The Nutcracker, Ballet and Orchestra, on tour and in Paris in 2025 - our review

For the festive season, there's no shortage of shows in Paris. There are, of course, those aimed at the little ones and featuring the world's most famous bearded man, and then there are those inviting you on a magical journey and considered great classics of the genre. Such is the case with The Nutcracker. The famous masterpiece returns to France this winter with a series of not-to-be-missed performances: on tour in the regions from November 3, 2024 to December 28, 2024, and in Paris for several days, from January 7 to 12, 2025 at the Palais des Congrès, in the capital's 17th arrondissement.

This two-act ballet is by no means a novelty. First presented to the public in December 1892 in St. Petersburg at the Mariinsky Theatre, the show has since toured the world, each time with the same amazement at this incredible ballet performed by incredible dancers and carried by Tchaikovsky's mythical music, performed here by an orchestra, and all sublimated by breathtaking sets and costumes.

• To be read
• Ballet Preljocaj: two new works by the famous choreographer at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées
• The Wall at the Palais des Congrès: Contemporary ballet inspired by Pink Floyd
• Tips for the week of December 23 - 29, 2024 in Paris: free or cheap outings

How can you resist this unforgettable score and a story that continues to captivate young and old alike? A world-famous Christmas tale, The Nutcracker tells the story of young Clara, who receives a wooden, gentleman-shaped nutcracker as a present. One night, the toys come to life and the nutcracker leads a fierce battle against the house mice. The nutcracker transforms into Prince Charming, taking Clara into his fairytale kingdom.

Experience all the beauty of this tale and ballet from November 3, 2024 to December 28, 2024 in the French regions, and from January 7 to 12, 2025 at the Palais des Congrès in Paris, with a new production as every year!

Our verdict:

The Nutcracker through the eyes of a child and those of an adult loses not an ounce of enchantment. The magic remains unchanged, and memories resurface ...

Arabesques, sissones, pas chassés, dégagés, the ballerinas come to life in perfect symbiosis, sometimes in the heart of a glittering snowy landscape, sometimes in a ceremonial hall or in front of a castle worthy of the most beautiful fairy tales. These stars in silk tutus appeal to the emotions and admiration of little girls, and even older ones, who have always secretly, even unconsciously, dreamed of becoming dancers.

The colorful harmony of the carefully crafted costumes, twirling to the rhythm of the orchestra, accentuates the magnificence of this iconic ballet-féérie with its enchanting charm.

I'd almost forgotten the twists and turns... That childhood "trauma" that resurfaces with almost the same intensity with the arrival of the Mouse King and his sharp-toothed, ungainly minions.

Conversely, the celesta's crystalline melody still resonates in our heads long after the show has ended...