The Beatles' music has been a source of several high-profile mashup albums, but Arthur Wilkinson's Beatlecracker Suite is probably the first. It arranges Beatles hits with famous themes and motifs from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. Part one, part two.
posted by 2or3whiskeysodas on Jun 2, 2011 - 12 comments

The Golden Dreydl (streaming audio): a wonderfully... different arrangement of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite. [more inside]
posted by halogen on Dec 11, 2007 - 4 comments

Nutcracker suite played entirely on bicycle parts [via createdigitalmusic].
posted by subtle-t on Nov 29, 2006 - 18 comments

Grey Holiday Puppet. Festive Friday Flash Fun
posted by Robot Johnny on Dec 17, 2004 - 6 comments

"When Tchaikovsky heard the celesta during a trip to Paris, he wrote a letter to his publisher saying, "get me one of those before another composer steals it." The Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker couldn't dance without it. We have the history of the celesta -- and hear it in a special performance by Lambert Orkis of the National Symphony Orchestra." From NPR's Morning Edition a look at this relatively obscure instrument that young wizards music are made of. If you can't play or afford the real thing, try the chime.
posted by azul on Dec 24, 2003 - 6 comments

When Barbie meets ballet...? Mattel are shelling out £85,000 to sponsor the ENO's traditional Christmas run of the Nutcracker, which coincidentally starts just as Barbie in the Nutcracker hits the cinemas. A good way to "interest young girls in the ballet", or a head-on crash between two questionable influences on their body image? (more inside...)
posted by holgate on Sep 9, 2001 - 4 comments