A Fairytale Christmas: Ukrainian Carols and the Nutcracker Suite

Delius Eventyr (Once Upon a Time)
Václav Trojan Fairy Tales: A Concerto for Accordion
De Hartmann Ukrainian Christmas Carols
Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker Suite

Alise Siliņa accordion
Joanna MacGregor conductor

A mouthwatering confection of fairytales and magic, carols and Christmas treats opens with Delius’ rarely performed tone poem Eventyr (Once Upon a Time), an irresistibly atmospheric evocation of Norway’s giants and hobgoblins, caves and dark forests. Folklore continues in Václav Trojan’s charming Fairy Tales concerto, performed by the prizewinning Latvian accordionist Alise Siliņa. Each movement narrates a Czech fairytale character, including The Bleary-Eyed Princess, The Tale of the Acrobat and The Naughty Roundabout. Colourful, sharply exuberant music designed for children – of all ages!

The Ukrainian composer Thomas de Hartmann, who fled from Nazis but found himself writing under occupation in Paris, is undergoing a serious revival and his beautifully orchestrated Ukrainian Christmas Carols (1940) exemplifies his shimmering, effervescent voice. It provides the perfect arc to Tchaikovsky’s timeless Nutcracker Suite – the story of Clara, the Nutcracker Prince and their journey to The Kingdom of Sweets. Who could resist the Sugar Plum Fairy, dances from Russia, China and Arabia, and the Waltz of the Flowers?

‘Delectable, witty and glorious, Václav Trojan’s concerto is a marvellous showpiece for soloist and orchestra.’ – BBC Music Magazine