Today, Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker is one of the most endearing and beloved live events of the year. When it debuted on Dec. 18, 1892 in St. Petersburg, Russia the ballet received a lukewarm reception at best. Even Tchaikovsky’s classic score received mixed reviews. The Nutcracker’s premiere was part of a double bill with Tchaikovsky’s final opera, Iolanta. The Nutcracker went on last and ended shortly after midnight — that’s one long night of music.
The lateness of the hour was responsible for more than a few of the negative critiques. The production’s principal ballerina, Antoinetta Dell-Era, didn’t hit the stage as the Sugar Plum Fairy until the waning moments of the second act. Basically the Nutcracker made the audience wait for the ballet’s star attraction.