Tchaikovsky sadly died a little less than a year after the original 1892 production of The Nutcracker. Critics were not impressed with the piece and its future did not look bright. It wasn’t until George Balanchine’s production of the ballet in 1954 that the show began to gain popularity. Within a decade, The Nutcracker established itself as an essential holiday tradition. Tchaikovsky never knew the lasting impact of his work.
Tchaikovsky sadly died a little less than a year after the original 1892 production of The Nutcracker. Critics were not impressed with the piece and its future did not look bright. It wasn’t until George Balanchine’s production of the ballet in 1954 that the show began to gain popularity. Within a decade, The Nutcracker established itself as an essential holiday tradition. Tchaikovsky never knew the lasting impact of his work.