Union Symphony is pleased this season to partner with the Union County Youth Ballet for their twenty-fourth production of The Nutcracker by Piotr Tchaikovsky. Based on the story by E. T. A. Hoffmann and choreographed by Marius Petipa, this ballet has been delighting audiences since 1892. The magical story of young Clara and the toys under her family’s Christmas Tree—The Nutcracker in battle with the Mouse King and their travel to the Land of Sweets—includes some of the best-loved melodies ever written. In Tchaikovsky’s colorful score (“Waltz of the Flowers”, “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”), both the celesta and bass clarinet were introduced to the symphony orchestra.

More information is available online at www.ucyb.org.