Clara & The Nutcracker

We are presented with a focused exploration of Tchaikovsky’s celebrated ballet score. In this thirty-minute arrangement, you will hear the most recognisable themes that define the festive season, specifically those associated with the Land of Sweets and the Sugar Plum Fairy. The performance moves rapidly through these musical highlights, allowing you to experience the vivid orchestration and rhythmic vitality of the original work in a concise format. Listen for the distinct chime of the celesta and the lush string sections that characterise the composer's late-nineteenth-century style. The evening is shaped as a quick-paced journey through a familiar narrative, focusing on the auditory highlights rather than the full-length theatrical arc. It serves as a concentrated encounter with the melodies that have made this work a staple of the repertoire, stripped back to its most essential and evocative musical passages.

Northern Ballet brings this production to the stage, an ensemble recognised for its dedication to narrative dance and touring across the United Kingdom. They are joined by the BBC Concert Orchestra, a versatile group known for its wide-ranging recordings and broadcast presence. The collaboration pairs a major British dance company with a flexible orchestral ensemble accustomed to performing varied musical styles. Together, they offer a professional interpretation of a classic work, bringing the technical skill of live musicianship and professional choreography to a prestigious performance space in the heart of Oxford.

This performance takes place at the Schwarzman Centre in Oxford on 23 December 2026. With a running time of just thirty minutes, the event is particularly suited to those seeking a shorter cultural experience or anyone attending a ballet for the first time. The brief duration makes it a practical choice for a quick evening visit during the winter season. No specific dress code is required for this venue. As this is a dance performance set to music, there is no libretto or spoken dialogue to follow.