There are pieces of music, which have a catchy tune, which won’t let go of you for hours. Then, there is a musical piece, which consists ONLY of catchy tunes. One follows the other: in Peter Tschaikowsky’s "Nutcracker".
Tschaikowsky created in the ballet "The Nutcracker" a unique, wonderful richness of melodies and motives. You are unable to forget them and they speak to you on an emotional level.
Meanwhile Tschaikowsky hated composing ballet music - it meant constant restriction for him. He had to show consideration for the choreographer and the stage director. By the way: the two quarreled so hard, that the premiere of the "Nutcracker" almost had to be cancelled.
Also the numerous conventions in classical ballet had to be taken into account: sequence of steps, numerical sequences between the pairs, solos and the whole ensemble. What a great burden! Tschaikowsky preferred composing operas and symphonies. Nevertheless still, he composed a ballet with his "Nutcracker". His third - and last. But why?
In winter 1891 a shocking message reached him: his beloved sister had died. He had a very close relationship to her and her kids. The fairytale "Nutcracker" was now an opportunity for Tschaikowsky to write something for children and to look back on the Christmas evenings he spent with his family in his childhood.
It is the tale of little Marie and her Christmas gift: a nutcracker, who is a soldier. Finally, Marie has this fantastic dream. The nutcracker and an army of toy soldiers defeat the army of the "mouse king", hereupon the nutcracker turns into a prince and travels with Marie into the land of sweets where they have further adventures until Marie awakes. Probably with another catchy tune.
1889: Paris, World Fair. Tschaikowsky is visiting, not being in the least interested in the newly built Eiffel-Tower, which most visitors find disgusting anyway. He is excited about a new instrument: the celesta. He has one delivered instantly, being afraid, other composers might make use of it before him and destroying the surprising effect, he is hoping for.
However, he is lucky. He is the first with the "Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy". A delicate, fragile creature just sounds like this!
"The Nutcracker" quickly conquered the world. Disney, commercials and of course film music, used the tunes. Today it is inseparable connected to Christmas; it is virtually the "Last Christmas" of classical music.
Tschaikowsky’s inspiration to write so many catchy and immortal tunes was perhaps stimulated because of the strict rules of the choreographer, the limitation to short pieces of 2-3 minutes.
Presenter: Maximilian Maier
Producer: Michael Wende (wendevarga.wixs...)
Orchestra: Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden
Ballet: Semperoper Ballett
Conductor: Vello Pähn
© Bayerischer Rundfunk
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"klassik shorts", presented by Maximilian Maier, is a three-minute video format that makes you want to listen to great symphonic works and presents information such as Fun Facts in an entertaining way.
Director Michael Wende supports this pointed style of explaining classical music with video excerpts of central moments of the respective work, but primarily with his unique graphic representations and sound effects.
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5 сен 2024