Ballet West's "The Nutcracker" has still nine gala performances, for those who need a little Christmas right up to New Year's. Performances will be in the Capitol Theatre Monday-Thursday, Dec. 27-30 at 2 and 7 p.m., plus a 2 p.m. matinee Friday, Dec. 31. Sugar Plum parties at $7 will take place after each matinee, except New Year's Eve.
Terence Kern conducts alternate casts of company artists and four alternate casts of children, with the Utah Chamber Orchestra in the pit. Remaining tickets ranging from $10 to $35 are available at the ArtTix box office in the theater lobby, at Albertsons ArtTix outlets or by calling 355-ARTS.- CARL ANDERSON will be at the console for the traditional New Year's Eve All-Bach Organ Concert this week at St. Mark's Cathedral, 231 E. 100 South.
Included on the program, to be presented Friday, Dec. 31, at 8 p.m. will be the G major Concerto of C.P.E. Bach, for organ and strings. J.S. Bach works to be performed include the Tocatta, Adagio and Fugue in C major, the Prelude and Fugue in A minor and three chorale preludes, with the audience invited to sing the chorales.
Admission is by donation.
- THE UTAH SYMPHONY will present its annual New Year's Eve concert Friday, Dec. 31, in Abravanel Hall.
Beginning at 10 p.m., music director Joseph Silverstein will lead the orchestra in a collection of overtures, marches, waltzes and polkas from old Vienna, ranging from Beethoven's "Egmont" Overture to Johann Strauss Jr.'s "On the Beautiful Blue Danube."
In addition soprano Carol Ann Allred, a frequent visitor to Utah, will sing arias from Mozart ("Exultate Jubilate" and "The Marriage of Figaro") and Lehar ("Giuditta"). A graduate of Brigham Young University, she holds a doctorate from the Eastman School of Music.
When the clock onstage reaches midnight, hundreds of balloons will be released as Silverstein leads the audience in a chorus of "Auld Lang Syne." After which the party moves to the Salt Palace for a buffet supper, party favors and dancing to the sounds of Potpourri. Activities will wind down around 2 a.m.
Tickets are priced from $35 to $43 ($25 students), and are available at either the Utah Symphony box office or any Smith'sTix outlet. For information call 533-NOTE.