10 Reasons Not to Miss the Christmas Ballets
St David’s Hall
Saturday 19 December – Sunday 3 January
The Snow Maiden,
The Nutcracker &
Swan Lake!
WITH the festive season fast approaching, there’s no better way to get in the Christmas and New Year spirit than by enjoying a Russian ballet at St David’s Hall. Here are 10 reasons why they are unmissable!
- Christmas is the most magical time of year especially for children. In 1891, Tchaikovsky based The Nutcracker’s music around a sinister short story by German author E.TA. Hoffman, which definitely wasn’t for kids! It evolved into the family fun as we know it today, and the children won’t believe it as presents spring to life before their eyes!
- Modern day interpretations of The Nutcracker are also perfect for children as it allows them to drift away into a fantasy world where anything is possible. Be prepared to travel to the Land of Snow where the treacherous Mouse King and his army battle the heroic Nutcracker Prince. Who will win the fight between Good and Evil?
- The Snow Maiden is a beautiful re-adaption of Alexander Ostrovksky’s short story The Snow Maiden: A Spring Fairy Tale, which premiered in 1873 with Tchaikovsky’s spell-binding score. Likewise, the production being staged at St David’s Hall is the UK premiere from the world-renowned Russian State Ballet & Orchestra of Siberia!
- In the Russian festive tradition, Father Christmas (or ‘Father Frost’ as he’s often known in Russia) is always accompanied by his granddaughter named Snegurochka, which means ‘snow maiden’ and is where the ballet’s title is derived from. In 2013, Disney loosely based their Box Office smash hit and family favourite Frozen not only upon Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen, but also on The Snow Maiden!
- Swan Lake is perhaps the most desired to see performed live especially as it features Tchaikovsky’s instantly recognisable score. If you’ve never experienced a ballet before, then this is the one to see! Odette is a beautiful princess, who is turned into a swan by a sorcerer’s evil curse. Only love can reverse the spell. Will Odette find her handsome prince?
- Tchaikovsky originally wrote Swan Lake to entertain his nieces during the summer of 1871 and it was only when the Imperial Theatre in Moscow commissioned a full-length ballet that he remembered he had already started one. Swan Lake went on to become the greatest romantic ballet of all time!
- The dual role of the white and black swans is one of ballet’s most unmissable technical challenges. Some say it’s the ‘Holy Grail’ for ballerinas and to be cast as the two main characters is perhaps the highest honour for a ballet dancer not least because it’s so difficult to perform! Incredibly, Swan Lake didn’t become popular until two years after Tchaikovsky’s death when the masterpiece was deservedly revived.
- It’s enough to just want to come and see the exquisite costumes and ornate set designs at St David’s Hall. Yet, the majesty of the ballroom and the moonlit scene where the swans glide in perfect formation in Swan Lake is truly a sensational sight to behold!
- It’s the season of goodwill and St David’s Hall would like to spread the festive cheer with great prices for the whole family to enjoy our Christmas ballets! Children’s tickets for Under 16s are 50% off all performances, starting at just £7.50* for matinees and £8* for late afternoon and early evening performances. We can also offer an amazingly good value deal for two adults and two children under 16 to attend any matinee for only £42*, and starting at just £45* for any of the later shows.
- The acoustics at St David’s Hall are perfect for unamplified orchestral music so for scores as powerful as Tchaikovsky’s! Experience the tingle down your spine and the tears running down your cheeks at the finale of our three captivating ballets!
Celebrate Christmas and New Year in style with these breathtaking ballets for the whole family at St David’s Hall!
The Snow Maiden
Saturday 19 December 2pm & 5.30pm
Sunday 20 December 2pm & 5.30pm
Monday 21 December, 5.30pm
The Nutcracker
Tuesday 22 December 2pm & 7pm
Wednesday 23 December 2pm
Thursday 24 December 2pm
Sunday 27 December 2pm & 5.30pm
Monday 28 December 2pm & 5.30pm
Swan Lake
Tuesday 29 December 2pm & 7pm
Wednesday 30 December 2pm & 7pm
Thursday 31 December 2pm
Saturday 2 January 2pm & 5.30pm
Sunday 3 January 2pm
Matinee and evening performances (excluding 25-26 December &1 January)
Tickets are available now at www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk
or at the Box Office on 029 2087 8444.
*A £2.95 Ticket Service Charge applies per transaction for all performances, plus an optional 95p postage fee.
