The Nutcracker
(Please click on the note to start
the music.)
Baby Amanda: Let's quickly
continue with our next story:
The Nutcracker, a ballet with transcendent
music by Tchaikovsky. Please pause as long as you wish at any of
the photos to fully enjoy the music.
Baby Bill: Will there be
an angel here, Camille?
Camille: I can't say positively,
so we'd better keep a close watch -- just in case there is.
Baby Amanda: Our story begins
. . .
It is Christmas Eve and Herr Drosselmeier,
the magical toy maker, attends a party at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Stahlbaum
and his Godchild, Clara.
Clara (portrayed convincingly by
Nadia created by France Briere)
Herr Drosselmeier brings gifts
for all the children, and after teasing Clara, finally presents her with
a wonderful Nutcracker doll. In the midst of the party, her handsome Nutcracker
is broken, but Drosselmeier mends it with a ribbon from Clara's hair, and
the party resumes.
Baby Bill interjects: I just
know we'll see an angel soon. Clara is sweet enough to be one herself.
Baby Amanda: Baby Bill, your
obsession with angels is interrupting the flow of the story. But
since the Nutcracker is mostly about the music -- no harm done. But
let us continue. . .
When the guests have departed, Drosselmeier
transports Clara into a world of
fantasy where time is suspended.
Baby Bill interjects again:
Aha! Fantasy! I'm just sure there will be. . .
Baby Amanda: We'll see, Baby
Bill. Right now, I want to hear the music and be transported to a
land of fantasy. I'm not reading any further. Let's just look
at the pictures and enjoy the magical dances from many lands along with
Clara and her Nutcracker. Or is he really a prince?
(Please click on the note to start
the music.)
(Please click on the note to start
the music.)
Baby Bill interjects yet again:
Who was that radiant vision? She must be an angel. I'm sure
of it.
Baby Amanda: What are you
talking about, Baby Bill? There were only toy soldiers and fairies.
Your imagination is running wild. There are no angels in The Nutcracker.
Let the dancing continue. .
(Please click on the note to start
the music.)
(Please click on the note to start
the music.)
Baby Bill, excited and blubbering:
There she was again! Surely you saw her this time.
Baby Amanda: Oh, be still,
Baby Bill. No angels in The Nutcracker, remember? Repeat after
me. . .
(Please click on the note to start
the music.)
(Please click on the note to start
the music.)
Baby Bill: Well, I saw her
whether you did or not. Three times, in fact. That proves she's
real.
Baby Amanda: It only proves
you have a vivid imagination -- and maybe that you need a nap. All
I saw was a bevy of small fairies, soldiers, gingerbread boys, etc.
Oh, one of the flower fairies has wings. Is she the one you're talking
about?
Baby Bill: No, Baby Amanda.
She was a vision of loveliness the same size as all the girls in Doll Land.
Camille, do you think I'm imagining things, too?
Camille: Don't fret, Baby
Bill. You're perfectly sane. But for now, just enjoy Clara
as she dances with her Nutcracker Prince. Then all will be revealed.
. .
(Please click on the note to start
the music.)
Baby Bill: Okay, The Nutcracker
is a fun story with wonderful music. But Camille, tell me what you
know about my
angel.
Camille: Well, actually I
do know a lot about her. She's. . .
my sister, Annaliese (by Carole
Stimac).
Camille continues: Annaliese
loves to dress up in fanciful costumes, so she and Baby Amanda and I had
the clever idea of having her appear seemingly only to you as if she were
an angel. Forgive us, Baby Bill? It was all in fun -- and because
we love you.
Baby Bill: Nothing to forgive.
She's beautiful and will always be an angel to me.
Baby Amanda: Great!
All's well that ends well. But wait. . . it isn't the end.
We still have another story book to read. Ooh! And then there
are gifts to open.
Please join us again after Baby Bill has calmed down and I've had some refreshment, i.e., Coca-Cola and chocolate. After all, it is Christmas Eve.
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to go to the next story)
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to go to the previous story)