Winds of the Berliner Philharmoniker 
Sarah Willis Presenter, Volker Eisenach Choreographer

Peter Tchaikovsky
The Nutcracker op. 71
(Excerpts, arranged for wind nonet and double bass by Andreas N. Tarkmann)

What do you actually call the oboe's big sister? And what happens when you blow into a double bass? These and many other questions were answered at the Berliner Philharmoniker's Christmas family concert. The main attraction was Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker, presented in an abridged version by wind players of the Berliner Philharmoniker. Horn player Sarah Willis, who was the concert's presenter, didn't only explain what happens in the ballet, but also demonstrated the special qualities of the various wind instruments in a symphony orchestra.

The idea that music is either difficult to understand or has no value at all, is something that many people think. At this Christmas concert by the Berliner Philharmoniker it was clear that it doesn't have to be like that. The ten musicians presented a work which is at once comfortable and familiar - but they also made it clear just how intelligent and sophisticated Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker music really is. So that there was something for the eye as well as for the ear, eighty schoolchildren were also there, illustrating the famous Waltz of the snowflakes through dance. Even Santa Claus managed to make a brief appearance, making sure that there was no lack of Christmas spirit in the Philharmonie in Berlin that afternoon. This could be seen not only in the eyes of the audience, both young and old, but also in the eyes of the musicians on the concert platform who clearly enjoyed this special performance. 

Winds of the Berliner Philharmoniker
Michael Hasel Flute and Celesta
Jonathan Kelly Oboe
Andreas Wittmann Oboe
Alexander Bader Clarinet
Walter Seyfarth Clarinet
Fergus McWilliam Horn
Sarah Willis Horn
Daniele Damiano Bassoon
Henning Trog Bassoon
Rudolf Watzel Double Bass

Sarah Willis Presenter

Volker Eisenach Choreographer
Anja Meser Assistant choreographer

Students of the Hannah-Höch Grundschule Reinickendorf

Martin Wittstock Santa Claus

Das Education-Team
Catherine Milliken Head of Education Programme Zukunft@BPhil
Larissa Israel, Franziska Noack Project management
Andrea Schmolke Project assistant
Alexandra Hübner Team assistant

www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/education