Event
Grand Piano Series
Narrative Musicales The Nutcracker Origins
Konstantin Soukhovetski, piano
Tchaikovsky — Selections from The Nutcracker
When the original Nutcracker debuted in 1892, it featured children playing lead roles, emphasized spookier elements of the story and was far more gothic than the upbeat Christmas story it became. After its premiere, it was considered a commercial and critical failure, criticized for a weak plot, and poor flow. Audiences found it chaotic and deemed Tchaikovsky's score underwhelming, but all that changed after legendary choreographer George Balanchine got his hands on it in 1954. In this holiday-centric Narrative Musicales, Konstantin Soukhovetski becomes both performer and storyteller, shedding light on the original tale and bringing wit and insight to Balanchine’s beloved version. Prepare to be surprised, delighted and newly inspired.
This presentation is part of the Narrative Musicales Series presented in collaboration with Grand Piano Series, an independent nonprofit organization.
Konstantin Soukhovetski
Konstantin Soukhovetski
Konstantin Soukhovetski is a pianist, composer and educator recognized for his distinctive concert programming and multimedia performances. A laureate of 17 international competitions, he has appeared at major venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Wigmore Hall and The Louvre, performing in recital and with orchestras throughout the United States and Europe. Recent highlights include a Scotland tour with Absolute Classics and appearances at PianoFête in Vashon, Washington.
As director of education and community engagement at Grand Piano Series, Soukhovetski curates the series’ Narrative Musicales — multimedia programs that combine live music, storytelling and visual elements — and oversees Grand Piano Series' educational and outreach initiatives with schools and seniors in Lee and Collier counties.
Beyond the piano, his work includes composition, libretti and interdisciplinary collaborations in dance and film. His recording, Yuliya: Forgotten Songs of Julie Weissberg Rimsky-Korsakov, with soprano Sarah Moulton-Faux, was released on Azica Records. He is a voting member of the Recording Academy (Grammy) and serves on the faculty of The Juilliard School. Born in Moscow to a family of prominent artists, he studied piano and composition at the Central Music School of the Moscow Conservatory. Soukhovetski has been a resident of Naples since 2024.
Grand Piano Series
Grand Piano Series
Grand Piano Series is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), tax-exempt and financially self-supporting organization. Founded in 2016 by Milana Strezeva and Raniero Tazzi, Grand Piano Series is a nonprofit concert and education organization that seeks to enrich the cultural life of the Southwest Florida community with memorable concerts by international artists of the highest caliber, along with a dynamic program of community outreach for all ages, including programs for over 10,000 students each year in Collier and Lee counties.
For more information, visit grandpianoseries.org.
