Soundcheck

Terry Teachout (WNYC/Margo McLean)

Welcome to the Nut house

Tuesday, December 14, 2004

For millions of Americans, it just wouldn't be Christmas without seeing a production of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. Surprisingly, the ballet never really took off in Russia, its country of origin. It was first performed in St. Petersburg in 1892, where it was panned by the local critics. Nevertheless, it’s become a national institution in North America, being performed with hula dancers in Hawaii, cowboys in Arizona, and ice-hockey players in Winnipeg. Today, Jennifer Fisher, a Los Angeles-based dance writer and author of “Nutcracker Nation,” joins us to shed some light on this timeless holiday classic. We’re also joined by Terry Teachout, drama critic for the Wall Street Journal and music critic of Commentary. He discusses the most famous Nutcracker production of the last 50 years, that of the New York City Ballet.

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