The only Christmas present I can think to give you is The Nutcracker performed by the Royal Ballet at London's Royal Opera House in 2009. The Guardian presents a full-length film of the production (in two parts) on its website, free, gratis and yes, on "the House". Running on the website for a week from 19 December,catch it quick if you want to be enchanted and transported to the land of the sugar plum fairy. Absolutely magical. Here.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/video/2012/dec/19/royal-ballet-live-nutcracker-one-video
I was lucky enough recently to be at a concert featuring The Nutcracker by the young Docklands Sinfonia Orchestra at St. Anne's Limehouse, a magnificent Hawksmoor church in London's East End. Under the baton of the talented and imaginative Spencer Downs, it wasn't just any performance however because it was illustrated in time to the music on a big screen by celebrated and much-loved children's author James Mayhew. See his report of it and my tribute to him here.
Thank you! We shall enjoy watching it I'm sure. It's nice to have you back, (as I expressed in your earlier "return of the prodigal daughter" post), but unpublished, alas. This blogger fangled thingy?
ReplyDeletecolumnist - Thank you and hello! It's so nice to be back when bloggers like you come to call. How awful I didn't get your earlier comment as I would, naturally, have published it. (I never have your email by the way and wouldn't mind..) Have a lovely aesthetic Christmas, chaps. xx
ReplyDeleteJames Mayhew AND St. Anne's Limehouse sounds like a combination not to be missed!
ReplyDeleteMerry merry.
ReplyDeleteHere's some more of them Russkies having Christmas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0KRRgzZvHk
Just back from being away where I couldn't comment. So thank you Classicist and rurritable!
ReplyDelete