The RNCM presents riotously offbeat opera and festive family fun this December

This December, Manchester’s festive musical calendar bursts into life as the RNCM stages a pair of wonderfully whimsical events packed with magic, charm and endless seasonal spirit, from gloriously absurd operatic adventure to big screen family favourites.

Running across various dates from Sun 7 – Sat 13 Dec, Prokofiev’s gleefully farical L’Amour des Trois Oranges brings a riot of satire, slapstick and fairy tale anarchy to the RNCM as part of the Legends and Lore season. Blending classical style with whip-smart modernist humour, the comic opera follows a hypochondriac Prince, overcome with melancholy, whose unlikely cure rests on laughter – inspiring the King of Clubs to enlist skilled jester Truffaldino and throw a party to life the Prince’s spirits.

In the underworld, the furious scorned witch Fata Morgana retaliates with a delightfully ludicrous curse that sends the Prince and Truffaldino chasing three enchanted oranges across the desert in a rollicking, wondrous whirlwind of vibrant music, imaginative lyricism and wicked abrusrdity.

On Sun 14 Dec, the ever-popular RNCM Christmas Family Day welcomes guests of all ages for an afternoon of festive tradition and immersive yuletide enchantment. This year’s programme features a live orchestral accompaniment to The Snowman and the Snowdog (© Snowman Enterprises Ltd.), offering a tender, uplifting movie experience brimming with nostalgic warmth, alongside creative workshops and seasonal activities throughout the day.

Check out the RNCM’s full upcoming programme via the website.