Poster Polish National Ballet performing The Nutcracker
Polish National Ballet performing The Nutcracker
Photo: Ewa Krasucka, via Wikimedia Commons
Performance Today®

Twists on the Nutcracker

One measure of the lasting influence of a piece of music is how many other musicians have given it their own twist. On today's show, join us for some of the fun, creative takes that have been inspired by The Nutcracker by Peter Tchaikovsky.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Peter Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker: Parents and Grandfather
Berlin Philharmonic; Semyon Bychkov, conductor
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker
Philips 420237

Peter Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker: Miniature Overture
Berlin Philharmonic; Simon Rattle, conductor
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker
EMI 46385

Peter Tchaikovsky, arr. Duke Ellington and Jeff Tyzik: Nutcracker Overture
South Dakota Symphony Orchestra; Delta David Gier, conductor
South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls, SD

Peter Tchaikovsky, arr. Michael Axtell: The Nutcracker Suite: II. March
The National Flute Choir; Amy Rice Blumenthal, conductor
Here We Come a'FLUTING
ALRY 27

Henri Tomasi: Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra in C
Raymond Riccomini, trumpet; Texas Festival Orchestra; Linus Lerner, conductor
Round Top Festival Institute, Festival Concert Hall, Round Top, TX

Peter Tchaikovsky, arr. William Griffin: The Nutcracker, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Purdue Bells; Rhonda Blacklock, conductor
Purdue Musical Organizations 83rd Annual Purdue Christmas Show, Elliott Hall of Music, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Peter Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker: Spanish Dance
Septura
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker
Naxos 574157

Peter Tchaikovsky, arr. Los Angeles Guitar Quartet: The Nutcracker: Russian Dance
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
Dances From Renaissance To Nutcracker
Delos 3132

Peter Tchaikovsky, arr. James Newton Howard: Mouserinks from the Original Motion Picture The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
Philharmonia Orchestra; Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Walt Disney Records NA

Peter Tchaikovsky, arr. The Cambridge Buskers: The Nutcracker: Chinese Dance
The Cambridge Buskers: Michael Copley, flute; Dag Ingram, accordion
The Cambridge Buskers
DG 423400

Peter Tchaikovsky, arr. Vyacheslav Gryaznov: Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker
Vyacheslav Gryaznov, piano
Grand Piano Series, Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church, Naples, FL

Hour 2

Traditional, arr. John Clark: O Holy Night
Imani Winds
This Christmas with Imani Winds
Koch 7748

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Folk songs of the four seasons: Winter
City of London Choir, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra; Hilary Davan Wetton, conductor
Im Terra Pax
Naxos 572102

Traditional: Songs of Freedom: A Celebration of Chanukah
Ron Raines, baritone; Essential Voices USA; Judith Clurman, conductor
Cherished Moments: Songs of the Jewish Spirit
Dorian 92182

David Chevan, arr. David Chevan: Kiev Sher
Nu Haven Kapelye
What's Nu?
self-released NA

Sholom Secunda and Jacob Jacobs, arr. Mark Zuckerman: Bay mir bistu sheyn
Chicago a cappella; John William Trotter, conductor
Chicago a cappella, Wentz Concert Hall, Naperville, IL

Bruce Adolphe: Santa and Isolde
Metropolitan Opera Brass
Waltzes, Songs, and Festive Scenes
Fifth Show 2010

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American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.

Performance Today® features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, highlights from new album releases, and in-studio performances and interviews. Performance Today® is based at the APM studios in St. Paul, Minnesota, but is frequently on the road, with special programs broadcast from festivals and public radio stations around the country. Also, each Wednesday, composer Bruce Adolphe joins host Fred Child for a classical musical game and listener favorite: the Piano Puzzler.

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