| Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker has become a perennial favourite, heard most often around Christmas. When it was first performed in December 1892, it was a bit of a flop but extracts from it became The Nutcracker Suite and that became very successful, not usually confined to the Christmas season. The full ballet began to enjoy renewed popularity mid-20th century. For those of you who celebrate it, Axis of Logic wishes you a Merry Christmas. Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, we urge you to find 5 minutes to listen to this piece of music. I've chosen a video that doesn't contain moving images of the dancers or the orchestra to distract you - and suggest you just close your eyes and listen. I don't mean to influence your views, but I consider this to be the most beautiful and sublime 5 minutes of music ever written - by anyone, anywhere. - prh, ed.
This is the National Philharmonic Of Russia, conducted by Vladimir Spivakov |