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MARIUS PETIPA
(see general bio at Swan Lake)

Scenarist

Petipa is here presented in an unexpected light; a writer of a musical script. This role is different from a librettist's task in that the scenarist
communicates to the other artistic creators exclusively, in this case to Tchaikovsky and Ivanov. The librettist communicates ultimately to the
audience. Petipa was accustomed to working with the "dansant" composers who could often assemble a ballet-to-order practically on the spot.

He had intended to take the choreography of The Nutcracker for himself, but illness prevented him from doing so. He deferred to his assistant, Lev
Ivanov, providing him with "advice and directions" in the staging of the work. He had devised the whole scheme of the ballet beforehand and wrote to
Tchaikovsky of the exact nature and duration of the music he should write, as:

Act I: #5 The President orders a march played.

64 measures of march, each child receives gifts, All this happens during the march.

#6 Galop for the children - 48 measures

#6 revised Entry of the guests dressed in costume. 16 measures for the entry. Then a rococo dance - minuet time - Bye-bye Mister Dumolet.(?!)

For Tchaikovsky's reaction to this kind of musical merchant tailoring, see his article under this heading, and the general biographical sketch under Swan Lake.

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