| music. What I remember from the Christmas of my childhood that it was overwhelming Tchaikovsky, Russians played as it was no tomorrow, particularly the Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker’s second act. I remember that there were countless cartoons with different animals dancing around Christmas Trees under that Waltzs. Where those rabbits, cats, bears, wolfs, hedgehogs, pig, chickens and the rest of animals all Christians? Anyhow, I still love the Waltz of the Flowers tremendously. I will probably play later on the Rostropovich take on the Nutcracker with Berlin Philharmonic or Knappertsbusch with Vienna Philharmonic. BTW, if somebody are in Nutcracker then do not miss the Mravinsky own version of Nutcracker from 40s – it is very non-Christmasy and it is wonderfully dark and gloomy. It feels more like under-snow symphony then Christmas Balet. But who said that Christmas must be cheerful? The American Thanksgiving is a cheerful day, but how about if you are a turkey? |
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