Nutcracker, By E.T.A. Hoffmann - Tchaikovsky, Caedmon SBC 128, 3 Audio Cassettes, Read By Christopher Plummer, Conducted By Michael Tilson Thomas, Philharmonia Orchestra

by E.T.A. Hoffmann, Christopher Plummer (Narrator)

"Side 1: Christmas Eve, The Presents, Marie's Favorite." "Side 2: Strange Happenings, The Battle." "Side 3: Marie's Illness, The Story of the Hard Nut." "Side 4: The Story of the Hard Nut Continued, The Story of the Hard Nut Concluded." "Side 5: Uncle and Nephew Victory, The Land of the Dolls." "Side 6: The Capital, Conclusion." [from case]

3 pages, Audio Cassette

Published January 1, 1984

About the author

Ernst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffmann, better known by his pen name E. T. A. Hoffmann (Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann), was a German Romantic author of fantasy and horror, a jurist, composer, music critic, draftsman and caricaturist. His stories form the basis of Jacques Offenbach's famous opera The Tales of Hoffmann, in which Hoffman appears (heavily fictionalized) as the hero. He is also the author of the novella The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, on which the famous ballet The Nutcracker is based. The ballet Coppélia is based on two other stories that Hoffmann wrote, while Schumann's Kreisleriana is based on Hoffmann's character Johannes Kreisler.

Hoffmann's stories were very influential during the 19th century, and he is one of the major authors of the Romantic movement.

Reviews

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars. The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky is my favorite ballet. I listen to the Nutcracker every first snowfall of the year or every first feel of winter. The music, the story, the dance, the setting- all of it is dreamy.

ETA Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is also dreamy, but in a very different way. It’s a nightmare that makes you doubt you were scared. It’s odd. It’s strange. You can’t tell if it’s creepy. Is this for children? Or is it a little too dark?

I don’t know if I would’ve enjoyed this read if it weren’t for the narration of Christian Plummer and Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece playing in the background. This edition was wonderful. I felt like I was listening to a dynamic musical play. I think I will listen to it again next year.