22 AUGUST 2018 CHRISTMAS 2018/19 CELEBRATE THE CHRISTMAS SEASON AT COVENT GARDEN WITH A SELECTION OF FESTIVE FAVOURITES The Nutcracker: 3 December 2018 15 January 2019 Hansel and Gretel: 13 December 2018 29 December 2018 Les Patineurs/Winter Dreams/The Concert: 18 December 2018 4 January 2019 Start the Christmas season in style at the Royal Opera House as The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet present a series of delightful festive treats for audiences of all ages. The festive season begins with Peter Wright s magical production of The Nutcracker, returning to the Covent Garden stage on Monday 3 December and screened live to cinemas across the UK and internationally on the same evening. With enchanting stagecraft, sparkling set designs and accompanied by Tchaikovsky s illustrious score, The Nutcracker is a For all Royal Opera House press releases visit www.roh.org.uk/press
festive masterpiece which follows Clara and Hans-Peter on their journey through the Kingdom of the Sweets. Complete with shimmering snowflakes, this festive adventure also features the iconic Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, as well as a host of captivating characters. The seasonal delights continue as The Royal Opera presents a stunning new production of Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, an exquisite operatic adaptation of the well-known Grimm fairy tale. Director Anthony McDonald crafts a picture-book production to bring to life this darkly enchanting story. Marrying a number of styles, Hansel and Gretel combines folk and orchestral music, and this new production opens 125 years after it was first premiered. Finally, The Royal Ballet presents a series of three one-act works by 20 th - century choreography greats. Take your place beside a frozen lake for Frederick Ashton s comical Les Patineurs as The Royal Ballet takes to the stage as ice skaters. Complete with the spectacular spins of professionals and the comic collisions of beginners, Les Patineurs perfectly encapsulates the most festive of pastimes. The evening takes a dramatic turn with Kenneth MacMillan s Winter Dreams, inspired by Anton Chekhov s play The Three Sisters. Masha, Irina and Olga feel confined by their rural existence and long to return to Moscow. MacMillan explores their inner thoughts through a series of emotional solos, pas de deux and ensemble sequences. Completing the triple bill is Jerome Robbins much-loved The Concert, a hilarious exploration of the fantasies and daydreams of a concert audience. Set in a park at the height of summer, a pianist plays a selection of Chopin s piano music, butterflies imitate classical ballet and a group of seemingly under-rehearsed ballerinas perform an error-filled waltz, to great comic effect. NOTES TO EDITORS: Box Office: +44 (0)20 7304 4000 roh.org.uk Page 2 of 5
THE NUTCRACKER #ROHnutcracker 3 December 2018-15 January 2019 This production is suitable for ages 5+ 3*, 7, 12, 21 December / 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 15 January at 7.30pm 15 and 28 December / 1 January at 7pm 22 December at 12.30pm 24 December at 12pm 28 December / 1 January at 2pm 31 December at 6pm *ROH Live Cinema Tickets: 5-125 Generous philanthropic support from The Jean Sainsbury Royal Opera House Fund HANSEL AND GRETEL #ROHhansel 13 December 2018-29 December 2018 This production is suitable for ages 6+ 13, 17, 27 December at 7.30pm 21 December at 12.30pm 29 December at 11.30am Tickets: 5-97 Generous philanthropic support from Yvonne and Bjarne Rieber and The Friends of Covent Garden LES PATINEURS / WINTER DREAMS / THE CONCERT #ROHpatineursmixed 18 December 2018-4 January 2019 Page 3 of 5
18, 19, 20 December / 2, 4 January at 7.30pm 20 January at 2.30pm Tickets: 5 - Les Patineurs Generous philanthropic support from Lady Ashcroft. Winter Dreams Generous philanthropic support from Lady Ashcroft and Richard and Delia Baker. The Concert Generous philanthropic support from Lady Ashcroft and the American Friends of Covent Garden. --- ENDS--- Image credits from left to right: The Nutcracker. An artist of The Royal Ballet. ROH, Tristram Kenton, 2013. Les Patineurs. Artists of The Royal Ballet. ROH, Bill Cooper, 2010. The Nutcracker. Meaghan Grace Hinkis as Clara ROH, Tristram Kenton, 2013. PRESS OFFICE CONTACTS Ashley Woodfield Head of Ballet Press Tel: 020 7212 9165 Ashley.Woodfield@roh.org.uk Sarah Farrell Ballet Press and Communications Officer Tel: 020 7212 9241 Sarah.Farrell@roh.org.uk Page 4 of 5
Ann Richards Head of Opera Press Tel: 020 7212 9132 Ann.Richards@roh.org.uk Jolene Dyke Opera Press and Communications Officer Tel: 020 7212 9504 Jolene.Dyke@roh.org.uk Matthew Horne Opera Press and Communications Officer Tel: 020 7212 9149 Matthew.Horne@roh.org.uk Page 5 of 5