Category Archives: Christmas

O Tannenbaum

During the fourth century, the practice of bringing evergreen trees indoors, during the dark days of winter, spread across Europe. In medieval Germany, the increase in Christianity gave rise to a new tradition.  Germans began decorating the trees with apples … Continue reading

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Christmas Carols on the Ballet Stage

  The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (op. 71). The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” It was given its première … Continue reading

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Beethoven’s Christmas Contribution

  “Ode To Joy” is the final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth and last Symphony. The German composer was increasingly aware of his declining health and spent seven years working on this symphony, starting the work in 1818 and finishing early … Continue reading

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