New York City Ballet, "The Nutcracker," classic ballet in two acts, four scenes and prologue, based on E.T.A. Hoffmann's tale, "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," (1816), music by P. Tschaikovsky (courtesy of the Tschaikovsky Foundation), choreography by George Balanchine, scenery and lighting by Rouben Ter-Arutunian, costumes by Karinska, violin solo: Earl Carlyss, boys' choir used in the Snow Scene from the Church of the Transfiguration (The Little Church Around the Corner), choir master: Stuart Gardner, the children appearing in "The Nutcracker," are students of The School of American Ballet, this production of "The Nutcracker," was made possible by a grant from Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Conducted by Robert Irving or Hugo Fiorato.