What does winter sound like in classical music? We might think of the jingling of sleigh bells, Christmas chorales, melting icicles, and joyful sleigh rides — all images immortalized by great composers. In Dmitri Shostakovich’s pieces for two violins, we encounter humor and playful musical dialogues. In Sergei Prokofiev’s Troika, we naturally hear a winter journey aboard the famous three-horse Russian sleigh.
And of course, the ballet music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker needs no introduction, for nothing symbolizes the timeless magic and nostalgia of Christmas quite like Tchaikovsky’s melodies. The concert, conducted by talented Gen Z conductor Krisztián Safarek, concludes with Tchaikovsky’s contemplative “November” music.
Photo: Krisztián Safarek © Ákos Kis
Dmitri Shostakovich: Five Duos (excerpts)
Sergei Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kijé Suite, Op. 60 – IV. Troika
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a (excerpts)
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: The Seasons, Op. 37a – November
