Reserved for subscribers
LETTER FROM THE CLASSIC. “Swan Lake”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Nutcracker”… The three ballets by the Russian composer haunt the stages at the end of the year.
Par Anne-Laure Poisson
The New York City Ballet in “The Nutcracker” Balanchine version.© The New York Times-REDUX-REA / ANDREA MOHIN/NYT-REDUX-REA
Published on
« It’s beginning to look a lot like christmas as Bing Crosby sang. Christmas trees, balls of all colors, snow, a few magical elves and, of course, in the background, since you can’t always listen to Mariah Carey on repeat: Tchaikovsky. The Russian composer’s three ballets have become the (classical) musical embodiment of Christmas, carols and sacred music aside. Whether it’s the waltz of the Sleeping Beautythe “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” from Nutcracker and its celesta, or even the “Dance of the little swans”, from Swan Lakethere is bound to be a piece by the Russian composer to remind each of us of the end-of-year celebrations.
“These are three stories that summon the world of childhood, and one of the most important moments…
I subscribe
Exclusive offers: -50% the first year