Nature: Christmas In Yellowstone
As snow falls and Christmas lights glow in Jackson Hole, a holiday season of a different sort settles in just beyond the town, in the great winter world of Yellowstone. Breathtaking landscapes frame intimate scenes of wolves and coyotes, elk and bison, bears and otters as they make their way through their most challenging season of the year. Nature journeys in the footsteps of the men who first explored the park, and travels with their modern-day counterpart on his own journey of discovery. From the unique crystals of individual snowflakes to the grand sweep of Yellowstone’s Hayden Valley, this is a Christmas like no other.
Tuesday, December 30 at 8 pm
 Great Performances: Dance In America:
San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker
Since The Nutcracker’s first production in St. Petersburg more than a century ago, its charming story, dazzling choreography, and magnificent Tchaikovsky score have combined to make it one of the most popular and enduring ballets the world over.
Wednesday, December 31 at 8 pm
From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2009
Continuing its holiday tradition, Great Performances returns to the stately splendor of Vienna’s Musikverein for its celebration with the Vienna Philharmonic. Daniel Barenboim leads a rousing program of Strauss Family favorites, including the breathless Eljen a Magyar polka, the Radetsky March, and the beloved Blue Danube Waltz, in addition to festive ballets danced by the Vienna State Opera Ballet. This year also will mark the 200th anniversary of the death of Franz Joseph Haydn, whose more than 100 symphonies and 68 string quartets laid the groundwork for the 18th-century classical style and served to inspire the countless musical minds who came after him, including Mozart and Beethoven. To honor “Papa Haydn,” the Philharmonic will perform the composer’s masterful Symphony No. 45, “Farewell,” as a tribute to his enduring legacy.
Thursday, January 1 at 8 pm
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