Concert Review: 'Swingin' Nutcracker à la Ellington featuring Step Afrika!' by Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
December brings us a smorgasbord of Nutcracker interpretations, but none more unique than this world premiere of "Swingin’ Nutcracker à la Ellington featuring Step Afrika!" commissioned by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, which expands Duke Ellington’s 1960 swingin’ jazz arrangement of nine Nutcracker melodies into a full performance of Tchaikovsky’s Christmas fairy tale, arranged by compo…