Act 1:
First scene: The street
It is Christmas Eve at the turn of the century. A lively crowd prepares to celebrate Christmas.

Second scene: At home
Family and friends are gathered together in the Stahlbaum’s comfortable bourgeois home. The Stahlbaums welcome their guests. Godfather Drosselmeyer arrives, his arms piled high with gifts. He amuses the children with a marionette show and magic tricks. Clara, her brother Fritz and her sister Luisa dress up and, with Drosselmeyer’s help, play at being clockwork toys. (Fritz’s soldier variation, Clara’s doll variation, Luisa’s Turkish variation).

Third scene: The Christmas Tree
Drosselmeyer gives Clara a beautiful toy: a nutcracker in the form of a smart little wooden soldier (Clara’s variation). Jealous Fritz breaks the nutcracker, reducing Clara to tears. Drosselmeyer shoos Fritz away, mends the toy and gives it back to Clara (Clara’s variation, disturbed by the noisy comings and goings of her brother with his makeshift carriage). The grandparents enter (Grandfather’s dance).

Fourth scene: The dream
Clara, feeling tired, curls up in an armchair. The clock strikes midnight. Immediately, from every corner of the room and even from the fireplace, rats begin to invade the room. Terrified, Clara fights with all her force, throwing her dolls at them in order to protect her little nutcracker. The rats double their attack upon the arrival of their king. The lead soldiers march out of their fort, but they are no match for the rats. The nutcracker awakens and leads forth a cavalry regiment. After fierce combat, the king is defeated.

Fifth scene - The Snow Kingdom
As if by magic, the scene changes. The living room gives way to a beautiful winter garden. The nutcracker, once so stiff and mechanical, takes on the appearance of a handsome young man (curiously resembling Drosselmeyer). He invites Clara to dance (adage) among the snowflakes (Snowflakes Waltz).

Act 2: 
First scene: At home
Clara is still plunged in her tender dream with the prince (pas de deux). The setting returns to the Stahlbaum’s living room.

Second scene: The nightmare
Clara is overcome by new terrors when vampires, jealous of her nutcracker, attack. Drosselmeyer alias the Prince attempts to calm Clara and to convince her that it is merely an illusion. There is no reason to fear her own family and guests!

Third scene: The journey
Still frightened and upset, Clara continues her visions of family and guests who are now transported away to faraway lands: Fritz and Luisa are in Spain, her grandparents in Arabia, her mother and father in Russia, the guests are either in China or the France of Marie-Antoinette’s era…

Fourth scene: The ball
Clara joins the Prince alias Drosselmeyer in the middle of the ball (Flowers Waltz and Pas de deux).

Fifth scene : Clara Awakens
Mr and Mrs Stahlbaum awaken Clara who has fallen asleep during the party in front of the guests, who are now beginning to leave.

Sixth scene: The street
Clara is all alone in the street, confused and upset.