Playing live, ‘Nutcracker’ musicians bring unseen signature to holiday staple

By YVONNE GONZALEZ
Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — “The Nutcracker” is a holiday staple, and for Ballet Arizona and many other productions around the world, a pit full of musicians is part of the tradition. Shows can turn to recordings as they weather costs or crises like recessions. But fans, musicians and the unions that represent them say the live music brings an unseen signature to each show. In New York, a production considered the quintessential American “Nutcracker” show opened minutes after musicians agreed to a contract. In Los Angeles, a company gives audiences both options; and in Phoenix, during the Great Recession tied to the 2008 housing crisis, the show put musicians on hiatus.