Berklee Presents Holiday Extravaganza: Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite and Christmas Vibes Featuring Warren Wolf
Holiday Extravaganza: Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite and Christmas Vibes takes place at the Berklee Performance Center on November 26.
Image courtesy of Berklee College of Music
Berklee’s fall Signature Series will present Holiday Extravaganza: Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite and Christmas Vibes Featuring Warren Wolf at the Berklee Performance Center on Tuesday, November 26, at 8:00 p.m. Under the production and direction of Berklee professor and Grammy-nominated artist Tia Fuller, the concert will be a two-part celebration for the holidays.
During the first half of the concert, Berklee’s Diamond Cut Big Band will perform Duke Ellington’s The Nutcracker Suite. The musicians will pay homage to Ellington’s 1960’s recording that features jazz interpretations of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, originally arranged by Ellington and Billy Strayhorn.
The second half of the concert will feature master vibraphonist and Berklee alumnus Warren Wolf PD ’01, who will perform selections from his 2023 release, Christmas Vibes, alongside a student ensemble. The concert will also highlight select students from Boston Conservatory at Berklee’s Dance Division, under the direction of faculty member Anthony Burrell, a world-renowned choreographer and dancer.
"It is a joy to kick off this holiday season with Duke Ellington’s The Nutcracker Suite,” said Fuller. “The Diamond Cut Big Band and Boston Conservatory at Berklee dancers are extremely excited for this annual concert. We are pleased to welcome the legendary Warren Wolf as our special guest for the evening, where the GenNext All-Stars Ensemble will be performing expanded arrangements from Warren's Christmas Vibes. Many thanks to internationally acclaimed choreographer, dancer, and professor Anthony Burrell for his creativity, along with dance and choreography oversight. To all involved in making this special holiday performance a reality—thank you. Get ready to embark on a fantastic journey and relish in the spirit of the holidays.”
Admission for Holiday Extravaganza: Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite and Christmas Vibes Featuring Warren Wolf is $15/$20 in advance and $20/$25 day of show. For those with a Berklee ID, admission is free/$5 in advance and $5/$10 day of show.
Tickets are available online or at the Berklee box office.
