BBC NOW 2026-27 Season Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker

A festive, family friendly celebration of Seasonal classics, conducted by Luis Castillo Briceño. The evening opens with the magical Prelude from Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel, where folk inspired melodies and glowing orchestral colours bring the fairy tale forest vividly to life. Frank Bridge’s sparkling Christmas Dance “Sir Roger de Coverley” follows, a whirlwind of variations on a much loved English tune traditionally played at Christmas celebrations, ending with a joyful nod to Auld Lang Syne.

Benjamin Britten’s much loved Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra offers an entertaining and illuminating tour of the orchestra, perfect for curious listeners of all ages. After the interval, Tchaikovsky’s irresistible Nutcracker Suite brings the concert to a close, overflowing with seasonal magic, dance, and unforgettable melodies.