在十九世紀後半，法國浪漫舞劇逐漸衰落，舞台轉移至俄國，在馬林斯基皇家劇院經理培提芭的大力提倡下，俄國成為芭蕾舞劇的領導國。西元1891年柴可夫斯基著手寫了一齣舞劇《胡桃鉗》，是根據霍夫曼的童話故事所改編，共有二幕三場。舞劇中使用了十五首曲子，柴可夫斯基從中選了八首，做成《胡桃鉗》組曲，包括(1)小小序曲(2)進行曲(3)糖果仙子之舞(4)俄羅斯舞(5)阿拉伯舞(6)中國舞(7)笛舞(8)花舞。其中「糖果仙子之舞」使用了鐘琴，此樂器是他在旅途巴黎第一次聽到的優美音色，非常喜愛，立刻將鐘琴列入樂器編制，效果也十分成功。
 

1. Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Overture 3:07
2. Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Act I, Scene 2: March 2:31
3. Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Act I, Scene 6: The Magic Spell Begins 6:21
4. Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Act I, Scene 7: The Battle Between the Nutcracker & the Mouse King 3:21
5. Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Act I, Scene 8: Scene in the Pine Forest (Journey through the Snow) 4:05
6. Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Act I, Scene 9: Waltz of the Snowflakes 6:09
7. Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Act II, Scene 12: Chocolate: Spanish Dance 1:12
8. Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Act II, Scene 12: Coffee: Arabian Dance 2:57
9. Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Act II, Scene 12: Tea: Chinese Dance 1:02
10. Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Trepak (Russian Dance) 1:08
11. Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Act II, Scene 12: Dance of the Mirlitons 2:08
12. Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Act II, Scene 12: Mother Gigogne & the Clowns 2:36
13. Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Act II, Scene 13: Waltz of the Flowers 6:37
14. Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Act II, Scene 14: Pas de deux: Dance of the Prince & the Sugar-Plum Fairy 2:18
15. Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Act II, Scene 14: Variation II: Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy 2:19
16. Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Act II, Scene 14: Coda 1:23
17. Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker: Act II, Scene 15: Final Waltz & Apotheosis 5:10