The room rises around Clara, while the little figure in her arms still belongs to a familiar world. Before long, the music will change its proportions too. i Work Information Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893) Title: The Nutcracker, Op. 71 — Act I Year of composition: 1891–1892 Premiere: 18 December 1892, Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg; conducted by Riccardo Drigo. This corresponds to 6 December in the Russian calendar then in use. Genre: First act of a fairy ballet Musical period: Romanticism Structure: Two scenes: Nos. 1–7 in the house, followed by Nos. 8–9 in the winter forest. The Overture precedes the act as a separate number. Duration: approx. 40–50 minutes, depending on performance and theatrical choices Instrumentation: Large symphony orchestra, including two harps, varied percussion and toy instruments; wordless chorus in No. 9