San Francisco Classical Voice

Since its Dec. 24, 1944, American premiere in the Opera House, Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker meant annual holiday magic. It often provides a significant first experience of classical music to tiny tots (and larger ones), as well as a live orchestra and magnificent dancers bringing sugarplums to an astonishing number of viewers and listeners. All together that adds up to a total audience in excess of several million in this one small town alone.

The current production, gloriously traditional and yet streamlined in Helgi Tomasson's choreography, on Michael Yeargan's sets evoking the San Francisco of 1915, runs through Dec. 31. There are two performances on most days, and Mondays are dark. Tickets are on the pricey side, $18 to $150. Almost all tickets under $50 are sold out, but there are always $18 standing-room tickets for the determined and sturdy of legs.

Dickens' A Christmas Carol is another holiday tradition, in the new ACT Carey Perloff-Paul Walsh production. Music is by Karl Lundeberg, choreography is by Val Caniparoli. Few things can get you into the holidays spirit as effectively as watching mean old Scrooge become Tiny Tim's heartfelt benefactor. Tickets are in the $25-$80 range, and the run ends on Dec. 24.

In Davies Hall, the San Francisco Symphony offers its usual rich and varied holiday fare. Continuing Dec. 19-20 is The Colors of Christmas, with Peabo Bryson, James Ingram, Stephanie Mills, and Deniece Williams. On Dec. 21-23 Handel's Messiah is conducted by Jane Glover, featuring soprano Lucy Crowe, mezzo Catherine Wyn-Rogers, tenor Lawrence Brownlee, and bass-baritone Derrick Parker. The year-ending Vienna Woods gala, conducted by James Gaffigan, and featuring Brian Stokes Mitchell is on Dec. 29-31. Tickets cost between $20 and $87.

When it comes to holiday presents, can you improve on the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra's series of free concerts? Yes, everyone is invited to these concerts, conducted by Benjamin Simon, with Robert Schwartz (piano) and Jeffrey Strong (trumpet) as soloists. On the program: Schubert’s Symphony No. 5, Dmitri Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and Georg Frederic Handel's Trumpet Concerto in G Minor. All performances are at 8 p.m., except for a 3 p.m. matinee on Jan. 1. The concerts take place at different venues: on Dec. 29 at Herbst Theatre in San Francisco, Dec. 30 at Marin Showcase Theater in San Rafael, and Dec. 31 at First Congregational Church in Berkeley, and Jan. 1 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Palo Alto.

Michael Smuin's The Christmas Ballet mixes the music of Mozart, Bach, Handel, Palestrina, and Corelli with traditional carols and klezmer. Performances are by Eartha Kitt, Willie Nelson, and the Chieftains. The concert returns from Walnut Creek, Mountain View, and Carmel for performances in the Yerba Buena Center, through Dec. 24. Tickets run from $42 to $55. (J.G.)

La Traviata in Martinez
Martinez Opera presents Verdi's La traviata, sung in Italian with English subtitles (see review). Soprano Joohee Choi (Violetta Valéry), tenor Arthur Shen (Alfredo Germont), and baritone Ralph Canto (Giorgio Germont) unite to tell a love story that begins at a party complete with a drinking song ("Brindisi (Libiamo)") and ends, unrequitted, at another party — a Mardi Gras celebration in Paris where Valéry dies at the feet of her lover. Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m., Alhambra Performing Arts Center, Martinez, $40-$50, (925) 798-1300, www.mtzo.com. (C.G.)

Metropolitan Opera's Magic Flute
Peter Gelb, the newish general manager of the venerable Metropolitan Opera, makes good on his promise to bring the Met into the 21st century with, among other things, a series of performances telecast in high-definition to various movie theaters around the country. Locally, the only place to catch the series is the Regal Hacienda Crossings in Dublin.The first telecast is Julie Taymor's enchanting production of The Magic Flute, with puppets galore. James Levine conducts a cast that includes Matthew Polenzani (Tamino), Nathan Gunn (Papageno), and the majestic Rene Pape (Sarastro). Note that the online ticketing system is not working perfectly and may be out of order. Dec. 30, 10:30 a.m., Regal Hacienda Crossings, Dublin, $18, (925) 560-9600, www.bigscreenconcerts.com. (L.H.)

ABS' Messiah
There will be no dearth of Messiahs this time of year, but American Bach Soloists' version is always definitive. ABS performs the 1743 edition from the London premiere, with soloists Elizabeth Weigle, soprano; Jennifer Hines, mezzo-soprano; Benjamin Butterfield, tenor; and James Maddalena, baritone. Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m., Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, $17-$55, (415) 621-7900, www.americanbach.org. (M.V.C.)