Alexandra Dariescu: 'The Nutcracker and I' celebrates its 100th performance and embarks on tour.

Pianist Alexandra Dariescu celebrates the 100th performance of her acclaimed multimedia project, 'The Nutcracker and I', tonight at the Milton Court in London’s Barbican Centre.

This groundbreaking production, first premiered in 2017, has captivated audiences worldwide with its unique blend of piano, dance, and digital animation.

Now, just in time for the holiday season, the performance makes its Paris debut at La Seine Musicale on the first weekend of Advent. These shows kick off an exciting European tour, withupcoming stops in Dijon, Dortmund, and Athens. Paris, with its festive charm and rich cultural backdrop, offers the ideal setting to ring in the Christmas season with this enchanting program. The production features Dariescu at the piano, performing Tchaikovsky’s timeless music, including the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Waltz of the Flowers, and more. Accompanying her on stage is ballerina Désirée Ballantyne, whose movements are brought to life alongside stunning hand-drawn animations. Projected onto a translucent gauze screen, the animations interact with the music and the dancer in real-time, creating an immersive experience that places the audience at the heart of the story.

Dariescu’s vision of making classical music accessible to a broader audience shines through in this innovative adaptation of the beloved ballet. The music is arranged by luminaries such as Mikhail Pletnev and Gavin Sutherland, adding virtuosic flair to the performance. If you’re in Paris this weekend, don’t miss the chance to see this remarkable debut at La Seine Musicale. A celebration of art, tradition, and the magic of Christmas, 'The Nutcracker and I' is an unforgettable way to welcome the festive season.

Following the London shows, its European tour starts with the Parisian premiere at La Seine Musicale on 29 & 30 November, with further performances at Opéra de Dijon on 5 & 6 December, Ljubljana's Cankar Centre on 15 & 16 December, Konzerthaus Dortmund on 20 & 21 December, Nikolaisaal Potsdam on 23 December and its penultimate show in Newcastle's Glasshouse International Centre for Music on 29 December. The tour will conclude on 25 January in Greece with the Athenian premiere at the Megaron Concert Hall.