Repertoire
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Suite from the ballet The Nutcracker, Op. 71a (1892) 29’
Alfred Reed: Russian Christmas Music (1944) 15’
Dmitri Shostakovich: Waltz No. 2 from Suite for Variety Orchestra (1959) 3’
Sergei Prokofiev: “Troïka” from the film score for Lieutenant Kijé (1934) 3’
Aram Khachaturian: “Lezginka” from the ballet Gayane (1942) 3’
Salvador Brotons: Nadales catalanes, Op.76 (1998) 12’
ARTISTS
Barcelona Symphonic Band (BMB)
Ximo Tarín, conductor
Programme
It would not be Christmas without The Nutcracker. Tchaikovsky’s gorgeous series of dances to illustrate E.T.A. Hoffmann’s tale has become a must for this time of year, stirring the emotions to connect the listener with the Christmas spirit.
Russian Christmas Music, composed by Alfred Reed in 1844, conveys the sounds of Eastern Orthodox liturgical music, beginning with “The Carol of the Little Russian Children”. The famous Waltz No. 2 from Shostakovich’s Suite for Variety Orchestra was used by Kubrick in Eyes Wide Shut, a dreamlike film with a Christmas setting, albeit, in this case, for adults. It too is without vocals, but perfectly captures the excitement and festive mood of the season.
The programme also includes another piece used in film, Sergei Prokofiev’s “Troika” from Lieutenant Kijé, plus “Lezginka” from the ballet Gayane by Aram Khachaturian, and the concert will conclude with Salvador Brotons’ Nadales catalanes (Catalan Christmas Carols).
