Kratt (ballet)

{{Short description|1943 ballet by Eduard Tubin}}

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File:E.Tubina ooper "Kratt".JPG

Kratt is an Estonian ballet in four acts by Eduard Tubin.{{cite web |title=Tubin, Eduard {{!}} Eesti Muusika Infokeskus |url=https://www.emic.ee/?sisu=heliloojad&mid=32&id=99&lang=est&action=view&method=teosed |website=www.emic.ee |accessdate=5 May 2020 |language=et}} It is considered to be the first Estonian ballet.{{cite web |title=Eduard Tubin - Kratt |url=http://opetaja.edu.ee/eesti_muusika/composers/tubin/kratt.htm |website=opetaja.edu.ee |accessdate=5 May 2020 |language=et}} The libretto is written by Elfriede Saarik. The ballet is entirely based on folk tunes.

The premiere was on 31 March 1943 in Vanemuine Theatre. The ballet became infamous in Estonia due to the Soviet March Bombing of Tallinn in 1944, when the bombing started as the ballet was being performed at the Estonia Theatre, which was heavily damaged right after the theatre had been evacuated.

Tubin started to create the ballet already in 1938.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} A second version was created in 1940–1941, and a third version in 1960.