By Jennifer Beasley.
Mystical, Magical, Marvellous Melbourne will captivate audiences and the public once again with a stellar line-up of entertainment, lights, and decorations to herald the arrival of the Big S this Christmas.
This is going to be one jolly Ho, Ho, Ho of a Christmas this year, as Santa enthused Lord Mayor Nick Reece, wearing an on theme colourful Christmas jumper, declares Melbourne:
“…as Australia’s Christmas Capitol. We do it better than any other city. Whether it’s Federation Square, which becomes Christmas Square over the next four weeks, whether it’s Crown and the River Christmas Festival, or the Myer Windows, every corner of our city is activated.”
Starting on November the 28th, Melbourne is going to sparkle!
With over 650 decorations across the city streets and laneways, a 17.5 metre Christmas Tree glowing with 110,000 twinkling lights, the magnificent Myer Windows and – the return of the Crown River Show, now into its third year, dazzling all with fountain and laser shows.
Anticipating nearly 2.5 million visitors, generating over 150 million dollars of economic activity, the many attractions, shows and musical events will bring a welcome financial push to our city traders.
On top of this, our wonderful Lord Mayor states:
“Christmas Square will be transformed with Christmas Carols on Thursday nights.”
Goodness! Melbourne is going rock more than a full Santa sleigh in a Nutcracker snowstorm!
Even Santa turned up to the Launch to jive with the String Quartet on the violin. A very talented man is Santa (thank you for the photo opportunity!).
A few words for the Head of Events and Tourism portfolio, Councillor Mark Scott, who impressed this reviewer with his Keynote Speech at the Melbourne Queer Festival, adds that Melbourne is-
“A great city to shop in for Christmas goodies: Bourke Street Mall, Queen Vic Market, … even all our laneways, come in for a coffee, bring the family in, …the pop ups at Polly Woodside Park, … and the Town Hall is all lit up.”
What more could you ask for?
But wait, there is more?
Absolutely! The always dapper John Foreman, along with his Australian Pops Orchestra, and to be held at The Recital Centre, will be hosting FOUR shows during the Christmas period.
They are as follows –
They Sang At Carnegie Hall starring Bernadette Robinson who will be hosting the voices of Edith Piaf, Judy Garland Barbra Streisand and others.
Between Christmas and New Year will be The Idols of Musical Theatre, starring Casey Donovan, Rob Mills and Paulini, who all started on Australian Idol.
Australia Pops Orchestra on December 20th will have 2 shows that date (a morning and an afternoon performance) with Silvie Paladino:
The Great Christmas Sing-along – featuring carols that you know. Songbooks will be supplied to encourage participation. Silvie very kindly demonstrated one of the carols, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, accompanied by the String Quartet, at this launch.
Silvie Paladino is, as stated by John Foreman (and I absolutely agree with him here) Melbourne’s Queen of Christmas– and it isn’t a Melbourne Christmas without her!
Finally, celebrating 45 years will be The New Years Eve And Day Before Gala with Lucy Durack, Marina Prior and Simon Gleeson.
And, and! If you sign up to the December 31st 8pm show you can upgrade to the FIREWORKS AFTER PARTY! How great is that? This exclusive event will include drinks, canapés and the best thing of all – the fabulous view of Melbourne’s fireworks from the Melbourne Recital Centre’s upper foyers.
Tickets can be purchased here Home page – John Foreman’s Australian Pops Orchestra
Now, not to say lastly as there is plenty more on, such as A Christmas Carol performance at the Comedy Theatre, and the Christmas Wonderland for the littlies at the Caulfield Racecourse, but- get ready for a glittering and utterly bespoke experience that is The Nutcracker.
The Nutcracker ballet, presented by Big Live (the world’s fastest growing Ballet company), and in association with United Airlines, features the wonderful ballet talents of Russian principal artist, Ervin Zagidullin, and Australian Soloist Abby Hanson.
The duo danced a gorgeous excerpt from the upcoming ballet. So graceful.
The Nutcracker, performed to the classic music of Tchaikovsky, returns to Melbourne once again this Christmas after a sell-out show last year.
Enchant your family with the magical story of this iconic ballet as the toy Nutcracker is magically transformed and comes alive and battles the evil Mouse King. Journeying with Clara through the Land of Snow and the Land of Sweets, they discover the Sugar Plumb Fairy, who presents to them the different sweets from around the world.
Bedecked in gorgeous costumes, and exquisite dance moves, this will amaze all and bring the delights of Christmas into your hearts.
The Nutcracker tickets | Princess Theatre | Ticketek Australia
In the words of Lord Mayer Nick Reece, come along all and “Celebrate the Spirit of Christmas!”
(And good luck to Maddie from the City of Melbourne’s Media department on the upcoming birth. Not quite a Christmas Baby but her maternal bloom is a beautiful signifier of all that Christmas represents.)
