Magical Realms
This week Donald Macleod reflects on five aspects of Tchaikovsky. Today he explores the rich vein of fairy tale and fantasy in the composer’s music.
This week Donald Macleod reflects on five aspects of Tchaikovsky. Today he explores the rich vein of fairy tale and fantasy in the composer’s music.
So suspend your disbelief as swans dance; a toy comes to life to battle a giant mouse king; a pair of slippers – or are they boots? – can win a maiden’s heart; and the Devil can steal the moon.
The Nutcracker, Op 71 (Act 1 Scene 2, March of the Toy Soldiers)
State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia ‘Evgeny Svetlanov’
Vladimir Jurowski, conductor
The Snow Maiden, Op 12 (No 2, Dance and Chorus of the Birds)
MDR Leipzig Radio Choir
MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra
Krystjan Järvi, conductor
Swan Lake, Op 20 (Act 2 No 13e, Danse des cygnes: Pas d'action (Odette et le prince))
Rafael Druian, solo violin
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra
Antal Doráti, conductor
The Slippers (Act 1 scene 2, extract – Oksana’s aria)
Ekaterina Morosova, soprano (Oksana)
Orchestra del Teatro Lirico di Cagliari
Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, conductor
The Sleeping Beauty, Op 66 (Act 1 No 5 (‘The Palace Garden’), No 6 (‘Valse’))
Russian National Orchestra
Mikhail Pletnev, conductor
The Nutcracker, Op 71 (Act 2 No 12, Divertissement)
Chocolate (‘Spanish Dance’)
Coffee (‘Arabian Dance’)
Tea (‘Chinese Dance’)
Trepak (‘Russian Dance’)
Dance of the Reed Pipes
Mother Ginger and the Polichinelles (‘Clowns’)
State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia ‘Evgeny Svetlanov’
Vladimir Jurowski, conductor
Produced by Chris Barstow
Last on
More episodes
Previous
You are at the first episode
Music Played
![]()
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Nutcracker, Op 71 (Act 1 Scene 2, March of the Toy Soldiers)
Orchestra: State Academy Symphony Orchestra of Russia. Conductor: Vladimir Jurowski.- PENTATONE : PTC5186761.
- PENTATONE.
- 3.
![]()
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Snow Maiden, Op 12 (No 2, Dance and Chorus of the Birds)
Orchestra: MDR Sinfonieorchester. Choir: MDR Rundfunkchor Leipzig. Conductor: Kristjan Järvi.- SONY: 88875176562.
- SONY.
- 2.
![]()
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Swan Lake, Op 20 (Act 2 No 13e, Danse des cygnes: Pas d'action)
Orchestra: Minnesota Orchestra. Conductor: Antal Doráti.- MERCURY : 478-509 2.
- Mercury.
- 26.
![]()
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Slippers (Act 1 scene 2, extract - Oksana's aria)
Orchestra: Cagliari Teatro Lirico Orchestra. Conductor: Gennady Nikolayevich Rozhdestvensky. Singer: Екатерина Морозова.- DYNAMIC : CDS-287/1-3.
- DYNAMIC.
- 5.
![]()
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Sleeping Beauty, Op 66 (Act 1 No 5 ('The Palace Garden'), No 6 ('Valse'))
Orchestra: Russian National Orchestra. Conductor: Mikhail Pletnev.- DG : 457-634 2.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 13.
![]()
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Nutcracker, Op 71 (Act 2 No 12)
Orchestra: State Academy Symphony Orchestra of Russia. Conductor: Vladimir Jurowski.- PENTATONE : PTC5186761.
- PENTATONE.
- 13.
Broadcast
- Mon 18 Jan 202112:00BBC Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.
