CSO: The Nutcracker and Petrushka

The Nutcracker is a holiday staple, but those who seek a headier form of the sugar plum ballet should turn to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's presentation, which focuses on the Tchaikovsky more than the tin soldiers. Conductor Ingo Metzmacher pairs the work with Stravinsky’s Petrushka, which about a puppet, keeping with the toy theme.