The Nutcracker: "Pas de Deux" | Beaufort County Now | This may seem unreal for this 1960's /70's rocker, but, I enjoy classical music, and on most occasions, the ballet.

Gleaned from the annals of internet up-to-the-moment posterity are these four fine versions (one is a piano solo) of the super-classic ballet dance "Pas de Deux" from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker. It is well worth your time to view all entries at least once; if you appreciated and enjoy grace and pure beauty.

    This does seem as if I sometimes walk in a alternative reality for this 1960's /70's rocker, but, I do enjoy classical music, and on most occasions, the ballet. My foray into the more cultured melodic enterprises began with Mozart, Wagner and Beethoven, but is most definitely extended into Tchaikovsky and his Nutcracker ballet, especially here in the Yuletide season; where The Nutcracker's "Pas de Deux" represents the dance for two.

    Tchaikovsky's "Pas de Deux", here in The Nutcracker, is a fluid robust dance to an arguably perfect song, which constitutes the significance of why I am posting these videos in concurrence with what is best to experience in this Christmas season. The dance within The Nutcracker's "Pas de Deux" is elegant, and we offer below three uniquely different versions. The dramatic movement of melody is what drives its purpose, with its building and then cascading crescendos employing stings and brass, and the chief reason I am posting this now; it is a spectacular song.


Here Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker is performed at ECU, Christmas, 2015: Above.     photo by Stan Deatherage     Click image to expand.
    Also below is a piano rendition, by Shang Cia, of The Nutcracker's "Pas de Deux" that is bold in scale, and one should understand the essence of such since this melody's crescendos are so robust. It is a unique interpretation of a melody governed primarily by the strings, and to a far lesser extent, the brass section.

All renditions of this classic duet are uniquely different from the other, in score arrangement and dance as is this opening sequence performed by the Royal Ballet of London: Below.



Here is the aforementioned Sheng Cai piano rendition: Below.


This next version is simple in presentation, but extremely precise in movement. Watch the ballerina, Misty Copeland, closely; her precision is exquisite - one of the best that I have ever seen for this beautiful melody: Below.


This last version - the Australian Ballet - is uniquely beautiful as well, and I would be remiss to not mention that while the crescendos are all overwhelmingly moving, when they end, then this masterpiece begins its long wind down, the dance really steps to the fore and showcases some interesting variations in the ballerina presentation: Below.



    Publisher's note: If you are really in the Christmas spirit, or just in the need for more, please click here to access all of the holiday spirit in melody and narrative that BCN can harness and offer for this Yuletide Season.