CBSO concert in which Music Director Kazuki Yamada pairs Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker with Duke Ellington's jazz reimagining of the piece, with clarinet soloist Oliver Janes.
Kazuki Yamada brings The Nutcracker to Town Hall on Thursday 10 December, with two performances that day: a matinee at 2:15pm and an evening show at 7:00pm. It's part of the CBSO's 2026-27 season, which Yamada is leading as Music Director.
The programme puts Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker alongside Duke Ellington's jazz reimagining of the same piece, so you hear the ballet and the jazz version in one sitting. Between them is Bernstein's Prelude, Fugue and Riffs, which features a solo clarinet part originally written for jazz legend Benny Goodman. That's where clarinetist Oliver Janes comes in, taking the solo alongside Yamada on the podium. The whole thing runs about two hours, with a 20-minute interval in the middle.
It's a festive pairing that leans into the crossover between classical and jazz. Dance critic Marcia B. Siegel put it simply: "You really know it's Christmas when The Nutcracker makes its appearance". That's the mood the concert is aiming for—the familiar ballet music you associate with the season, but with Ellington's swing and Bernstein's brassy energy mixed in.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Birmingham and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
Tickets are £27.50 to £53, and if you're bringing the younger ones, under-16s have to be accompanied by an adult. With a matinee and an evening show on the same day, you can pick whichever fits your schedule better.
