skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    On Air Now

    Bill Overton 1am - 6am

    Bill Overton

    Now Playing

    Rhapsody in Blue George Gershwin Download 'Rhapsody in Blue' on iTunes

    Rhapsody in Blue artwork
    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    Listen
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Win
    • Charity
    • Learning
    • Quizzes
    • Dating
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Classic FM on Twitter
      Follow Classic FM on Facebook
      Follow Classic FM on Instagram
      Follow Classic FM on Youtube

    Discover Music

    • Discover Music Home
    • Periods & Genres
    • Occasions
    • Mood
    • Instruments
    • Music Theory
    • Learning
    • Humour
    • Women in Music
    • More Classic FM

    The most beautiful Christmas ballets

    Facebook share Twitter share

    It’s the time of year when the country’s best ballet companies bring out their top productions – from The Sleeping Beauty to The Nutcracker. We’ve brought together some of the best moments from our favourite Christmas ballets taking place this winter…

    1. Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Bolshoi ballet

      1. The Nutcracker

      Ballet doesn’t get more festive than this: Tchaikovsky’s ballet opens on Christmas Eve, when the young protagonist, Clara, is given a nutcracker as a gift… Pictured: Boshoi Ballet. Photo: Damir Yusupov

    2. Steven McRae and Roberta Marquez Nutcracker

      2. The Nutcracker's Sugar Plum Fairy

      At midnight the toys come to life and the nutcracker prince whisks Clara to the land of the sweets – where she meets the Sugar Plum Fairy, here danced by Roberta Marquez (with Steven McRae) of The Royal Ballet. Photo: Bill Cooper courtesy of ROH

    3. Sleeping Beauty

      3. The Sleeping Beauty

      Tchaikovsky’s enchanting re-telling of the classic fairy tale may not be set at Christmas, but the happy-ever-after and cast of fairy-tale characters ticks that feel-good box. Pictured: The Bolshoi Ballet. Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty Images

    4. Sleeping Beauty Princess Aurora

      4. Sleeping Beauty by the Bolshoi

      The enchanting story of the princess who falls asleep for 100 years is the perfect ballet for Christmas.

    5. Edward Scissorhands

      5. Edward Scissorhands

      Tim Burton’s modern fable about an otherworldly man with scissors for hands has been re-imagined by the visionary choreographer Matthew Bourne. Photo: Johan Persson

    6. Edward Scissorhands

      6. Edward Scissorhands at Sadler's Wells

      Liam Mower as Edward Scissorhands in Matthew Bourne's ballet. Photo: Johan Persson

    7. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

      7. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

      A new arrival to the festive ballet scene, The Royal Ballet’s production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is as imaginative and witty as you’d expect from choreographer Christopher Wheeldon. Photo: Johan Persson

    8. Christmas ballets

      8. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland – The Queen of Hearts

      Zenaida Yanowsky as the Queen of Hearts in The Royal Ballet's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'. Photo: Johan Persson

    9. Wind in the Willows

      9. The Wind in the Willows

      Choreographer Will Tuckett’s charming adaptation of this children’s classic has become a Christmas mainstay. Photo: Johan Persson

    10. Wind in the Willows

      10. Wind in the Willows – with Alan Titchmarsh

      And in the current production Classic FM’s very own Alan Titchmarsh is narrating! Photo: Johan Persson

    11. The Little Match Girl

      11. The Little Match Girl

      Another Christmas weepy, Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘The Little Match Girl’ has been made into a beautiful Christmas ballet by choreographer Arthur Pita. Photo: Phil Conrad

    12. Christmas ballets The Little Match Girl

      12. The Little Match Girl

      A moving story of a little girl's hopes and dreams – and it all takes place on Christmas Eve. Photo: Phil Conrad

    13. Christmas ballets

      13. The Snowman

      Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without The Snowman – and this ballet version of Raymond Briggs’s charming story ticks all the Christmas boxes. The score, by Howard Blake, includes the classic ‘Walking in the Air’.

    14. The Snowman at Sadler's Wells

      14. The Snowman

      Nothing says Christmas more than Raymond Briggs's 'The Snowman' brought to life on stage. Festive bliss.

    Facebook share Twitter share

    More Periods and Genres

    See more More Periods and Genres

    Baroque

    Baroque

    Classical

    Classical

    Romantic

    Romantic

    Film & TV

    Film & TV

    Opera

    Opera

    Video Games

    Video Games

    More From ClassicFM

    Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring Toy Orchestra

    Rubber chickens and children’s toys play Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring in riotous lockdown video

    'Beethoven's Funeral March' was played at the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral procession

    The power of ‘Beethoven’s Funeral March’, the musical masterpiece played at Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral

    Beethoven

    British choreographer Liam Scarlett had died aged 35

    Liam Scarlett, former Royal Ballet choreographer, dies aged 35

    Royal Ballet

    Classic FM On-Air Highlights

    This week’s on-air highlights – including Album of theThis week’s on-air highlights – including Album of the Week and Drive Discovery

    HRH Duke of Edinburgh tribute at Portsmouth Cathedral

    Soprano sings Royal Navy hymn in empty Portsmouth Cathedral, in moving Duke of Edinburgh tribute

    Prince Philip Funeral: St George’s Chapel, Windsor from 3pm

    Prince Philip Funeral: St George’s Chapel, Windsor from 3pm

    Back to top

    Also on Classic FM

    • LBC News
    • handel
    • debussy
    • music theory
    • instruments
    • brahms
    • vivaldi
    • bach
    • tchaikovsky
    • chopin
    • andrea bocelli
    • beethoven
    • mozart
    • classical music tear jerkers
    • best classical music
    • Classic FM Live
    • classic fm requests
    • john suchet
    • piano world record
    • best pianists
    • harry potter music
    • classic fm app
    • saturday night at the movies
    • star wars soundtrack
    • best sopranos
    • best cellists
    • composer or pasta
    • music for studying
    • best violinists
    • sad music
    • composer birthdays
    • relaxing music

    Useful Links

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • About Classic FM
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Classic FM on Twitter
    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube
    © Global 2021
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager