Nutcracker lecture at Lowther Pavilion, Lytham, Lancashire Wed 2nd Nov 2pm

jmhopton · August 8, 2022

This is probably a bit of a niche event being rather out on a limb unless you live in West Lancashire but I couldn't find a suitable thread to attach it to and it does sound interesting if you can get there. I didn't know about his previous talk so I don't know what he's like as a speaker but he comes with good ROH and RB credentials.

Guests may attend the lecture – £8 pp (pay on door) [Don't know how this works. Sounds as if you may not be able to book in advance so if that is the case I might join Fylde Arts as it's only £20 per year]

Nigel Bates
This is lecturer Brian Bates’ second visit to The Arts Society Fylde. He last visited us in December 2013 when he delighted members with a mix of slides, music, and video to accompany his lecture on Tantrums and Tiaras – Behind the Scenes at the Royal Opera House.

Nigel Bates has been a performer for more than 40 years in and out of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, including 17 years as Principal Percussionist with the Orchestra and eight years as the Music Administrator of The Royal Ballet.

He has worked with many of the leading figures in the classical music industry and was also a producer for both the BBC’s Maestro at the Opera and Pappano’s Classical Voices documentary series. He is a regular contributor to the printed and online content of the ROH.

He has given lectures for over 30 years, including many arts societies and conservatoires in the UK and across Australia.

Further information is available on Nigel’s website.

The Nutcracker ballet has delighted audiences at Christmas for many decades yet it was deemed a failure at its initial performances. Based upon the current Royal Ballet production by Sir Peter Wright, this lecture takes a close look at how this well-loved ballet now takes its rightful place on stage and how the music of Tchaikovsky along with story-telling, design, dance and a little bit of stage ingenuity all come together to make the most magical escape for young and old alike. The lecture will include several performance video clips.