“As the winter holidays approach, so does a seasonal classic. “The Nutcracker,” the fantasy ballet set to an adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s original tale and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s score, seems to be as popular today with audiences of all ages as it was when it was first performed in St. Petersburg in 1892. U. of I. professor Donna Buchanan, whose specialization is Russian and Balkan music, teaches courses focusing on Russian art music, including “The Nutcracker.” She discusses the timeless appeal of the ballet and its music with News Bureau arts writer Melissa Mitchell.”