"The Nutcracker" at HNK Split on 18 December - Tchaikovsky's Ballet in the Orlikowsky Choreography That Became Croatia's Benchmark

The Ballet of the Croatian National Theatre in Split performs Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" on 18 December from 19:00. The Christmas classic returns to the Split stage a week before Christmas.

The Split production is based on the choreography of Ukrainian choreographer Waclaw Orlikowsky, who staged "The Nutcracker" in Zagreb in 1970. According to the theatre, his version became the benchmark for every later production of this ballet in Croatia. Fifty-six years on, his reading is still the yardstick.

Why Tchaikovsky? He is one of the few composers who wrote music in close collaboration with choreographers, so his works are not only musically and theatrically perfect but make the body want to dance. The story of the girl Clara and the wooden doll appeals to children and adults alike, and the choreography leaves the dancers room to show what they can do.

Tickets come in six categories on mojekarte.hr, from 5 to 35 euros, roughly 308 to 2,156 denars. Subscribers got first pick, and general sale has been open since 2 November, so you'll need to hurry for the better rows.