We're all Sugar Plum Fairies now

In complete contrast to Thursday's anarchic cabaret courtesy of Miss Eve Ferret, Hils, Crog and I had a far more conventional evening last night - as we once more gathered in the Baroque surroundings of St John's, Smith Square for an orchestral rendition of Tchaikovsky's seasonal classic ballet score The Nutcracker by the Fulham Symphony Orchestra.

It is a marvellous suite of music in its own right - despite the lack of visual stimulus afforded by the ballet version - and contains a number of familiar vignettes. The FSO played the entire suite, brilliantly. However, their efforts are not to be found out there on the interwebs, so instead here are some extracts played by a variety of other orchestras...

Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite - Cologne New Philharmonic - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite - Berliner Philharmoniker, cond. Daniel Barenboim - Waltz of the Flowers

Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite - Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Arthur Arnold - March of the Toy Soldiers

Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite - Israel Philharmonic Orchestra - Dance Of The Mirlitons

With vocal bits provided by the Chorus of the Fulham Camerata Consort and the PMF Children’s Choir, the superb playing, and the glorious surroundings, this was indeed a rather magical night.

Fulham Symphony Orchestra

St John's, Smith Square