Paris Opera Ballet

The Nutcracker

In Cinemas 25, 26 & 29 Jul 2026
Conductor
Andrea Quinn
Orchestra
Orchestre de l’Opera national de Paris
Cast
Dorothée Gilbert (Clara), Guillaume Diop (Drosselmeyer/The Prince)
Music
Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky
Choreography
Rudolf Nureyev
Designs
Nicholas Georgiadis
Duration
Approx. 2h10 incl. an interval
Captured live from Opéra Bastille, Paris, Dec 2023

Ballet in two acts (1985)

Celebrate Christmas in July with Rudolf Nureyev’s Paris Opera Ballet reinterpretation of The Nutcracker.

Snowflakes, flowers and enchanted landscapes form the backdrop to a dazzling choreography, with sets and costumes emphasising the strangeness of E.T.A. Hoffman’s original 1816 tale that inspired Marius Petipa's 1892 ballet.

One Christmas Eve, young Clara (Dorothée Gilbert) receives a nutcracker puppet and dreams of a fantasy world where toys and anxieties come alive. Guided by the wooden puppet who has become Prince Charming (Guillaume Diop), she bravely confronts her fears and desires in a tale of self-discovery, brought to life through Tchaikovsky's sparkling, colourful score.

Patrons please note: Online sales for this production are not presently available for sessions at Palace Cinemas (VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD, WA), however, advance tickets for these venues can now be purchased in person at the box office.

Paris Opera Ballet

The Paris Opera Ballet, rich in historical tradition, stages some 180 performances per season in Paris, the French regions and abroad. Over the years it has played host to many of the world’s greatest choreographers: George Balanchine, Serge Lifar, Rudolf Nureyev, Roland Petit, Maurice Béjart, and of course Pina Bausch.

See more productions from: Opéra national de Paris