Watch: The Nutcracker performed by a pianist, a ballet dancer… and digital animation

27 December 2017, 15:29 | Updated: 9 January 2018, 17:02

Pianist Alexandra Dariescu teamed up with ballerinas Désirée Ballantyne and Amy Drew and digital animators to put a very unique spin on Tchaikovsky’s festive masterpiece

In Alexandra Dariescu’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s iconic music the story of Clara in The Nutcracker becomes Alexandra’s own story – from little girl to concert pianist.

On stage Alexandra plays Tchaikovsky’s music – in piano arrangements by the likes of Percy Grainer, Gavin Sutherland and Mikhail Pletnev – while ballerina Amy Drew performs behind a gauze screen.

And on top – like the dusting of icing in Tchaikovsky’s The Land of the Sweets – is enchanting digital animation created by Yeast Culture.

And you can watch the whole performance right here: