Pas de Deux

Since it's premier on December 18th, 1892 in the Imperial Marinsky Theater, The Nutcracker has grown enormously in popularity. For American ballet companies alone, it accounts for at least 40% of their annual revenues. The Nutcracker is so popular, that it has produced at least two animated versions, along with numerous live, filmed versions. Parts have been used in Disney's Fantasia, and have led to a Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn jazz arrangement of the music. For the vast majority, there are certain melodies from the classical genre that have become very recognizable. Some of the more familiar segments, "Waltz of The Flowers", "Arabian Dance", among many, can be heard in many recordings, and have been used in lots of instrumental music instruction book. However, the Pas de Deux is more familiar to ballet aficionados. The inspiration for the melancholy theme can be attributed to the death of Tchaikowsky's sister, who died before he actually started the work.