Streaming the Classics 10/Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker

Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening.

These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl recording and performance? That’s for another article.

A few criteria:

1. The recording must be on Apple Music, Qobuz and/or Tidal HiFi.

2. It does not have to be HiRes or MQA.

3. No more than ten recommendations in no particular order, then our top three for streaming in order of preference.

In this post, and in plenty of time for the Christmas season, Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece, The Nutcracker. Notice, The Nutcracker, not The Nutcracker Suite, the ‘Suite’ mostly cobbled from highlights of Act 2. In missing Act 1, you are depriving yourself of some of Tchaikovsky’s most magical music.

As such, all the recommendations in this post are for the complete ballet.

1. Rattle

2. Gergiev

3. Dorati/Concertegebouw

4. Previn

5. Zinman

6. Dudamel

7. Dorati/LSO

8. Dutoit

9. Bychkov

I’m leaving No. 10 empty for Telarc’s superb recording of the LSO and Sir Charles Mackerras. A knockout performance not available on either Qobuz or Tidal. Hopefully, soon. And an honourable mention to David Zinman and his beautiful performance with the New York City Ballet Orchestra, which acted as the soundtrack for the film George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.

If you need a quick Nutcracker fix, I’d suggest the Rostropovich/Berlin/DG recording of the ‘Suite’. It features some of the best playing on record.

Gergiev puts a ton of character into the work and the Kirov band plays very well. Purists, however, not to mention the dancers, may not like his very quick tempos. Ballet conducting is an art, and as Gergiev helped rebuild the Kirov (now Mariinsky Theatre) into a world ballet/opera/orchestral powerhouse, I’m surprised at the unsympathetic speeds.

Dutoit’s recording is very beautiful and features refined playing from the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Combine Gergiev’s character with Dutoit’s recording and soloists, now, there’s a recording!

The Bychkov recording, much like Rattle on Warner Classics, also features beautiful playing from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and a very good recording from Philips. Once again, a Russian conductor kicks up the speeds. They’re not as erratic as Gergiev, but fast nonetheless. It’s also a little hard driven at times. But, worth a listen if you’re a fan of this underrated conductor.

Dorati has made a specialty of the ballet with two fabulous recordings/performances, both definitely in my top 5. I’d say the Concertgebouw/Philips pips the LSO/Mercury to the post with a more refined recording and the most beautiful interpretation. The earlier LSO version has not changed too much from the later crackerjack Amsterdam, but you cannot go wrong with either.

Rich pickings here, as you can imagine, but if I had to choose three, it’d be Dudamel, the aforementioned Dorati (Concertgebouw/Philips) with the top choice, Previn’s absolutely magical London Symphony performance on EMI (the vinyl is much $ought after). This digital embodiment is on Warner Classics. And, they didn’t screw it up as they have so many other remasterings.

So, in order:

1. Previn

2. Dorati (Concertgebouw)

3. Dudamel

The Dudamel/LA Phil/DG is the latest recording and it is very lovely. You can’t go wrong with any of the three. However, Previn’s tempos are perfect—they retain the listener’s interest and are ballet appropriate. The interpretation is relaxed but rhythmically incisive. The recording is warm and rich and highlights the LSO’s famous soloists from the 1970s. They are magnificent.

Sure, it’s just after Halloween, but no time like the present to enjoy this masterpiece. So, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.