The Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol, Messiah & The Brandenburgs

admin Posted OnOctober 27, 2015

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The Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol, Messiah & The Brandenburgs: In our annual round-up of traditional holiday events we found 7 Nutcrackers, 4 Dickens Carols, 3 Messiahs and a pair of Brandenburg Concertos – that’s a straight flush if you’re playing 16 Card Holiday Hold -Em.

Where To See The Nutcracker

George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center: Balanchine’s Nutcracker premiered at Manhattan’s City Center in 1954 and has been staged in New York every year since. It is the most famous staged production of the ballet set to Tchaikovsky’s legendary score in the US. The production features elaborate and grand stage elements, the most famous of which is the one-ton Christmas tree that grows from a height of 12 feet to 40 feet. There are 47 performances from Fri, 11/27-Sun, 1/3: check times. (62-65 St. at Columbus Ave., NYC; www.nycballet.com)

The Nutcracker performed by The New York Theater Ballet, Tarrytown Music Hall: An hour-long production of The Nutcracker, created for younger audiences, yet sophisticated enough for adults! Founded in 1978 by artistic director Diana Byer, New York Theatre Ballet has earned national attention for its artistry and elegant restorations and revivals of masterworks by great choreographers. Sun, 12/6: 3pm. (13 Main St., Tarrytown; www.tarrytownmusichall.com)

Colonial Nutcracker, Paramount Hudson Valley: This interpretation of the ballet from Artistic Director Rose Menes of Dance Theatre in Westchester moves the action to colonial Yorktown during the Revolutionary War and features redcoat army mice. The one-hour show is designed for families with children ages 4 and up. The company has performed at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts. Sat, 12/19: 3pm. (1008 Brown St., Peekskill; www.paramounthudsonvalley.org)

Westchester Ballet Company, Westchester County Center: For a fraction of the cost of the New York City Ballet you can take the kids to see the Westchester Ballet Company perform Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker at the County Center. At $25 per ticket ($20 for kids) it’s a great way to train next-gen culture vultures. We did. Choreographed by Beth Fritz Logrea and Jean Logrea. Fri, 12/18: 10am, Sat, 12/19: 12:30 & 4:30pm & Sun, 12/20: 2pm. Sat, (198 Central Ave., White Plains; www.countycenter.biz)

Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance

Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance – Ridgefield Playhouse: Tchaikovsky’s score, graceful ballerinas, wooden soldiers who come to life and a bigger than life Christmas tree in this holiday tradition presentation of The Nutcracker at the Ridgefield Playhouse. All for just $25 for adults and $20 for kids and seniors. Sat, 12/19: 2 & 6pm, Sun, 12/20: 11am & 2pm. (Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Connecticut Ballet: The Nutcracker, Palace Theatre: Guest stars from the American Ballet Theatre and the New York City Ballet, including Veronika Part, Asik la Cour, Stella Abrera and Alexandre Hammoundi, join the Connecticut Ballet in their traditional holiday production of The Nutcracker at Stamford’s Palace Theatre. There are four shows featuring fab costumes, falling snow, the giant tree, and classical ballet at its Meet the dancers before and after the performance. Sat, 12/19: 2 & 6pm, Sun, 12/20: 1 & 5pm. (61 Atlantic St., Stamford www.palacestamford.org)

Bolshoi Ballet in HD – Ridgefield Playhouse: See a live performance of The Nutcracker by the Bolshoi Ballet onscreen in high definition. The Bolshoi’s version of The Nutcracker has a unique and beautiful sense of romance and philosophy, danced by the heroic Denis Rodkin as the courageous Prince and the magical Anna Nikulina as Marie. Wed, 12/23: 7pm. (Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 E. Ridge, Ridgefield, CT; www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org)

Where To See: A Christmas Carol

The Spotlight Theatre – North Castle Public Library: The Spotlight Theatre, is the latest addition to the Armonk Theatre scene that also includes the Hudson Stage Company, The Armonk Players, and the Small Town Theatre Company. Spotlight is a non-equity, community theatre offering open auditions for all ages. They produce two musical theatre productions a year at Whippoorwill Hall at the North Castle Library in Armonk. Spotlight is run by Director Pat Concilio, a Stella Adler alum, who appeared on Broadway in Mame and Dear World and choreographer John Leonard, a former dancer with the Joffrey Ballet School. They follow up their first production of Follies last May with six performances of the musical version of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. The Sunday, 12/6 performance is a dinner and show which kicks off with a lunch at Amore Italian Kitchen at 1pm. Fri, 12/4-5 & 12/11-12: 8pm. Sun, 12/6: 3pm show & Sun, 12/13: 2pm. (Whippoorwill Hall, 19 E. Whippoorwill Rd., Armonk, www.stpny.com)

Tim and Scrooge – Westchester Broadway Theatre: Ever wonder what happens after A Christmas Carol ends? Ten years later, Scrooge is dead and Tiny Tim is about to turn 21. Scrooge, like Marley before him, comes back to help Tim, no longer Tiny, make choices about love and career. Written in the style of Dickens with original music, by the team of Neil Berg and Nick Meglin, the former editor of Mad Magazine. Sat-Tues, 12/3-27: check times. (Westchester Broadway Theatre, One Broadway Plaza, Elmsford; www.broadwaytheatre.com)

Jonathan Kruk, Historic Hudson Valley: Master storyteller Jonathan Kruk’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at the historic Christ Episcopal Church in Tarrytown – where Washington Irving served as a vestryman in 1837 – is a Historic Hudson Valley tradition. Kruk’s 60 minute performance of Ebenezer Scrooge’s night-long journey into Christmas past, present and future with the ghost of Jacob Marley is performed with musical accompaniment. Sat-Sun, 12/5-6, 12-13 & 19-20: 3:30 4:45 & 6pm. (Christ Episcopal Church, 43 S. Broadway, Tarrytown; www.hudsonvalley.org

Mr. Dickens Tells A Christmas Carol, Lyndhurst Mansion: In this hour-long theatrical performance appropriate for all ages, actor Michael Muldoon recreates the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim from Charles Dickens’s scripts. The performance travels through the mansion meeting the story’s spirits and characters in different rooms along the way – a cool way to see this fabulous castle. Fri-Sun, 12/4-27: check times. (635 S. Broadway, Tarrytown; www.lyndhurst.org)

The Nebraska Theatre Caravan – Stamford Palace: The touring company of the Omaha Community Playhouse presents their fully staged musical version of Charles Dickens’ classic tale that they have performed around the world since 1979. Adapted for the stage by their former director Charles Jones the production features an iconic set from noted designer James Othuse and an array of timeless carols woven throughout the narrative including “God Rest Ye merry Gentlemen”, “Here We Come A-Wassailing” and “Away in a Manger”. Thurs, 12/10: 7pm. (Stamford Palace, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford, CT; www.palacestamford.org)

Where To Hear: Messiah

Stamford Symphony presents Handel’s Messiah: The Stamford Symphony takes on Parts I & and the Hallelujah Chorus from Part II of Handel’s classic oratorio at The Basilica of St. John The Evangelist in Stamford. “Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight and the rough places plain.” Sat, 12/12: 8pm. (Basilica of St. John The Evangelist, 279 Atlantic St., Stamford; www.palacestamford.org)

New Choral Society, Messiah, Part I: The Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah has become the traditional season-opener for the New Choral Society. Filled with familiar and uplifting choruses and solos, it is a festive way to begin the holiday season with family and friends. As always, it will conclude with the famous “Hallelujah Chorus.” Fri, 12/4: 8pm, Sun 12/6: 3pm. Hitchcock Presbyterian Church, 6 Greenacres Avenue, Scarsdale; www.newchoralsodciety.com)

New York Philharmonic, Gary Thor Wedow, conductor, Camilla Tilling, soprano, Iestyn Davies, counter-tenor, Connor Tsui, boy-soprano, Michael Slattery, tenor, James Westman, baritone, and the Westminster Symphonic Choir take on Part I and Part II of the most famous and beloved chorale works of all time. Tues-Thurs, 12/16-18: 7:30pm, Fri, 12/19: 2pm & Sat, 12/20: 7:30pm. (Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center; www.newyorkphilharmonic.com)

The Brandenburgs

Local! The Brandenburg Concertos, Bedford Chamber Concerts: Music Director Dr. Anthony Newman conducts the Bedford Chamber Ensemble in a performance of the complete Brandenburg Concertos. Described by Wynton Marsalis as ”the high priest of Bach” and by Time magazine as “the high priest of the harpsichord, ”Mr. Newman may be America’s foremost Baroque interpreter – and a local treasure. Wed, 12/9: 8pm. (St. Matthews Church, 382 Cantitoe St., Bedford: www.bedfordchamberconcerts.com)

The Brandenburg Concertos, Alice Tully Hall: The Brandenburg Concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach are considered among the finest musical compositions of the Baroque era. The NYTs called The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s annual performances at Alice Tully Hall a “New York holiday staple.” If you miss Dr. Anthony Newman’s performance of the Brandenburgs in Bedford – this is where you can get your holiday Bach fix. Fri, 12/11: 7:30pm, Sun, 12/13: 5pm & Tues, 12/15: 7:30pm. (10 Lincoln Center Plaza, NY; www.lincolncenter.org)

More Holiday Choral Music:

Bach’s Magnificat, Westchester Oratorio Society, Mt. Kisco: The Westchester Oratorio Society, led by Artistic Director Benjamin Niemczyk, presents a choral program that includes Bach’s Magnificat and Poulenc’s Gloria at the Presbyterian Church in Mt. Kisco. Sat, 11/21: 7:30pm. (Presbyterian Church of Mt. Kisco, 605 Millwood Rd., Mt. Kisco: www.westchesteroratorio.org)

Taghkanic Chorale, Russian Christmas: Music Director Steven Fox leads The Taghkanic Chorale of Yorktown in a program of chorale works for the holidays from music_russianchristmas Russian composers such as Stravinsky, Rachmaninoff, Part and others. In addition to his work with the Taghkanic Chorale Mr. Fox also serves as the director of Musica Antiqua in St. Petersburg, Russia. Sat., 12/6: 8pm. (United Methodist Church, 200 Columbus Ave., Valhalla) Sat-Sun, 12/5-g: time and place TBA. (Taghkanic Chorale, 1243 White Hill Rd., Yorktown Heights; www.taghkanicchorale.org)