Not in the Holiday spirit yet? There are still plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in some good cheer--musical, that is. Liquid refreshments are your call.
The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra begins its Holiday concert series--Angels Among Us--on Friday evening, December 18, and has four concerts over three days. See my previous blog post for details or read the calendar spotlight in this week's Metro Pulse.
If you just want to curl up on the couch and watch a little TV, I highly recommend Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker on PBS's Great Performances on Monday evening, December 21, at 9:00 p.m. (That's on ETPtv in the Knoxville area.) This production comes from the San Francisco Ballet and features the choreography of Helgi Tomasson and stunning sets and costumes by Tony Award winners Michael Yeargan and Martin Pakledinaz, respectively. One of the features of this production that I particularly like is the ballet scenario which differs from the Balanchine-esque versions. Instead of the anti-climactic finale exit in a magic sleigh, this version offers a much more satisfying theatrical conclusion: the little girl Clara reawakens in her home, wondering whether the Land of Sweets has all been just a wonderful dream.
Of course, there's tons of Holiday music available on CD and on downloads with carols, bells, reindeer, Santa, elves, chipmunks, and snow...and for every musical persuasion. Here is an odd assortment of CDs I pull out this time of year:
• "Brother Heinrich's Christmas" by John Rutter. Okay, I know, I know. There are those that consider Rutter to be the Andrew Lloyd Webber of sacred music, but I have always found this musical fable totally charming for the holiday season. It's on a Collegium CD titled Three Musical Fables.
• Chanticleer: Sing We Christmas. A beautiful collection by the world famous men's a capella group. Teledec
• Tony Bennett: A Swingin' Christmas (with the Count Basie Big Band). Think you wouldn't like this one? Think again. RPM Records, Columbia.
• A Carol Symphony and Other Christmas Orchestral Favorites (Naxos 8.557099) featuring Victor Hely-Hutchison's A Carol Symphony.
and finally--
• Christmas at Trinity. The Choir of Trinity Church, Wall Street, New York conducted by Owen Burdick. Great choir, great sound. This CD was released in October of 2001. I don't think I have to spell out the significance.
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