Rudolf Nureyev: The Nutcracker

Rudolf Nureyev staged The Nutcracker for the first time in November 1967 for the Royal Swedish Ballet following the request of Erick Bruhn. This version was to be revived several times in London, Milan, Buenos Aires and Berlin.

The original libretto by Alexandre Dumas was completely revised by Nureyev who gave his version of The Nutcracker a psychoanalytic dimension: Drosselmeyer and the Prince are one and the same person, representing the ideal man dreamt up by the heroine, ready to leave her childhood and become a teenager.

In 1988, Rudolf, produced a filmed production of the ballet with Elisabeth Maurin in the role of Clara, and with Laurent Hilaire playing Drosselmeyer.

It was on the film set for The Nutcracker in the studios in Bry sur Marne that Rudolf Nureyev appointed Elisabeth Maurin principal dancer.