Showing titles in Music & Performing Arts

Clara receives a nutcracker from her godfather Drosselmeyer on Christmas Eve. That night she dreams the nutcracker is fighting with toy soldiers against the army of the Mouse King. Clara helps the nutcracker and it transforms into a prince. Together they travel to the land of sweets and celebrate a wonderful sweet festival with the Sugar Plum Fairy. It was all just an amazing dream - or was it...?

Hear the song and learn about its origins!

Hi there, I’m Hank. Here’s what you need to know about me: I don’t try to make the kids in my class laugh, but somehow I do. Spelling is my worst subject. (Come to think of it, so are math and reading!) I try hard - I really do. So why does my brain always freeze into a popsicle? When Hank hears that his class is putting on a play, he’s the only one who’s not excited. That’s because every time he tries to read the script, his brain swirls, and it feels like his head is filled with soggy oatmeal! Can Hank get his act together and get a part?

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky was just five when he started learning the piano – in his small home-town in Russia. Most families like his had a piano but very few small boys could play it so well. Then he started writing music, too. Ideas for new music poured out of him, especially wonderful tunes. He wrote a lot of music for ballets as well as for big orchestras and small groups of instruments, such as string quartets (two violins, one viola, one cello).

When Beethoven was a young man, he was known as a brilliant pianist and a brilliant composer. But he didn't really have a happy life. He was born in the German city of Bonn and he gave his first public concert at the age of seven. But his father was very strict and made him practise for hours every day. When he was in his 20s and already famous, he began to go deaf. Imagine how awful that was for such a great musician: to him, music was getting softer and softer, until he could hardly hear a thing.

The second story in a new series about dancing, friendship and following your dreams from best loved author Jean Ure. Maddy is delighted when she and her friends are accepted to the prestigious City Ballet School - it feels like one step closer to their dream of becoming professional dancers. But the school brings a whole new set of challenges - and soon Maddy finds herself tested like never before.

A sneaky reporter is on a mission to discover Hannah Montana’s secret! If he finds out that the pop sensation is really teenager Miley Stewart, her life will change forever. What’s worse, Miley forgets about her best friend Lilly’s 16th birthday. So her dad, Robby Ray, insists on a trip back home to Tennessee. Surrounded by her family and old friends, will Miley remember her true self? And when the reporter gets too close to discovering her secret identity, will she have to give up on her dream of being Hannah Montana?

Julia McKenzie, Timothy West and Berlie Doherty star in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Charles Kingsley's classic tale of a chimney sweep who becomes a water baby.

Jay, Summer, Dylan and their bands are headed for boot camp at uberglamorous Rock War Manor. It's going to be six weeks of mates, music and nonstop partying as they prepare for stardom. But the rock-star life of music festivals and glitzy premieres isn't all it's cracked up to be. Can the bands hold it together long enough to make it through the last stage of the competition, or will there be meltdowns?

The Rock War TV show is the most-watched reality show on British telly, and it's only halfway through. Jay, Summer, Dylan and their bands have all made it past the tough boot camp stage, and now the last six will fight it out until the season's finale, live on Christmas Eve. But it's not all about the music. Summer was hit by a motorbike at the end of boot camp. Jay's brother, Theo, can't keep out of trouble - or out of handcuffs. And Dylan, the outsider, is investigating corruption within the workings of the competition itself.

Peter and Santa live a rather dull existence with their aunt, Rebecca, but when she dies, they face the awful prospect of life in separate orphanages. In desperation, they run away to find their only living relative, Uncle Gus, who works in a circus as a clown. Gus will let them stay only if they promise to work hard, and so the children plunge headlong into the circus world, where they soon discover skills they never knew they had. But life is so different - will they ever truly belong?

The ultimate audiobook of, well, everything you would want to find in another hilarious Tom Gates audiobook by the amazing Liz Pichon. What’s this one about? Everything! Packed with brand new activities, makes and stories and unique Tom Gates stuff to do which will keep you busy all year round.

Rachel and Hilary are sent to live with their ambitious aunt who runs a stage school, training a troupe of dancing girls. It's heaven for Hilary who loves to perform, but quite the opposite for quiet Rachel. The last thing Rachel wants is to become one of her aunt's Little Wonders—particularly if it means behaving like their irritating show-off of a cousin. A mischievous, fun and moving story about young performers, from the acclaimed author of the classic Ballet Shoes.

Inspired by Pixar Animation Studios' latest film, Coco, this middle grade novel will retell the story of the film, as well as feature original content expanding upon its rich, vibrant world, and characters. Disney-Pixar's Coco is the celebration of a lifetime, where the discovery of a generations-old mystery leads to a most extraordinary and surprising family reunion. Directed by Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3) and produced by Darla K. Anderson (Toy Story 3), Disney-Pixar's Coco opened in US theaters on November 22, 2017.

Disney and Pixar’s Soul takes you on a journey from the streets of New York City to the cosmic realms to explore some of life’s biggest questions. Transported from his body on the most important day of his life, musician Joe Gardner has to convince a directionless soul named 22 to help him get back to Earth to fulfill his lifelong dream.

Kylie Jean shows her talent for singing at the annual Jubilee Talent Show.

Marissa has always loved dancing. But lately, she feels clumsy and awkward when she dances, and she feels bigger and taller than the other girls. She doesn't even bother trying out for the Rose Fairy ballet. But someone else thinks Marissa has what it takes to play the Rose Fairy!

Prince Siegfried comes of age and celebrates his 21st birthday in the palace gardens. The next day he is to finally choose his future bride at the court ball. Near the castle, on the shores of Swan Lake, the beautiful swan girl Odette emerges from the water in the moonlight. She is actually a princess transformed by the magician Rothbart. Siegfried is overwhelmed by her beauty and immediately swears his eternal love and loyalty. The curse of the evil wizard Rothbart is now supposed to be broken, but he has his own plans for Odette.

Kylie Jean wants to be a ballerina more than almost anything in the whole wide world! So when there are auditions for the Swan Queen part in Swan Lake, she just knows it’s the perfect part for her. Will Kylie Jean dance like a prima ballerina?

In the 1960s, Michael Jackson was just a young boy with a dream. By the time he died in 2009, he was a record setting musician and an international pop icon. Follow Michael’s journey growing up in the tumultuous music industry. Watch him strive for greatness and witness the legacy he has left on the world.