Christmas for Four Hands
From The Nutcracker to Charlie Brown
An hour of seasonal music for piano four hands — Tchaikovsky and Liszt, a little movie magic, and the jazz of Charlie Brown, played by two pianists at one piano.
“Four hands, one keyboard, and the music that makes the season glow — from The Nutcracker to Linus & Lucy, gathered into a single hour by the fire.”
Music of the season
Every work is performed by both pianists together at one piano — no solo turns, just twenty fingers and one keyboard. Program order as performed.
- IPiotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)Selections from The NutcrackerFour hands
- IIFranz Liszt (1811–1886)Selections from Weihnachtsbaum (Christmas Tree)Old Christmas Song · The Shepherds at the Manger · March of the Three Holy Kings · Lighting the Tree · Carillon · Slumber Song · Old Provençal Christmas Song
- IIIJohn Williams (b. 1932)“Hedwig’s Theme”arr. Mada & Hugh
- IVVince Guaraldi (1928–1976)Selections from A Charlie Brown Christmasarr. Mada & Hugh — Christmas Time Is Here · Skating · Linus & Lucy
An hour that feels like a gift
Beloved music, an intimate scale, and two arrangements audiences can only hear from this duo.
The Nutcracker, up close
Tchaikovsky’s ballet is the sound of Christmas itself. Heard at one piano, four hands, its glitter and warmth come through with chamber-music intimacy — every color within arm’s reach.
Liszt’s Christmas Tree
Seven pieces from Weihnachtsbaum, the cycle Liszt wrote for his granddaughter: old carols, shepherds at the manger, the march of the kings, and the tree lit at last. Tender, rarely heard, and made for this season.
From Hedwig to Charlie Brown
John Williams’s spellbinding theme and Vince Guaraldi’s beloved jazz score, both in Mada & Hugh’s own four-hand arrangements — a wink of movie magic to close the evening.
Notes on the composers
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Nutcracker (1892) turned a fairy tale into the defining sound of the holidays. Its dances and miniature scenes shine at the piano, where the whole orchestra fits under twenty fingers.
Franz Liszt
The great virtuoso wrote Weihnachtsbaum (1874–76) as a Christmas gift for his granddaughter Daniela — twelve intimate pieces, from ancient carols to the gentle glow of the Slumber Song.
John Williams
Hedwig’s Theme, from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), is modern movie magic at its most enchanting — celesta sparkle and sweeping wonder, arranged here by the duo for four hands.
Photo: Lindseysharpe, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Vince Guaraldi
Guaraldi’s score for A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) brought real jazz to the holiday table. Christmas Time Is Here, Skating, and Linus & Lucy remain pure December joy.
See it live
Performance films from this program — and a holiday episode of the duo’s podcast.
Dance of the Mirlitons from The Nutcracker
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky · piano four hands
Linus & Lucy
Vince Guaraldi · arr. Mada & Hugh
A Holiday Spectacular
The Mada & Hugh Piano Duo Podcast on The Nutcracker
Easy to present
One hour, no intermission — ideal for holiday series, receptions, and outreach settings.
Two artists at one piano; every piece on the program is played together.
No special preparation or staging required beyond tuning.
Now booking for the holiday season — dates fill early.
The program poster
The duo’s holiday portrait — red bow, lit tree, and golden bokeh — ready for your lobby, newsletter, and season brochure. Download the full-resolution artwork, or write to us for print-ready files.
Download the posterBring Christmas for Four Hands to your stage
Holiday concert series, community celebrations, cultural programs, and special seasonal events.
madahugh@gmail.com·(856) 745-6717
Press kit and recordings available upon request.
