The Nutcracker | Day 7

The Nutcracker is, hands down, one of my favorite Christmas albums, movies, tv specials; let's just say it, one of my favorite things about Christmas in general.  It is so special to me because it really embodies Christmas. I love that the music is beautiful, haunting, lively, emotional and tells a story so deftly without words. I love that that story is easy to follow, and easy to adapt, which leads to so many versions The Nutcracker (Youri Vámos; 2009), Royal Opera House’s The Nutcracker (2000), Bolshoi Ballet: The Nutcracker, and The Nutcracker: Mariinsky 2012 of the ballet. I love that I can watch those many versions or even the same version each year and discover something new. I love the old world feeling of ballet and the spectacle of seeing it on the stage with an orchestra. It just seems so delightfully charming. 

I have great memories of the Nutcracker at Christmastime. I am lucky that I grew up in Boston, which has one of the preeminent ballet companies in the country and puts on a magical month of performances of the Nutcracker every year. I am also lucky that when I was a kid I got to dress up and spend a lovely evening with various family members at that ballet.

In recent years attending the ballet in person has not been in the cards for me, but I have been able to spend time with my mother watching televised performances thanks to OvationTV's Battle of the Nutcrackers. They show four very different versions of the classic ballet over several nights and it is just the best. That's the only word for it. This year we will be treated to The Nutcracker (Youri Vámos; 2009), Royal Opera House’s The Nutcracker (2000), Bolshoi Ballet: The Nutcracker, and The Nutcracker: Mariinsky 2012, and I am really excited. I think I've seen 3 out of 4 of them, so it will be fun to catch a new one, but also great to see the other ones again, particularly the Bolshoi, which is brilliant. I particularly enjoy comparing the way each one interprets the "Grand Divertissement" where all the sweets dance their own dance. It is really quite fascinating. I really suggest you try to catch at least one of the performances (the Bolshoi, if you can). They start on December 15th, but are repeated frequently. All the details are in this video. 

Vote for your favorite throughout December -- Watch the winner December 24 8ET/5PT Since Tchaikovsky created The Nutcracker almost 125 years ago, it's become a worldwide sensation. Battle of the nutcrackers is Ovation's holiday present to the families of America, a playful twist on the holiday tradition. Now in its eighth year.

So I leave you with my favorite audio recordings of the Nutcracker. 

First Place: The Nutcracker - Sir Simon Rattle and the Berliner Philharmoniker. The gold standard in my opinion. Zippy and crisp, just the right temp, well orchestrated, and beautifully recorded. 

Runner Up: The Nutcracker - Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Chorus, not quite as crisp as the Berlin one, but I loved and listened to this one for years. It has this immersive quality that is magnificent and is not always easy in a recording medium.

If just want the Nutcracker Suite: Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker Highlights - The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Originally the Nutcracker was not that popular and most people only listened to the Nutcracker Suite-- basically all the greatest hits. I prefer the complete version, but this recording is very nice, it feels like you are actually in the Opera House. Almost!

If you want something a little different: I just discovered Duke Ellington's version of the Nutcracker Suite, which is a beautiful reinterpretation, which I would love to see danced.

Let me know if you catch a showing of the Nutcracker on TV or in person. Comment below or get in touch via social media.