Nigel Bates
Nigel is the Music Administrator of the Royal Ballet and has been a performer for nearly forty years with the Royal Opera House, including seventeen years as Principal Percussionist with the Orchestra. He has worked with many 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.
10.30am Coffee
11.00am Lecture 1
12.30pm Society Christmas Lunch
2.00pm Lecture 2
Morning lecture and lunch must be pre-booked.
IN THE KINGDOM OF SWEETS (at 11am)
The Nutcracker has delighted audiences at Christmas for many decades yet it was deemed a failure at its first performances. We take 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 and dance all come together to make the most magical escape for young and old alike. Includes several performance video clips.
TANTRUMS AND TIARAS (at 2pm)
This lecture takes a look at life backstage at London’s Royal Opera House and the
tribulations and triumphs of working with The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet companies. It looks at artistic inspirations, the people involved and how the very special Victorian building all function together to create world-class opera and ballet.
Lecture includes performance clips.