Skip to content
    skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    Listen

    On Air Now

    Smooth Classics with Margherita Taylor 10pm - 1am

    Smooth Classics with Margherita Taylor

    Now Playing

    Symphony No.6 in B minor Opus 74 (2) Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky Download 'Symphony No.6 in B minor Opus 74 (2)' on iTunes

    Symphony No.6 in B minor Opus 74 (2) artwork
    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Lifestyle
    • Win
    • Charity
    • Podcasts
    • Events
    • Dating
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Classic FM on Twitter
      Follow Classic FM on Facebook
      Follow Classic FM on Instagram
      Follow Classic FM on Youtube

    Composers

    Tchaikovsky

    • Tchaikovsky Home
    • Music
    • News
    • Album reviews
    • Pictures
    • Guides
    • More Composers

    The first performance

    This image appears in the gallery:
    Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker: A beginner's guide

    Nutcracker, Russian State Ballet of Siberia

    15. The first performance

    Sadly Tchaikovsky died believing The Nutcracker was a flop. The ballet was largely panned by critics and audiences alike after its world premiere in St Petersburg in 1892. Unlike in most modern performances, the children’s parts, including that of Clara were danced by students at the Imperial Ballet School of St. Petersburg, but it was the adult dancers that received the most criticism. Pictured: Russian State Ballet, 2010.

    1. Image 1: Birmingham Royal Ballet's Nutcracker
    2. Image 2: The Nutcracker: Royal Ballet
    3. Image 3: The Nutcracker: Nevada Ballet Theatre
    4. Image 4: English National Ballet Nutcracker
    5. Image 5: The Nutcracker: English National Ballet
    6. Image 6: Birmingham Royal Ballet's Nutcracker
    7. Image 7: Birmingham Royal Ballet's Nutcracker
    8. Image 8: Birmingham Royal Ballet's Nutcracker
    9. Image 9: The Nutcracker: Cuba's National Ballet
    10. Image 10: The Nutcracker, Peter Wright ROH 17 images

    See the full gallery: Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker: A beginner's guide

    Tchaikovsky latest

    See more Tchaikovsky latest

    The XIII International Tchaikovsky Music Competition

    Russia’s Tchaikovsky Competition expelled from the World Federation of International Music Competitions

    Tchaikovsky stayed in Trostyanets in his 20s; the city is now destroyed

    Tchaikovsky’s house destroyed by Russian army in north-east Ukraine

    Chihuahua dances Swan Lake routine at Crufts

    Surprisingly graceful chihuahua performs ‘Swan Lake’ ballet routine at Crufts dog show

    The all-Tchaikovsky programme was pulled from an upcoming concert

    Cardiff Philharmonic pulls Tchaikovsky from concert programme over Ukraine conflict

    ROC and Tchaikovsky at Tokyo 2020

    Why Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto is played at the Winter Olympics instead of the Russian National Anthem

    Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Best Tchaikovsky works: 10 of the composer’s best musical masterpieces

    Tchaikovsky’s letters give us an insight into his personal life

    Tchaikovsky, composer of the world’s most uplifting ballets, had crippling self-esteem issues

    The Santa Clause 3

    Why *that* tune from The Nutcracker is in every Christmas movie trailer

    Best classical music

    See more Best classical music

    10 pieces of classical music that will 100% change your life

    10 pieces of classical music that will 100% change your life

    Discover Music

    4 eras of classical music

    The 4 eras of classical music: a quick guide

    Discover Music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    Discover Music

    Women composers gallery

    21 of the greatest women composers in classical music

    Discover Music

    Best pianists of all time

    The 25 best pianists of all time

    Discover Music

    Some of history's greatest composers were part of the LGBTQ+ community.

    15 LGBTQ+ composers in classical music history that you probably already know

    Discover Music

    Trending on Classic FM

    Russian composer Rimsky-Korsakov’s estate was engulfed in flames over the weekend

    Rimsky-Korsakov’s estate devastated by fire, destroying over 1,000 valuable artefacts

    Rimsky-Korsakov

    Is Austin Butler really singing and playing guitar in his role as rock 'n' roll legend, Elvis Presley?

    Is Austin Butler really singing and playing guitar in ‘Elvis’ movie?

    Discover Music

    Hakuna matata

    What does ‘Hakuna matata’ in The Lion King actually mean?

    Discover Music

    This week’s on-air highlights – including Album of the Week and Drive Discovery

    This week’s on-air highlights – including Album of theThis week’s on-air highlights – including Album of the Week and Drive Discovery

    Tone Deaf Comics theory sheet

    This genius music theory cheat sheet is all you’ll ever need

    Discover Music

    What are the lyrics to ‘O Fortuna’ from Carmina Burana?

    What are the lyrics to ‘O Fortuna’ from Carmina Burana?

    Hardest piano pieces

    These are the hardest pieces ever written for the piano

    Discover Music

    Beethoven meme

    A maths teacher accidentally made a music meme that trolled the world

    Discover Music

    Andrew Lloyd Webber at the 2016 Broadway revival of CATS

    Andrew Lloyd Webber: wife, children, musicals and everything you need to know

    Lloyd Webber

    Be Thou My Vision has Irish origins – pictured, Letterkenny cathedral in Donegal, Ireland

    Be Thou My Vision: what are the lyrics and who wrote the hymn?

    Discover Music

    Back to top

    Also on Classic FM

    • Listen to Global Player
    • Alexander Armstrong on Classic FM
    • Christmas Songs
    • Music for Pets
    • Quizzes
    • Handel
    • Debussy
    • Music theory
    • Instruments
    • Brahms
    • Vivaldi
    • Bach
    • Tchaikovsky
    • Chopin
    • Andrea Bocelli
    • Beethoven
    • Mozart
    • Best classical music
    • Classic FM Live
    • Classic FM Requests
    • Best pianists
    • Harry Potter music
    • Saturday Night at the Movies
    • Star Wars soundtrack
    • Composer or pasta
    • Music for Studying
    • Best violinists
    • Classical music tearjerkers
    • Relaxing classical

    Useful Links

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • About Classic FM
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise
    • Global Jobs

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Classic FM on Twitter
    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube
    © Global 2022
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager