The music Tchaikovsky wrote for "Nutcracker," far from being "all ugliness," is as joyous, poetic and grand as any he composed. Even a misguided production can't go completely wrong with such a ...

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (pronounced PYOT-uhr il-YEETCH chigh-KOFF-ski) wrote some of the best known and most performed music of all time. He was most famous, and indeed ...

Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker is a ballet for a certain time of year. It's charmed Christmas audiences over the years with its range of gorgeous music and romantic imagery, but the performances and ...

CHEAT SHEET: Holiday arts preview But anything rhythmically or instrumentally novel in the music was also there. This was an L.A. Phil “Nutcracker” all the way.

Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker is all about the magic of Christmas. A little girl called Clara is centre stage. Her godfather has made her a present. It's a nutcracker, done up like a toy soldier.

We know from Tchaikovsky's original sketches that the ballet was originally called The Christmas Tree or The Fir Tree before the final name of The Nutcracker was chosen. 4.

Review: L.A. Phil, Dudamel reinvigorate Tchaikovsky’s ‘Nutcracker’ By Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times Music Critic Dec. 13, 2013 12 AM PT ...