Company, Sergueeff, Benois, Markova, The New York City Ballet, right up to the recent Nureyev and Baryshnikov productions, plus many others help to make this book as comprehensive as it is unforgettable. Over 150 color and monochrome illustrations enhance the study of this charming and popular ballet which has indeed encountered the triumph originally sought. - Dust jacket.