Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker

Advantages: Beautiful, carefree winding melodies, memorable sequences, wonderful for the christmas season.
Disadvantages: Absolutely none.

...Introduction The Nutcracker Ballet remains the most popular of Tchaikovsky's later works, despite being released to low acclaim during the 1890's it grew into one of the most renowned and loved classical compositions to date. Indeed, even Disney created a feature film : Fantasia, which featured Mickey Mouse as a wizards apprentice, his actions backed by the various themes from the Nutcracker ballad. Throughout last century and through into this one, the Nutcracker has proven popular in concerts all over the world, the ballad soon gained a reputation as a festive ballad, in part due to the light and airy melodies heard throughout the entire piece that excellently compliment the festive tale. Thus, most concerts run from late November through until early January. Ticket prices vary, ranging from around a tenner to fifty pounds... Read review

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Advantages: Exquisite dance music. A fesrive fantasia.
Disadvantages: A little too fast moving

...With all the festivities of Christmas now begun, we are bombarded with advertisements of Christmas Films, Pantomimes and CDs. Among these, and often overlooked, is The Nutcracker composed by Peter Llyich Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky was already well known for his Ballet music when he composed the music for the Nutcracker in 1892 with compositions for Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty already completed. Both had, however, been unfavourably received by the contemporary audiences and critics, Not discouraged, the director of The Imperial Theatre in St. Petersburg, Vsevolozhsky commissioned Tchaikovsky to compose another ballet. Vsevolozhsky himself suggested that an adaptation of E. T. A. Hoffmann’s story, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by Alexander Dumas, be used as a subject for the ballet. Tchaikovsky was not originally impressed... Read review

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Advantages: Wonderful Recording, rich strings and great dynamics
Disadvantages: All other versions you hear will disappoint

...My first introduction to classical music was through some compliation CDs that my dad bought when I was a teenager. They were called " The Classic Experience" and came in a series of double discs. This collection whet my classical appetite, and gave me a healthy appreciation for the works of a certain Mr Tchaikovsky. I adore everything he has written. Among my favourites are the ballet suites. Some of these will be very familiar to you, even if you don't frequent the ballet. Though you may not know them by name, you will probably recognise them when you hear them. The big issue of me with classical music is dynamics. Unless you live in a very quiet house int he coutryside, listening to classical music can often be quite a chore; one minute it's too loud, the next minute you can't hear it, and fiddling with the volume nob can... Read review

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