A protégé of Nadia Boulanger, Julia Perry was an important voice in mid-twentieth century American music combining neo-classicism with African American culture in her art. 

Gershwin described the first movement of his Piano Concerto as “representing the young enthusiastic spirit of American life” 

In this Nutcracker performance, Tchaikovsky’s Suite is brilliantly blended with jazz arrangements of the same tunes by the legendary composer Duke Ellington. Hear these magnificent works side-by-side!