The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the score album composed and produced by James Newton Howard for the 2018 film of the same name. The film marked Howard's second score for a live-action Disney film after Maleficent (2014). Howard, about the film score, described it as "The score is very traditional – a big orchestra score – with lots of woodwinds and strings, plus tinkle bells and celeste and chorale music". Gustavo Dudamel conducted the London Philharmonia Orchestra for the film score, that was recorded at the Abbey Road Studios, London. Howard adapted excerpts from Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker (1892), besides composing original music. The adaptation of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Suite" is performed by piano soloist Lang Lang. In addition to the score, an original song "Fall on Me" sung by Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo Bocelli was premiered on Dancing with the Stars' "Disney Night" on October 22, 2018. The album was released on October 26, 2018, by Walt Disney Records. Reception The score received positive critical response, with praise directed on the integration and adaptation of Tchaikovsky's music from the ballet into the film. Zanobard Reviews wrote "The Nutcracker And The Four Realms is a pretty amazing album. James Newton Howard expertly blends modern score styles with the classical setting of the original Nutcracker, and even goes so far as to include some of Tchaikovsky’s motifs too. They don’t appear much though, which is probably a good thing as it allows Howard’s new music to shine that much brighter. What could have been better perhaps was the action section of the album, which while highly enjoyable lacked thematic elements and as a result was a tad lackluster at times when it could have been incredible. This is only a minor grievance however, as overall Howard’s score here is simply sublime." James Southall of Movie Wave wrote "Howard makes a valiant effort throughout the score to ensure his own voice shines through alongside Tchaikovsky’s but really, it’s a battle he was never going to win and – while it contains some wonderful highlights – the music just never quite clicks together to form that great fantasy score we were all hoping for." Aisha Harris of The New York Times, called the score as "pleasant", David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter wrote "an almost nonstop flood of lush music that shuffles Tchaikovsky with James Newton Howard".