English National Ballet performing The Nutcracker Dec 18, 2024

English National Ballet performing The Nutcracker

Every holiday season, as snow begins to fall and Christmas lights twinkle in the night, the story of "The Nutcracker" comes to life on stages around the world. Written by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1892, this beloved ballet is based on E.T.A. Hoffmann"s fairy tale "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King." Set on Christmas Eve, it follows a young girl named Clara, who goes on an adventure with the Nutcracker Prince as they battle the evil Mouse King. Many renowned ballet companies present their rendition of this classic every year, including the New York City Ballet, the Boston Ballet and the English National Ballet, pictured here. Tchaikovsky"s score is noted for its use of the celesta, an instrument with a bell-like tone, which perfectly captures the fairy-tale atmosphere.

© Caroline Holden/Alamy Stock Photo

palette

Today in History

Gateway to Latin America
Dec 18, 2023Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Apr 12, 2025International Day of Human Space Flight
Oct 3, 2023Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia
Apr 18, 2024International Day for Monuments and Sites
Dec 5, 2024Tufa formation on Mono Lake, California, United States
Sport where you least expect it
Angel of the sea
An apex predator
Aug 16, 2025Colourful beehives, Italy
May 30, 2024Everglades National Park, Florida, USA
Apr 20, 2025Easter
Jellies in a world all their own
A train journey to remember
Aug 30, 2024International Whale Shark Day
Jun 15, 2024Nazaré, Portugal
Jul 3, 2024Meerkat family
The Jewel of Hampi
Dec 10, 2024Lands End, Cornwall, England
Aug 30, 2023Celebrating sibling bonds
Apr 23, 2024World Book Day
Hangin around
The dawn of a new beginning
Nov 8, 2024Glacial rivers, Iceland
Apr 13, 2024Apple trees in spring, Germany
Mar 7, 2025Plum blossoms, China
Apr 15, 2024Centraal Station, Antwerp, Belgium
Trusty water-shifters
There’s more to Pisa than leaning towers
The rainbow bridge
Who uses this grassy bridge?
Jan 10, 2024Mylopotamos, Thessaly, Greece