Saturday 30 Dec 2006

12.30, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London WC2E 9DD; Box Office: 020 7304 4000

The magical charms of The Nutcracker have guaranteed its place as a perennial Christmas favourite. For a start, there’s a magician with secrets, an enchanted gift, then there’s a battle with the Mouse King, a guiding angel… The list of ingredients in this delightful concoction just continues. And we still haven’t mentioned the Sugar Plum Fairy. The ballet draws on all the imagination and fantasy of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story of supernatural adventures on Christmas Eve, when young Clara comes downstairs to look for one of her presents, but instead finds herself at the start of a night of magical adventures. The Nutcracker is always a treat – and treats are just what Christmas time is for.

Alina will also perform in ‘The Nutcracker’ on 1 January 2007 at 19.00, and on 5 January 2007 at 19.30.

More details at www.royaloperahouse.org.